Description:

The Department of Dance at The Ohio State University seeks an experienced dance professional with an emphasis on health and wellness, who is actively engaged in a combination of movement practice, creative process, and theoretical inquiry. We welcome a teacher and scholar/artist who embraces 21st century approaches and interdisciplinary perspectives to dance practices. The ideal candidate has established relationships with the professional field nationally and/or internationally and will further develop the department’s ties across colleges within the health sciences and within our local community. The ideal candidate will advance the department’s commitment to the area of dance and health. Many of our students seek mentoring and conduct research in dance science, dance therapy, and applied somatics such as: Dance and Parkinson’s, Humane Technology, Dance and Music Therapy, Dance with Children on the autism spectrum, etc.

This position maps onto our current and expanding student and faculty interests in, for example, dance wellness and somatic practices reflective of BIPOC perspectives and traditions, inclusive and critical pedagogies, and virtual reality training for improved health outcomes in underserved groups. The department has collaborations across the university in Nursing and Disability Studies, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Medicine, Public Health, Visual and Performing Arts, Psychology, and Asian Studies. The department collaborates on curricula, scholarship, and media projects at The Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design and with the Wexner Center for the Arts. The ideal candidate will extend the department’s commitment to inclusive excellence in research, teaching, service, and community engagement.

Our new colleague will contribute:

In Teaching: The ability to teach Kinesiology, somatic practices such as yoga, Feldenkrais, Bartenieff, Pilates, Alexander Technique, or other forms from an inclusive standpoint is required, as well as contemporary dance courses rooted in movement that embrace dance forms of the African Diaspora, Ballet, Contemporary, and/or other specialties. Our new colleague will teach and mentor students at all levels of the BFA and MFA programs, as well as contribute to the PhD program, if appropriate. Additional areas of teaching expertise could include choreography, improvisation, and creative technologies for dance, among others.

In Research: Creative and Scholarly projects, whether solo, collaborative, and/or interdisciplinary in nature, should focus on somatic practices and contemporary dance within the realm of health and wellness.

In Service: Growing and investing in undergraduate and graduate programs, curriculum development, advising, and governance within the department, college, university, and the professional field is highly desired.

Qualifications: Required: MFA or PhD with a demonstrated record or potential for innovation and excellence as a scholar/artist-practitioner. Preferred experience: university teaching, developing or working in interdisciplinary research teams, mentoring members of underrepresented groups.

About the Department: As one of the premiere dance programs in the United States, the Department of Dance at OSU is at the forefront of contemporary dance through choreographic and performance exploration, creative use of technologies, and reimagining the archives of dance traditions. One of the oldest dance departments in the country, and a founding member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, it consistently ranks in the top programs in dance. We provide intersecting investigations with courses in varied movement and choreographic practices, repertory, dance history, production and lighting, dance pedagogy, dance wellness, cultural studies, screendance, dance documentation, dance-technology, theory and analysis. The breadth of our program values diverse perspectives and prioritizes educating students in a comprehensive way. We have a bold commitment to cultural, racial and ethnic diversity, reflected throughout our curriculum and in recruitment of faculty, students and staff. We are an anchor department of the newly developing OSU Arts District with renovated facilities featuring state-of-the-art performance spaces, six studios, a costume shop, and a media lab. https://dance.osu.edu/

About Columbus: The Ohio State University campus is located in Columbus, the capital city of Ohio. Columbus is the Midwest’s fastest-growing city and the nation’s 14th largest city. Columbus offers a diverse array of welcoming neighborhoods, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and is home to one of the largest Pride festivals in the Midwest. Columbus is a smart, dynamic and progressive city. Additional information about all that the Columbus area has to offer is available at https://visit.osu.edu/experience.

Application Instructions: Apply to Academic Jobs Online at: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19597.

A complete application consists of a cover letter of interest; curriculum vitae; 3-5 work samples; three references with phone and email contact information; and a statement that articulates your demonstrated commitment and capacities to contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion through research, teaching, mentoring, and /or community engagement. Send all materials by October 25, 2021. Review of applications will begin October 28, 2021, and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date of the position is August 15, 2022. Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Valarie Williams, Professor of Dance, at williams.1415@osu.edu.

The Ohio State University is committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment, encouraging all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. Over the next few years, The Ohio State University is committed to welcoming 350 new faculty hires, many of which will contribute to growing our role as a premier research university equipped to answer and interrogate the critical domestic and global societal challenges that deter equity and inclusion. We are responsive to dual-career families and strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutional policies. The university is a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status.