Assistant Teaching Professor in West African Dance

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Job posting number: #7137381

Posted: March 31, 2023

Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

Department of Theatre and Dance
Assistant Teaching Professor in West African Dance
Ball State University

The Department of Theatre and Dance invites applications for a one-year, non-tenure line Assistant Teaching Professor position of West African Dance beginning August 2023.

The College of Fine Arts empowers our community to be creative thinkers, citizens, and problem solvers. Students experience a distinctive education with nationally recognized faculty members and staff, high-profile alumni, and curricula and programming that focuses on collaboration, empathy, inclusion and hard work. We prepare them for many futures and multiple career paths in, around, and beyond the arts.

The Ball State Department of Theatre and Dance is growing and changing. We offer eight diverse curricular options that develop and nurture each student’s creativity, curiosity, and collaborative skills. We inspire our students to be thinkers, responsible citizens, and motivated artists who will make a difference in creating the next generation’s voice. We are seeking collegial, collaborative faculty with excellent communication and organizational skills to join us. The department is a BFA/BA/BS undergraduate-only program with over 350 theatre majors, 65 dance majors and 45 full-time faculty/staff. The Department plays an active role in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) and with the American College Dance Association (ACDA). Ball State is accredited by both the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). Our undergraduate only program, low student-to-faculty ratio, hands-on advising and mentoring from a faculty of working professionals, and distinguished guest artists.

Our dynamic faculty function as collaborative, innovative, inclusive, and adaptive members of the College of Fine Arts community, both within and beyond the home unit, serving as quality teachers, productive in creative and/or scholarly work, engaged in public service activities, and contributing to the Ball State and Muncie communities and beyond. Additionally, lifelong learning at Ball State University extends educational engagement beyond the classroom and includes learning for professional development, personal enrichment, or other goals throughout one’s lifetime. Faculty will be expected to participate in the departments, colleges, and university’s lifelong learning opportunities when available and may be assigned teaching responsibility in this area as part of their overall responsibilities.

Ball State University lives the values of Beneficence. We invite you to be part of our community.

Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State University’s ambitious goals for our second century:
• We pledge to provide a premier educational experience for every student.
• We pledge to partner with the community to improve the lives of our neighbors.
• We are dedicated to having a lifelong presence in the lives of our alumni.
And when we complement these promises with our commitment to our enduring values, we define that which makes our University and its culture distinctive.

At Ball State University, Inclusiveness and freedom of expression are a part of our enduring values and inform all of our efforts. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Inclusive Excellence Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

Position Function: Teaching load will include all levels of coursework in West African dance, art of storytelling, dance history I, dance history II, introduction to dance, and worlds of dance. The ideal candidate will also have expertise in at least two additional technique areas including, but not limited to, hip hop, commercial, yoga, jazz, tap, musical theatre dance, ballet, and somatics. This individual will play an active leadership role within the Department, College, and University’s efforts related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). The successful candidate also will work with their dance colleagues to collaborate on the vision, design, and management of the Dance program, help facilitate both the University and Theatre/Dance core curriculums, mentor student creativity and research, and perform departmental and advisory duties as assigned. Possibilities also exist for creative assignments within our production season. This includes regularly choreographing and directing dance concerts or musicals when the opportunity exists.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in dance or related discipline or equivalent professional experience completed by date of employment.
• Experience teaching students in a collegiate/university setting.
• Ability to teach all levels of West African dance and related global dance forms.
• Expertise in the area of dance history and/or introduction to dance.
• Expertise in at least two technique areas including, but not limited to, hip hop, commercial, yoga, jazz, tap, musical theatre dance, ballet, and somatics.
• The ability to serve as a recruiter and advocate on a National level for the BFA Dance Program.
Candidates for searches must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.
Preferred Qualifications:
• M.F.A. in Dance completed by date of employment.
• Three years of teaching experience at the university/college level.
• Ability to serve as an artist for production work when needed.
• Experience with professional organizations that champion DEIB initiatives and programs.
Apply online at: https://bsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/36377

Salary and benefit packages for this position are competitive, with salaries for this opportunity beginning at $50,000 annually.

Submit a one-page letter of application, curriculum vita/resume, an inclusive excellence statement, a one-page teaching philosophy, and samples of creative work (uploaded to the other category) to Ball State. The names and contact information for three professional references are required in the application.
In the Applicant Documents section of this application, please provide an inclusive excellence statement describing how you would contribute to the development of a diverse and inclusive learning community at Ball State University through your teaching, research, and/or service. Please include examples of your contributions when possible. Word limit 500.

The option to upload transcripts is available. Original, official transcripts showing the highest related degree earner is required at the time of hire (even if obtained at BSU). Degree verification will be conducted.

Review of applications will begin immediately and to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by April 24, 2023.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 120 undergraduate programs. We offer more than 140 master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees, with many of them ranking among the best in the nation. Ball State aspires to be the model of the most student-centered and community-engaged of the 21st century public research universities, transforming entrepreneurial learners into impactful leaders – committed to improving the quality of life for all.

The Ball State way is rooted in the Beneficence Pledge – a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, honesty and integrity, social responsibility, gratitude and valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Ball State students, faculty and staff are empowered in a culture that believes in them and demands they believe in themselves. They are partners in an innovative, immersive approach to education. They are supported by living and learning facilities that enable intellectual curiosity. We graduate scholars who are changing the world, and we’ve dedicated our University to do the same.

The university offers an excellent wellness program and extensive benefits offerings to include a generous paid time off package and paid parental leave. For further information regarding benefits please visit: https://cms.bsu.edu/About/AdministrativeOffices/HumanResources/Jobs/Benefits-and-Community/Faculty

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.


At Ball State University, we recognize inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill our University’s mission and our strategic plan. We recruit, support, and retain a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We encourage and reward diversity of thought. We promote a work environment that encourages and rewards innovation and creativity. We pledge to keep Inclusive Excellence at the highest level of institutional importance and as a foundation in all that we strive to do. Our over-arching goal for Inclusive Excellence is to adopt a university-wide Inclusive Excellence approach to academic, administrative support, and service functions of the university. We believe Inclusive Excellence must be infused in every step we take.


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Job posting number:#7137381
Application Deadline:Open Until Filled
Employer Location:Ball State University
Muncie,Indiana
United States
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