NDA Staff

Are you a dancer interested in joining NDA Staff for the 2025 season?

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Thank you for your interest in joining NDA Staff. Click HERE for the 2025 application. See below for application requirements.

Age requirement for 2025 Summer Staff: Must be 18 years of age by May 23rd, 2025

The application consists of 2 steps:

1: Professional References

2: Video Application

STEP 1: Professional References

Send this link to 2 or more professional references. These must be received no later than the January 31^st deadline.

Share this link: https://form.jotform.com/pcoco/employee-reference-nda

STEP 2: Create your application video

Application Video should consist of the following:

1: Introduction and why you want to be on NDA Staff

2. Team Dance Video Requirement & Music

• College Camp Attendees: Pro Team Dance
• All Other Applicants: Elite Team Dance
• Join the Band group or contact sjames@varsity.com for video links and music.

3. Teaching

• Include a video of you teaching a single pirouette.
• This should be no more than 2 minutes.

4. Additional Required Skills:

• Kicks/Extensions to the front and side (center floor or progressive)
• A combination of advanced/elite leaps (switch leaps are considered elite)
• At least 1 turn combination that includes a triple turn
• Optional bonus specialty skills you would like to include

*Complete video should be no more than 5 minutes in length.

Submit Your Application HERE!

Video Tryout Tips

• Start early – it can be stressful to put together a quality video at the last minute.
• Think of your video as a job interview – let us get to know YOU!
• Review your video before sending it in to be sure you have all requirements.
• Please do not wear warm-ups, t-shirts, wraps or any other over-sized clothing.
• Only include the best of your abilities in each segment of the video.
• Be sure to look your best in every way, including: hair, make-up, etc.
• Technique is the key – there is no substitute for solid, well-rounded technique.
• Showmanship, personality and speaking skills throughout the video can really set your video application apart from the rest!

NDA is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional and social development, and promoting an environment free from abuse and misconduct.

Varsity Spirit Staff are required to complete the following:

• Pass annual background checks.
• Training course titled Athlete Safety: Participant Protection, which includes recognizing and reporting misconduct.
• Athlete Safety Education program covering cyberbullying, hazing, human trafficking, and imbalance of power.
• Signing of a Good Moral Character Affidavit.
• Fingerprinting and additional clearances as required by state law and camp requirements.
• USA Cheer Safety Certification: complete athlete protection training, concussion awareness training, and adhere to a member code of conduct.

NDA Staff is an exciting opportunity for dancers to develop professionally in a field they love! Our instructors are some of the most talented and personable dancers in the country.  The NDA Staff take great pride in being part of an amazing family of instructors that spans the country and positively affects the lives of thousands of dancers every year. The honor of being an NDA Staff Member is one that has the ability to open many future professional doors for you if you commit to the job and give 100% throughout your career.

As a member of NDA Staff, you will have the opportunity to wear many different “hats” both during and after camp. As the industry progresses and changes, so does your job. Each year that you are invited to return as an NDA Instructor will bring more responsibilities and opportunities that can be beneficial in your future as you attend college and interview for jobs. Below are some expectations, responsibilities, and benefits should you be chosen for this amazing opportunity.

If you’re looking for a job that’s fun, develops marketable skills, allows you to make friends nationwide and positively impact the lives of others.

As an NDA Staff Member, you will be a:

• Teacher: 95 percent of this job is teaching – ensuring that dancers who attend your classes understand, comprehend, and retain the valuable information you provide them. Camp is about the campers and how well they learned and grew from their experience with you as a teacher and mentor.
• Mentor: You are teaching more than choreography and technique; you are teaching values, hard work, dedication, perseverance, and determination…lessons of greater importance than any technical skill or element.
• Customer Service Representative: The key to success in customer service is to communicate, be proactive, be attuned to the attitudes and needs of your customer, and ALWAYS be positive.
• Evaluator: You will have the opportunity to give immediate feedback, verbal and written, on several performances throughout camp.
• Performer: It is imperative to maintain your technical ability and performance quality. You are expected to perform/demo routines and various technical skills throughout camp.
• Choreographer: NDA conducts open auditions for staff interested in choreographing for the Summer Camp Curriculum for the upcoming year. We also have choreography camps available to you.
• Competition Crew/Adjudicator: Throughout the competition season, you could be contacted to help work and/or judge regional competitions for NDA or other local/state organizations.
• Recruiter: You have the ability to spread the word about our camps, competitions, events, and recruit new teams to NDA each year.

• Instructor salary.
• Per diem to cover meals and travel expenses.
• Exposure to choreography opportunities.
• Marketable professional skills such as public speaking, staff and team management, to name a few.
• Networking opportunities.
• Learn and teach innovative NDA curriculum to athletes and facilitate team bonding.
• Staff discount in the Varsity Store.
• Special Event opportunities.
• Sponsorship discounts.
• Memories that will last a lifetime!

How will I be notified if I am hired?

You will be notified by March 1st of your employment status. Staff is hired in each region based on the number of returning veteran staff and the number of camps projected for the summer. If you are selected to be an NDA Instructor, you will be sent a comprehensive packet of information that will contain paperwork and detailed information on all areas of instructing summer camps for NDA.

If hired, how will I be trained?

All NDA Instructors attend a mandatory Staff Training. This extensive meeting will cover all aspects of your job as an instructor (policies, procedures, teaching methods, safety, etc.). NDA will coordinate transportation to and from the Staff Meeting, and all meeting expenses will be paid for and/or provided.

If hired, how will I be staffed for camps?

Your NDA hourly pay rate will be based on the state in which you are working and will be no less than the State Minimum Wage. Once at camp, all lodging and meals will be paid for by NDA. On top of your base pay, you will receive non-taxed expense money per camp for travel and additional meals. If you are asked to travel a longer distance and you go beyond the fixed amount, you will be reimbursed through an expense report. If you are scheduled for a Commuter Camp or a Home Camp, you will be housed in a hotel and given more expense money since you will need to purchase more of your meals. You will be trained on all of these procedures at Staff Meeting.

Is the NDA Instructor position year-round?

Access Staff Website