Clinical Assistant Professor of Dance, Jazz Dance Practices - University at Buffalo

The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, invites applications for a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dance with a specialization in Jazz dance practice. This is a full-time faculty (10 month), renewable term appointment, with an emphasis on teaching, undergraduate recruitment and artistic service. The ideal candidate will have an established/emerging reputation within the multifaceted world of Jazz dance, a student-centered inclusive pedagogy and an interest in contributing their talents to the already established Jazz dance curricular track.



Duties and Responsibilities:

The primary responsibility will be to teach jazz dance rooted in the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic traditions and histories of the genre, and to engage specific schools of thought and practices that may include: African diasporic forms, hip hop, Latin jazz, classic jazz, vernacular jazz, commercial dance, tap, and musical theatre dance, amongst others. The candidate will interact with the various dance degree programs (Dance BA/BFA/MFA and Music Theatre BFA) and be able to teach across the six levels of jazz. They must have preparation to teach in a secondary studio area, such as: modern/contemporary, ballet, partnering, improvisation, somatic practice, social ballroom dance, etc., and be able to teach seminar courses and contribute to department productions through choreography and/or artistic directorship.



In addition to instructing majors, the successful candidate will contribute to general education through delivery of a Performance Appreciation course, and/or first year seminar (seated, online, and/or hybrid). Online teaching experience and knowledge of digital platforms available in the education industry is preferred, and applicants must be equipped to provide consistent, timely, and effective feedback to students through digital channels. Our new colleague will play an instrumental role in undergraduate and graduate retention, recruitment and community engagement initiatives. This individual must be a team player who supports the department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.



The Dance program at the University at Buffalo graduated its first cohort of MFA Dance candidates in the spring 2020, with an emphasis on embodied inquiry and creative practice. This new program has attracted students with diverse interests who want to expand their dance making skills in an interdisciplinary environment that supports collaborative artistic creation. The MFA complements our dynamic undergraduate and graduate program offerings that include BA & BFA in Dance, MA & PhD in Theatre & Performance, and BAs & BFAs in Theatre, Music Theatre, and Design Technology. We produce a full season of dance concerts, music theatre productions, and dramatic works with UB’s Center for the Arts and Katharine Cornell Theatre and host numerous guest artists and scholars. The department is a hub for interdisciplinary arts activity within the university, intersecting with Music, Visual Studies, Media Study, Architecture, Poetry, the Humanities Institute, and the Arts Collaboratory, among others. The department’s performance degrees offer in-depth curriculums with creative tracks that prepare students for a broad range of professional careers. Please visit our website at www.theatredance.buffalo.edu



Buffalo, NY is a vibrant arts and cultural center that includes over twenty theatres, several professional and community dance organizations, and numerous art galleries. It is home to well-known cultural entities, including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Ujima Theatre Company, ArtPark, Squeaky Wheel Media Arts Center, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, African American Cultural Center, Just Buffalo Literary Center, Burchfield Penney Art Center and more. Buffalo is centrally located, with easy access to major metropolitan hubs in the Northeast including New York City, Boston, Chicago, Toronto and Montreal. Located on Lake Erie, just south of Niagara Falls, Buffalo’s surrounding natural areas, state parks, beaches, rivers and ski areas provide abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure.



University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In your cover letter please address how your qualifications are well matched with the job description.



All application materials should be submitted via UB Jobs (P#F2100006). Include links to teaching videos under the jazz umbrella (Teaching Videos). Include links to current choreographic work samples in the jazz genre (Choreographic Work Samples).

Application materials submitted directly to the posting contact will not be acknowledged and cannot be considered.

https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/27680



Minimum Qualifications

• MFA or equivalent professional experience

• 1 year higher education/adult teaching experience.

• Demonstrated expertise in jazz dance pedagogy (practices and histories), jazz repertoire, and commercial/theatrical forms.

• Secondary area of practice such as, but not limited to: modern/contemporary, ballet, partnering, improvisation, somatics, social ballroom dance, etc.



Preferred Qualifications

• Online teaching experience, experience teaching a large seated course and/or general education curriculum.

• Experience in undergraduate and graduate retention, recruitment and community outreach initiatives.

• Experience collaborating on projects/events with others departments in the University, College of Arts and Sciences and/or community.