Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A., and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff that make the university what it is.

The hallmark of the newly-established USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance — as expressed in its motto “The New Movement” — is the development of a new movement model expressed in new media, scholarship, studio practice and choreography for the 21st century. The school provides students with foundational knowledge, opportunities for artistic development, access to a diverse performance repertory, exposure to world-renowned practicing artists, dance conditioning, and strategic career venture skills.

In the fall of 2015, USC Kaufman enrolled its first cohort of BFA dance majors. USC Kaufman also offers a robust array of non-major and minor offerings in dance open to all USC students. The dance minor is designed to present undergraduate students with a focus on the discipline of dance as an educational tool for study and research, offering students an interdisciplinary experience compatible with a variety of majors. Visit the School’s website at kaufman.usc.edu for more information.

The Glorya Kaufman School of Dance invites applications for a full-time Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance (Teaching). We are looking for an innovative, versatile artist-scholar with the ability to teach academic courses (general education courses, colloquia and seminars), Improvisation and/or Composition, Repertory and any of the offered Kaufman technique forms (African, Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Ballroom, Bollywood, Commercial, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Jazz, Tap) in the studio. We welcome applications from artist-scholars from multiple genres of dance practice and performance. Additional skills in any of the somatic practices are also welcome.

Additional responsibilities to include mentoring students on academic and career goals, collaborating with faculty on student evaluations, grading and assessment, participating in the recruitment, review, and selection of prospective students, serving on departmental committees, and overseeing dance productions on a rotating basis with other faculty. Applicants will be expected to represent USC Kaufman at the University as well as within local, national and international dance communities. Candidates will serve a diverse student population, must demonstrate a commitment to improving outcomes for historically under-served populations, and are expected to contribute to the School’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts.

The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance is interested in recruiting candidates who have demonstrated an ongoing, successful engagement with the highest standards of scholarship and/or creative activity, consistent with the expectations for excellence in a Research I university.

Successful candidates will: (1) have significant professional and/or university-level experience in teaching theory courses in the academic classroom (2) have significant professional and/or university-level experience in teaching improvisation or composition (3) possess expertise in one or more forms of dance including but not limited to African, Afro-Cuban, Ballet, Ballroom, Bollywood, Commercial, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theater, Jazz or Tap (4) possess an established reputation as an artist and educator in the dance community.

STARTING DATE: August 15, 2022. This is a Full-Time, Non-Tenure Track appointment.

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS to begin January 1, 2022 and continues until the position is filled.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BA/BFA in dance or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of educational experience.
Professional or University-level experience teaching dance and/or significant experience as a master teacher (teaching young artists and professionals).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

M.A., M.F.A, or Ph.D. in Dance or a related field.