Costume Director, Dance

Position Overview

Responsible for the artistic production of all dance costumes for performance, including the coordination of design, creation, construction, and development of period styles for over 500 costumes per season.

Responsibilities 

• Work with the Department Chair/Executive Artistic Director for Butler Ballet to plan all costumes for upcoming productions.
• Design, construct, and maintain all costumes as needed per production, including tutus.
• Supervise the Assistant Costumer, and all costume construction and construction assistants.
• Teach one course annually in costume construction; oversee students' work.
• Dyeing, washing, and dry cleaning as needed for construction and/or maintenance. 
• Work with faculty choreographers to discuss costume needs.
• Maintain and organize costume warehouse, costume shop, and storage areas.
• Working within the assigned budget, allocate funds to cover costume costs for each production season, purchase costume materials and supplies, and process all related receipts.
• Hire student employees and approve payroll.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Costume Technology, with emphasis in wardrobe for Classical Ballet, or commensurate professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in professional large-scale dance production; evidence of production expertise, alteration, and construction experience for dance and/or theatrical productions.
• Experience working with community-based organizations and underserved populations
• Costume production management: organize shop labor, budget time and manpower, research source materials, maintain safe working environment, keep productions on deadline
• Pattern development/draping: create blueprint from which costume is constructed (specialized knowledge/techniques necessary for classical ballet construction)
• Costume construction and fitting techniques: specialized understanding of the needs of multi-use, multi-sized wardrobe with built-in multi-year wear, including knowledge of tailoring and construction techniques for historical period costumes.
• Classical ballet tutu construction: specialized understanding of the engineering, finishing, and creation of the traditional classical ballet tutu, with an understanding of how the construction of the tutu affects performance, especially in classical pas de deux partnering work.
• Expertise in traditional and modern fabric materials: knowledge of fiber, weave, various netting materials, and stretch fabrics. Understanding of how these can be used appropriately for dance/classical ballet.
• Expertise in costume crafts: dyeing, painting, distressing, millinery, accessories, beading; creating interest and detail necessary for full-length story ballets.; designing the occasional replacement costume, replacing pieces in sympathy with the existing aesthetic.
• The successful candidate must be able to lift 50 pounds, navigate stairs, and maneuver racks of costumes between adjacent buildings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching coursework in dance costume design and construction.

BU Benefits and Perks  

Please check out Butler’s Total Rewards website to learn more about our benefit offerings, which include: 

• Paid Time Off and Holidays:  
  • 20 days of paid time off (vacation and PTO days) per Fiscal year 
  • 8 Paid Holidays 
    • In addition, a paid Winter Break between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day 
  • Paid Parental Leave (after 1 year of full-time employment) 
• Health:  
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans including disability and life insurance programs 
• Retirement:  
  • 10% employer contribution after 1 year of full-time employment 
• Tuition Assistance:  
  • Tuition Exchange Program for Dependents 
  • Remission of tuition for classes taken at Butler for employees, spouses, and dependent children.  
    • Eligibility after 9 months of full-time employment 
    • Employees & spouses- u