Costume Assistant Internship
Description of the Organization
The mission of Ballet 5:8 is to engage communities in Chicago, the Midwest and across the nation in conversation of life and faith through innovative storytelling and breathtaking dance. The vision of Ballet 5:8 is to be one of the foremost professional dance companies in the world and to be a place where artists create, thrive, and exchange ideas informed by our Christian faith.
Ballet 5:8 was founded in 2012 as a publicly supported nonprofit organization. Ballet 5:8 has a growing roster of professional dancers and an expanding repertoire of original, innovative works created from the basis of our Christian faith. The company shares the beauty, power and inspiration of professional dance, meaningful stories, and post-performance Q&A events with thousands of audience members each season across Chicago, the Midwest.
Ballet 5:8’s dance education center, Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts, extends the company’s mission to over 300 students each year at campuses in Orland Park, IL, South Chicago (Beverly), and Valparaiso, IN. The school includes a nationally-recognized classical ballet training program, a range of recreational dance classes for all ages and levels of ability, and a uniquely nurturing environment where students thrive. Ballet 5:8 is passionate about training and equipping the artists of tomorrow, and about investing in local communities through high-quality dance education that is widely accessible to children, youth and families from all backgrounds and walks of life.
Description of the Position
The Ballet 5:8 Costume Assistant Intern position is a unique opportunity for students majoring in fashion or costume design, and/or individuals with a solid foundation in basic sewing/clothing construction, to gain insight and practical experience in the many facets of creating and managing costuming for dance. The Ballet 5:8 Costume shop takes on a high quantity of work. Interns work closely with the Ballet 5:8 Head of Wardrobe gaining exposure in all operations from conception, patterning, construction, fittings, alterations, and repair. In addition, interns will get first-hand experience of how an arts organization operates within departments, gain skills in an array of construction traits/fine detail/craftsmanship, and specific needs unique to costuming the demands and movement of ballet costumes.
Specific tasks and responsibilities may include:
- Learning and applying basic and advanced costume construction techniques to help create costumes based on designers’ sketches.
- Taking measurements.
- Repair work.
- Assist in recording costume log for storage.
- Attending and participating in Theatre Program production meetings.
General Expectations
Ballet 5:8 Costume Interns should be prepared to:
- Report to scheduled shifts on a timely basis.
- Complete all assigned tasks as efficiently as possible, checking in with the Head of Wardrobe regularly within a process to avoid mistakes.
- Strong organization and attention to detail.
- Flexibility and willingness to learn new construction methods.
- Relate to all constituents/staff of Ballet 5:8 and Ballet 5:8 School of the Arts with an attitude of kindness, warmth, and joy.
Time Commitment, Compensation, and College Credit
The Ballet 5:8 Costume Assistant Intern is an unpaid position that can be used for college credit when applicable. The internship time commitment can range from 20-40 hours per week depending on the needs and availability of the Intern and is negotiated during the second round interview process. The summer season ranges from June 28th - July 31, 2021; interns are required to work for a minimum of three weeks during this period.
Benefits
Students who successfully complete the internship may request one or more letters of recommendation from their Ballet 5:8 supervisor and may use their supervisor as a reference on future college and job applications.
If interested, approved interns will also have the opportunity to participate in ballet and other classes as their internship schedule allows.
Application
To apply, submit the following by email to Head of Wardrobe, Lorianne Robertson at internships@ballet58.org:
- Cover letter introducing yourself, explaining why you’re interested in interning with Ballet 5:8, and what you hope to gain from the internship
- Current resume and short visual portfolio of work
- Any specific information pertaining to how this internship may be used for college credit, including any requirements set forth by the college/university