| Job Summary: The Department of Art and Performance Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana invites applicants for a tenure track position in African Dance (with a specialty in West African dance) and choreography at the early Assistant Professor level beginning August 2023. The ideal candidate will have an MFA in Dance, or a PhD in a related area. The successful candidate will be an accomplished and active scholar and/or artist who maintains a creative and/or scholarly practice in dance performance and/or choreography. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to training students and engaging with current developments in dance pedagogy. The department seeks candidates whose area of concentration is West African and African diasporic dance forms; indigenous dance forms; dance and community activism; or screen-dance/dance and technology. Qualified candidates should possess a promising record of performance-based scholarship and be able to support our growing department of HBCU students through advising as well as mentorship. The department is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds, minimizing barriers, and increasing equity and completion rates between members of different demographic groups. Duties The new faculty member will be expected to: 1) Teach 12 credit hours per semester, dance and dance cultures, African and/or African Diasporic technique at all levels (for example: West African, street styles, Afro-Latinx dances, and/or social dance); dance making; dance histories; or embodied rhythms; other courses of interest, 2) Engage in social justice service to the university and local community, and 3) Produce creative work in the field of Dance. Additional responsibilities include student mentoring, department service, and other duties as assigned. Opportunities may also include directing and/or choreographing for concerts featuring work by faculty and guests. About our Department The Department of Art and Performance Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana is a diverse group of professors and dedicated students with unique interests. The Department of Art and Performance Studies provides teaching and guidance in a well-rounded, stimulating atmosphere that calls forth each student's potential. In support of the University's mission, the Department of Art and Performance Studies is committed to preparing students to be visually aware and socially conscious. Students investigate and develop studio skills, historical analysis, individual aesthetics, and methods of evaluation within a mentorship environment. Courses are designed to enhance fundamental professional training for all students, stimulate intellectual curiosity, and provide an opportunity to expand personal creative experiences. For all our majors, we offer fundamental professional preparation through broad studio activities, assist the individual in finding and building upon his/her strengths in an effort to pursue a successful career. Problem-solving, research, community collaboration, and the integration of creative and technical practices lay at the root of our visual arts program.
About Xavier University of Louisiana Founded in 1925 by Saint Katherine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Xavier is the only Catholic Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Located in New Orleans, the ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. This preparation takes place in a diverse learning and teaching environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service. Minimum Qualifications: - MFA in Dance, or a PhD in a related area
- Terminal degree, or foreign equivalent, in dance or a related field required by start of appointment with practical experience in dance performance and/or choreography.
- Strong commitment to teaching four classes per semester, primarily in West African dance & choreography.
- Demonstrate a strong potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.
- Ability to develop and teach face-to-face as well as online classes.
- The ability to contribute through research, teaching, and/or public engagement to the diversity and excellence of the Department of Art and Performance Studies.
Preferred Qualifications: - Expertise in African and/or African Diasporic dances and their cultural histories;
- A strong studio and creative profile, and
- A minimum of one year prior experience (part-time acceptable) teaching dance at the college or university level.
- Demonstrated experience and commitment to teaching, and/or mentoring a diverse student population.
- Performance-based scholarly agenda and examples of creative or performance-based scholarship.
Education: Master's |
