Understudy Contractor Firebird Part Ballet

Description:

Abilities Dance is centered on disrupting antiquated beliefs and promoting disability justice through dance and art overall in greater Boston and beyond.

Abilities Dance Boston is seeking understudy dancers for our Vel’Fyra:
Firebird pt. 2 performance. These dancers will understudy for core ADB dancers and potentially perform in an ensemble piece. This show is directed and choreographed by Ellice Patterson with original score by Andrew Choe. Rehearsals will be directed by Dara Capley.

This will be a restaging from our June 2026 show which will be September 18 - 20, 2026 at the Strand Theatre in Boston. (Friday September 18th show time is 8 pm with a call time of 6 pm. Saturday September 19th show time is 7 pm with call time of 5 pm. Sunday September 20th show time will be 2 pm, with call time of 12 pm.)

Virtual rehearsals will happen 6 pm - 8 pm on Thursdays starting July 16th. In-person rehearsals are scheduled for 12:30-4:30 on 8/8 and 9/12. Weekly rehearsals will be held largely virtually. There will be 1
-2 monthly in person rehearsals in the greater Boston area August 8th and September 12th. Tech and dress rehearsals will be held on Wednesday and Thursday prior to show weekends 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm.

Dancers will be considered independent contractors. They will be paid $20/hr during rehearsals and $25/hr during show week runs. They will be paid at the end of the performance run (September 20, 2026) via check.

For complete job information go to abilitiesdanceboston.org/workwithus

• 3 years of ballet/contemporary experience
• Be present at all rehearsals you’re understudying for and your own ensemble role (if applicable)
• Willingness to learn adaptive dance practices (including comfort moving alongside open audio descriptions)
• Formal adaptive dance experience is a plus, but not required
• Excellent communication skills primarily via email within 2 business days
• Able to retain choreography, spacing, and performance detail
• Excellent adaptability to be able to perform a role in little to no notice
• As our in person rehearsals and performances will be fully masked, you will be expected to rehearse and perform masked

July 31, 2026

$20 / Per hour

Abilities Dance is centered on disrupting antiquated beliefs and promoting intersectional disability rights. Our performing company consists of adult artists with and without disabilities that represent a variety of diverse identities within and outside of the disabled community. Our community engagement work consists of teaching movement workshops and/or lectures on disability culture, intersectionality, workplace culture/ The goal is to think about what the organization needs and how they can increase equity to attain their goals.

Homepage banner image:
Detail of glassworks by Carrie Gustafson (Mass Cultural Council Crafts Fellow 2011).