Dance Film and Digital Technologies

Dance

College of Arts and Sciences

 

Position Overview

The Department of Dance seeks a moving image specialist in dance with a demonstrated artistic practice and a vibrant and recognized body of work commensurate with the rank of Assistant Professor. Applicants will ideally be engaged with contemporary aesthetic developments in dance filmmaking, whether in non-fiction, narrative, or experimental filmmaking, or integrated, hybrid, AR/VR, immersive, popular, or other screen practices. They will additionally prioritize interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches to research-based practice and scholarship. 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. We are looking for a versatile individual who can integrate theory and practice in their teaching and research, and in their mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students. We especially encourage applications from filmmakers and screen-based artists who can collaborate to strengthen and refine our existing program, as well as contribute to envision how it might evolve to reflect the future of dance onscreen. We are particularly excited by opportunities to strengthen connections with other entities at Ohio State, including the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Moving Image Production program, and the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, among others. 

 

Dance film faculty teach comprehensive introductory and advanced courses in popular and experimental screen composition, and supervise and advise students making work in a variety of forms, styles, software, and platforms. As our moving image curriculum is grounded in project-based instruction, our new colleague will cultivate a space of curiosity where students can learn and think at the edge of what these practices can be. We therefore seek someone to mentor students through the entire creative workflow from conceptualization to public sharing, and who will be able to connect with students coming from disciplinary areas across campus with different background knowledge and experience.

 

In research, our new colleague will have, or have the promise of establishing, a sustained interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary creative research agenda rooted in dance, which may include collaborative, curatorial, and/or scholarly projects.   

 

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: Candidates are required to have an MFA or PhD in Dance, Film, or a related field by the appointment start date of August 15, 2024. ABDs welcome to apply.

 

Desired: Prior teaching at the university level is preferred. Applicants should be conversant with contemporary critical discourses in the field as well as demonstrate a knowledge of contemporary hemispheric, circum-Atlantic, African and/or Latinx Diasporic, Asian, Pacific, Indigenous, queer/cuir/quare or transnational histories and trends in screen practices. We are especially interested in an artist-educator who will advance the Department’s commitment to an inclusive 21^st century dance curriculum by contributing to other areas as well, including but not limited to movement practice, composition and creative process, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improvisation. Candidates should demonstrate attentiveness to building a diverse intellectual community in alignment with Ohio State’s shared values (see below).

 

How to Apply

Apply to the Careers at Ohio State website at https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Assistant-Professor--Dance-Film-and-Digital-Technologies_R89693-1. A competitive application consists of the following required elements: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, separate research and teaching statements, and links to work samples.

 

You will be presented with the opportunity to attach up to FIVE documents in the Application Documents section. Please include the following:

• Attachment 1: Cover Letter: A brief letter of introduction including a summary of your research trajectory, why you are interested in this opportunity, and how you see yourself connecting with the culture and curriculum of the Department on Dance.
• Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and exhibitions/performances/publications.
• Attachment 3: Research Statement: A summary of your past research accomplishments, current work/research, and proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member.   
• Attachment 4: Teaching Statement: A statement of your approaches, experience and philosophy regarding your teaching, learning, and mentoring.
• Attachment 5: A list of links to 3-5 work samples of any length with brief descriptions of your contributions, as well as any information necessary to access the files.

 

Applicants who advance past the first round of review will be asked for names and contact information for three reference letters at a later date.

 

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries may be directed to Charles O. Anderson at anderson.4357@osu.edu.

 

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success. 

 

Department Information

Through a focus on praxis, or the symbiotic relationship between theory and practice, the mission of The Ohio State University Department of Dance is: to educate students through a breadth of study in contemporary dance, integrating areas of movement practice, creative investigation, and theoretical inquiry; to make significant contributions to research and creative activity in the field of dance; and to provide leadership in service to the field of dance. 
 
The department offers three degree programs: BFA, MFA, and PhD. All programs seek to provide the best possible preparation for dance professionals including challenging dance experiences in and out of the studio and classroom that influence and reflect the changing contemporary dance scene and its relationship(s) to culture. Diverse course offerings occur in the following areas: contemporary and traditional dance techniques, somatic practices, performance, choreography, creative technologies for dance, dance film, dance lighting and production, dance history, theory and criticism, movement analysis, anti-racism and social justice, dance education, directing from score and Labanotation and Laban movement studies. Faculty and graduates of The Ohio State University Department of Dance demonstrate excellence in the field of dance through national and international recognition as leaders in many professional arenas. 
 
Furthermore, the Department of Dance recognizes a responsibility to build public understanding and appreciation of dance as a diverse creative, cultural, and educational expression. In pursuit of this goal, the department provides a minor in dance, elective dance classes, and public performances for both the university community and the central Ohio region. 

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

 

The Ohio State University’s Shared Values include Excellence and Impact, Diversity and Innovation, Inclusion and Equity, Care and Compassion, and Integrity and Respect. Our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

 

Ohio State is a dynamic community where opportunity thrives, and individuals transform themselves and their world. Positions are available in countless fields and specialties. Become a Buckeye and contribute to an incredible legacy that serves to guide our future and shape a better tomorrow.

 

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established Dual Careers and Faculty Relocation (DCFR) to focus on supporting new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual careers partner consultations, identifying potential employers and/or employment opportunities, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are provided to support the partners of new and prospective faculty as they are considering or transitioning to The Ohio State University.  

 

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is an NSF ADVANCE institution and a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

 

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. In addition to its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to Ohio State ATI in Wooster. 

 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

 

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.