Executive Director

Invertigo Dance Theatre creates inventive performances and engagement programs grounded in storytelling, research, and collaboration with intersectional, multigenerational communities. Founded in 2007 by Artistic Director Laura Karlin, Invertigo Dance Theatre creates visceral dance theatre productions and public programming that has enduring social impact. Based in Culver City, CA, Invertigo has created and performed 40+ original choreographic works across LA including at The Music Center, The Ford, and Grand Park. Invertigo has performed in Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, and Santa Barbara, and the company was honored to receive the Grand Prize at the 2016 McCallum Theatre Choreography Festival (Palm Springs).

In 2018, Invertigo was awarded the National Dance Project Production Award for FORMULAE & FAIRY TALES, which premiered at BroadStage (Santa Monica) in September 2019 to rave reviews: “dance theatre at its finest” (LA Dance Chronicle); “a breakthrough show” (LA Times). The work toured to the Phillips Center (University of Florida) in 2020, followed by the Wilson Center in North Carolina in 2023. In May 2022, Invertigo premiered the KITCHEN TABLE PROJECT at the Temple Israel of Hollywood, which was a culmination of nearly two years of dance films, community engagement, and collaboration during the pandemic. In June 2023, Invertigo’s newest dance theatre work WALK THE WALK was showcased at WeHo PRIDE’s Arts Festival. Led by K. Bradford, this work centers gender-expanding stories and celebrates the many ways trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming and intersex communities walk through the world.

Founded in 2011, Invertigo’s Dancing Through Parkinson’s program uses dance as a means to inspire connection and well-being for people with Parkinson's Disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Building community with people of all ages and abilities, Invertigo embodies and embeds its anti-racism, anti-oppression, cultural equity, and inclusion policies into all programming, for the company invites people to experience the art of dance and storytelling as a catalyst for deeper joy and human connection.

For more information, visit www.invertigodance.org or find us on social media @invertigodance.

Strategic Planning and Overall Management

Collaborate with Artistic Leadership, Board of Directors, and staff to set overarching priorities and strategy, with corresponding annual programmatic/financial goals for Invertigo Dance Theatre

Management and coordination of systems to support said funding strategy, sustainability and policy decision making, as well as programmatic trajectory.

Track and ensure all company activity aligns with Invertigo’s vision and core values including, but not limited to:

Horizontality — Rather than a “top-down” approach, the ED will collaborate with all members of the Invertigo creative/administrative employees and contractors vertical decision-making

Democratization of artistic leadership — Support the transformation of Invertigo from a single choreographer model to include expanded artistic input potentially including the development of an Artistic Council, Artists in Residence, and/or Fellowship Programs

Anti-oppression — Deepen, embed, and further align Invertigo’s commitment to dismantling systems of oppression into action. Build new and expand current partnerships with aligned progressive social service and justice organizations.

Represent Invertigo at local and national conferences and events as both an attendee and/or speaker/facilitator to expand recognition and reputation of the company. Remain active in the cultural ecosystem by serving on grant panels, attending events, and professional development opportunities to expand the world of Invertigo.

Supervise all staff by setting internal priorities, expectations, and deadlines; conduct annual reviews, providing ongoing feedback via bi-weekly one on one meetings.

Lead with an open door policy, holding space for each staff member to show up as their full selves and supporting each team member’s work by through ongoing advice and guidance

Collaborate with the Board of Directors on governance of the organization.

The goal of the relationship between ED and Board is mutual support and collaboration.

Liaise with the Board of Directors; prepare materials for monthly Board meetings and meet with Committees/individual Board Members as needed or requested

Serve as the driving force of the administrative team.

Development & Fundraising

Develop and execute a fundraising/revenue plan that diversifies Invertigo’s income sources and supports the projected organization and project budget(s). Think imaginatively and strategically about long-term budget planning and work to secure multi-year funding sources.

Initiate new relationships with funders, commission/presenting entities, key stakeholders, and government bodies with the intention to discover new streams of income that align with the company’s mission and programming goals

Oversee the tracking of organizational revenue, expenses, and cash flow in real-time to ensure accuracy and fiscal responsibility in collaboration with Invertigo’s Operations Manager and bookkeeper

Supervise grant research and guide submission process including coordinating with Invertigo’s Development Manager by providing input on narratives, budgets, and supplemental materials for applications

Spearhead Invertigo’s individual donor fundraising efforts by build the organization’s redesigned Giving Circle in collaboration with the Board of Directors and Development Manager

Invertigo is transitioning from a structure that conflates financial contributions with the governance duties of a Board.

Set goals with the newly formed Giving Circle, and support the expansion of membership.

Set strategy, planning process, timeline, and marketing strategy for donor events, including stewarding events and Invertigo’s annual soiree

Operations

Set agendas and run weekly staff meetings

Serve as the final checkpoint for contracts for artists, teachers, administrative personnel, contractors, venues, granting organizations, location, and programming partners

Maintain Invertigo’s compliance with all federal, state, and regulatory bodies

Oversee the ongoing maintenance and organization of company information via Google Drive and Dropbox

Marketing

Be a consistent voice in maintaining overall visual brand and copywriting tone

Advise on core marketing language for programs in collaboration with Lead Artists; contribute to project-specific copy, imagery, and marketing assets

Set marketing calendar deadlines and track

Expand Invertigo’s press list, relationships, and ongoing PR strategy

Overarching Expectations & Qualifications

Long-term interest and passion for dance, live performance, and community engagement

Strong commitment to social justice, anti-oppression and community-centric principles

Transparent, ethical, and creative leadership skills

Highly organized and clear oral/written communication skills required

Comfortable with public speaking and acting as a spokesperson for the organization

Ability to initiate, guide, and sustain partnerships with artists, sponsors, donors, granting organizations, partners, and community leaders

Willingness to attend workshops and professional development opportunities on behalf of the organization