Visiting Assistant Professor of Contemporary Dance Forms of the African Diaspora

We are seeking an artist/scholar whose creative and scholarly research is situated firmly within an Africanist global intercultural paradigm and who can advance the department's goals in the areas of global dance studies, diversity and inclusion, and community-based creative research. Our new colleague would participate in our majors-level dance technique rotation by offering all levels (beginning to advanced) of contemporary dance practices grounded in the dance cultures and aesthetics of the African diaspora including but not limited to: African, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and/or Afro-fusion forms, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Vogueing, Wacking, J-Setting and/or any other African diasporic dance practices determined by their area(s) of specialization. Additionally, our colleague would contribute by teaching and developing courses both within the department's general education curriculum in Diversity and Inclusion and related to the candidate's areas of expertise and departmental needs. Other services to the program could include undergraduate student advising, supervision of graduate student independent projects and theses, and attending to other departmental and university service assignments. We would welcome an individual with established relationships within the professional field nationally and internationally, and would prioritize candidates: 1) with demonstrated ability to teach dance academic and theory/practice hybrid courses in African diasporic dance cultural studies; 2) who possess the qualifications and experience for instructional versatility in more than one Africanist contemporary movement practice; 3) with demonstrated capacity to engage students from all backgrounds; 4) with a record of sustained and impactful community-based practices.

We will look to our new faculty colleague to design and deliver rigorous curricula grounded in the dance cultures and aesthetics of the African diaspora and collaborate with us on innovative curricular and programmatic initiatives that expand the range of our offerings in dance techniques and cultural dance studies. We especially welcome candidates of diverse cultural and social identities to join our faculty, and to contribute to the heterogeneous and multi-perspective culture of our Department.

Review of applications will begin December 15, 2020 and continue until filled.

Required materials:

• Letter of application including a statement on your preparation to contribute to campus-wide and departmental initiatives toward diversity and inclusion, with evidence of a demonstrated commitment to these tenets


• Curriculum vitae


• A research statement addressing the nature and significance of your creative and/or scholarly research


• A statement of teaching philosophy including for Africanist diasporic dance technique(s) and African diasporic dance cultural studies


• Links to 3-5 work samples of creative research, completed works of any length may be submitted, no excerpts


• Two course syllabi: 1) a practice-based dance course; 2) an African diasporic dance cultural studies course


• Three letters of recommendation


• The names, affiliations and contact information of at least three additional references

The Department and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are strongly committed to diversity; the strategic plans of the University and College reflect this commitment. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preference, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Building on university, collegiate, and departmental commitments to diversity, the department seeks candidates who can contribute to fostering an inclusive community through their teaching, research and service. The department encourages candidates to discuss their preparation for contributing in such ways in their letter of application.