Teaching Artist: Penn Live Arts Student Discovery Program (Minty Fresh Circus

About Penn Live Arts 

As the University of Pennsylvania’s home for the performing arts, Penn Live Arts connects diverse audiences with visionary artists and innovative ideas, engaging both the University and the greater Philadelphia community in transformative artistic experiences. 

For over 50 years, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has been a leading presenter of innovative and transformative performing arts experiences in the Philadelphia region and a vital resource for the performing arts at the University of Pennsylvania. In June 2021, the Annenberg Center launched a new brand identity, Penn Live Arts, to reflect a deeper integration with the University and an expanded canvas for presenting performances. Penn Live Arts, headquartered at the Annenberg Center, is an artistic crossroads joining Penn and the greater Philadelphia region through world-class music, dance, theatre and film on campus and at venues throughout the city. 

Penn Live Arts serves as a key asset for the University’s students and faculty by enhancing curriculum through artist residencies and masterclasses, supporting student performing arts and providing career development opportunities. For younger audiences, Penn Live Arts’ Student Discovery series offers weekday matinees and the annual Philadelphia Children's Festival, established in 1985 as the first event of its kind in the nation, serves children and families in the region with a range of interactive arts experiences. 

About the production and the pre-performance visits program 

On Friday, January 31, 2025, Penn Live Arts will present Minty Fresh Circus in a matinee performance at the Annenberg Center as part of the Student Discovery Series. Minty Fresh is a U.S.-based circus show performed by an all-Black cast, with a majority-Black creative team celebrating the healing power of Black music & movement, infused with the joy and resilience of those who traversed the transatlantic slave trade. 

Prior to select Student Discovery performances, Penn Live Arts engages local teaching artists to visit K-12 classes that have planned to attend the matinee program, to deliver developmentally appropriate curriculum that prepares students for the themes, techniques, and influences of the performance they will see. Up to four classes may book one-time pre-performance visits. 

Teaching artist responsibilities 

For Minty Fresh Circus, the teaching artist will 

- Familiarize themselves with the company’s background, techniques, and show themes. 

- Review complementary materials that may inform classroom plans, including rehearsal videos, company-provided copy, and study guides. 

- Work with PLA Education staff to develop developmentally appropriate classroom plans and activities that engage students creatively and analytically around themes, questions, and techniques suggested by the company’s history and repertory. Student outputs may include dance/circus activities, discussion, visual art, or writing activities. Teaching artists may be asked to prepare plans that can be adapted to a range of grade levels.

- Present a 45 min to 1-hour classroom visit for up to four classes that plan to attend the student matinee. All visits will take place during the two weeks leading up to the performance. (Note: classes may be at four different schools or multiple classes may be at the same school. Priority is given to schools within the Philadelphia School District). 

- Assist in preparing post-show reflection questions and activities that build upon the classroom visit and that teachers and students can respond to independently. 

Qualifications 

- Background as a dancer/circus artist and/or instructor.

- 3-5 + years of experience working with K-12 students, especially older elementary through middle school students (grades 5-8). 

- Dynamic classroom presence; ability to locate key creative and academic connections in source material and to connect quickly with students through their existing experiences and interests. 

- Professional and courteous manner; punctual, communicative, and organized. 

- Knowledge of and interest in Black history.

- High School diploma.

- Access to independent transportation strongly recommended. 

Compensation: $60-75/hour, depending on experience. Engagement is expected to take between 5 hours (including 2 hours prep and 1 hour of classroom time) and 12 hours (4 hours classroom time with up to 8 hours of prep, including meetings with PLA staff). Teaching artists will also receive a $20 travel stipend per assigned school. Other than classroom visits, all other work can be performed remotely. 

 As a condition of hiring, teaching artists are subject to a three-part background check.