The Department of Dance seeks a scholar-practitioner with a demonstrated artistic practice at the rank of Assistant Professor with a focus in interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches to research-based practice and scholarship. The ideal colleague’s research will be rooted in the dances and cultures of the Latin Americas, Caribbean and/or African Diaspora. The Department is committed to investigations of dance through embodied practices, historical inquiries, and technological explorations to continue to ask the question, “what is contemporary dance?” We are invested in deepening our engagement with underrepresented archives and repertoires in dance and dance studies. The committee welcomes transnational, hemispheric, circum-Atlantic, and global frameworks and methodologies with expertise in African diaspora dance/music from the Caribbean, Latin Americas, or United States, who is actively and potently engaged in creative and theoretical inquiry into such practices as: contemporary or historic folkloric dance forms, vernacular and/or street dance movement practices, movement practices informed by queer/quare/cuir theory, or creative choreographic processes.

The candidate has the potential to establish relationships with communities, practitioners, and scholars of the African Diaspora, and will further develop the department’s ties across the arts and humanities, within our local community, and internationally. We are interested in candidates who could help to establish new relationships in the Global South including the Caribbean, South America, and Mexico as well as support our established connections with Brazil, Cuba, and Senegal; or help to establish new relationships in the Caribbean or other locales in the Global South. The candidate will advance the department’s commitment to manifesting a pluralistic and inclusive 21st century dance curriculum.

This position is one of a cluster of three Race, Arts, and Creative Expressions tenure track hires in The Ohio State University’s Race, Inclusion and Social Equity (RAISE) initiative. There is another position in the Department of African American and African Studies and a third position in the Department of History of Art. The successful candidate will be expected to engage with other faculty in the Global Black Arts cluster.

Through the Race, Inclusion and Social Equity (RAISE) initiative, Ohio State is enhancing our world-class research program on race, inclusion, and social equity. Over the next decade, the university will add at least 50 tenure-track faculty members to existing scholars whose research can help to narrow social disparities in educational attainment, health outcomes, rates of incarceration, political representation, environmental impacts, and economic well-being. Adding scholars in focused areas will enhance the University’s outstanding faculty and inform solutions to intractable issues. RAISE is part of Ohio State’s larger initiative to expand the size and impact of Ohio State’s faculty over the coming decade, while also enhancing academic and personal resources to support Ohio State scholars, educators, and practitioners through all phases of their careers.

Our new colleague will contribute:

• In Teaching: Ability to teach historical, ethnographic, and other theoretical courses pertaining to the diasporas of their expertise, including for PhD students, is expected. Teaching in the areas of creative practice as well as rigorous contemporary movement practice courses rooted in Latinx and/or Africanist aesthetics, including, but not limited to Chicanx, Afro-Latinx and, Caribbean forms; Afro-fusion and Pan-African techniques, and vernacular and street dance practices at all levels of the BFA and MFA programs is strongly desired. Additional areas of teaching expertise could include improvisation, social and folkloric dances, screendance, dance and technology, dance and anti-racism or social justice, dance criticism and writing, among others.
• In Research: A research agenda focused on investigations of global conversations in Latinx, Chicanx and/or the African Diaspora. Versed in both scholarly writing and embodied modes of research inquiry, that apply theoretical frameworks to contemporary dance practices, and center Afro-diasporic movement vocabularies, subjects, or philosophies. advancing anti-racism and centering equity, diversity, and inclusion Scholarly and/or creative contributions that speak to Latinx and/or Afro-centric choreography for concert stages, and/or other venues, including collaborative, interdisciplinary, and/or curatorial projects are also valued.
• In Service: Leadership in undergraduate and graduate programs, curriculum development, advising, and governance within the department, college, university, and the professional field.

Qualifications: MFA or PhD required by appointment start date of August 15, 2023; PhD preferred. ABDs welcome to apply. Appointment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to a criminal background check.