Costume Supervisor, Dance Program

Costume Supervisor, Dance Program

Sarah Lawrence College seeks a part-time Costume Supervisor to serve the Dance Program. The Dance Program is located in the Performing Arts Center. It provides curriculum and support to graduate and undergraduate students, producing seven productions each academic year (3 in the fall semester and 4 in the spring semester). The Dance and Theatre Programs are closely connected through an interdisciplinary curriculum that encourages students to make work and study across both disciplines.

As the instructor of the Costume Design for Dance course, the Costume Supervisor will be responsible for teaching students an introductory overview of costume design for dance. Students enrolled in this course are individually assigned to student choreographers in the Live Time-Based Art course; student costume designers collaborate with and assist the student choreographer in the design, creation, and acquisition of costumes for their works with the support of a modest production budget for each student work.

The Costume Supervisor also works in conjunction with the Costume Shop Manager student worker to support the visiting guest artist each semester in Performance Project in the acquisition and realization of costumes for their guest artist project with the support of a modest production budget.

The Dance Program is a community of generous and engaged artists who value diverse, intentional, and rigorous research, process, and creation. Through a curriculum that prioritizes collaboration, care, experimentation, and equity, the Dance Program strives to create an environment that supports artistic risk-taking while preparing students for professional practice.

The Costume Supervisor oversees all aspects of costume production, wardrobe operations, and costume facilities for the Dance Program's activities. The position manages modest costume inventories and budgets, oversees costume acquisitions and purchases, maintains costume facilities and equipment, supervises wardrobe operations and student costume crews in conjunction with the Production Supervisor, and collaborates closely with directors, choreographers, faculty, guest artists, and production staff throughout the production process.

Safety, organization, and student learning are central to this position. Supported by a student Costume Shop worker, the Costume Supervisor mentors student costume designers and wardrobe crews, helping students develop both artistic vision and professional production practices while ensuring safe working conditions and effective shop operations.

The Costume Supervisor collaborates closely with the Dance Program Production Manager, Media Supervisor in Theatre and Dance, Dance Program Lighting Design Guest Faculty professor, Dance Program Coordinator, and Dance Program Director to support productions throughout the academic year.

In addition to a guest faculty appointment for teaching Costume Design for Dance, this position averages approximately 4-5 hours per week across the full duration of the semester in a production staff role, supporting Dance Program productions across the entire year. The staff role hours are not necessarily evenly distributed and tend to be concentrated around the lead-up to production periods.

Please consult the production schedule for the upcoming academic year below for further detail.

Essential Duties Summary
- Responsibilities Include:

• Teach Costume Design for Dance.
• Mentor student costume designers throughout the design process.
• Supervise the costume shop student employee and wardrobe crews.
• Work with the student employee in the costume shop to maintain costume shop, costume storage, wardrobe facilities, and dressing rooms.
• Manage costume production budgets in conjunction with the Dance Program Coordinator.
• Work with the Dance Program Coordinator to purchase and track costumes, fabrics, and materials.
• Maintain costume inventory and equipment.
• Attend production meetings, pre-technical rehearsal final showings, and technical rehearsals as required. Attend select dress rehearsals and performances as needed.
• Supervise costume load-ins, wardrobe calls, and strike.
• Coordinate fittings, alterations, and costume maintenance.
• Manage student employment schedules and payroll.
• Develop and enforce costume shop safety procedures.
• Recommend equipment and facility improvements.
• Collaborate with Dance faculty and staff on productions.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative, process-oriented learning environment.

Physical and Cognitive Requirements:

• Ability to stand for extended periods and work in costume shop environments.
• Ability to lift and move costume materials and equipment up to approximately 40 pounds.
• Manual dexterity required for sewing, fitting, and costume construction.
• Ability to organize complex production schedules and manage multiple priorities.

Production Schedule in :

Production schedules vary from year to year but are distributed throughout each academic year in the same manner. Below please find the Dance…