Assistant Professor Dance - Ballet

Assistant Professor of Dance

The Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University invites applications for Assistant Professor of Dance with an emphasis in Ballet, a tenure-track position, starting Fall 2024.

The department seeks a professional artist with a national/international performing, teaching, creative and/or scholarly profile. The successful candidate will have experience teaching at the university level with a demonstrated commitment to training pre-professional dancers to be successful in a rapidly changing and diverse dance industry.

Responsibilities: Must be able to teach all levels of Ballet technique as well as pointe, and/or variations and/or pas de deux. Must also be able to teach at least one of the following: cross-cultural dance studies, dance history, composition, improvisation, somatic practice, dance science, dance technology, and/or dance entrepreneurship. There are also opportunities to teach in other areas of specialization.

Candidates should expect to work closely with undergraduate students and be able to communicate effectively to a diverse group, both orally and in writing. Principal responsibilities include teaching, staging or choreographing works, and serving on departmental and university-wide committees. The successful candidate will be committed to teaching within a vibrant/demanding conservatory environment and demonstrate the potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring and creative activity with undergraduates. All faculty in the Conservatory share in significant advising and mentoring of students on both academic and career goals.

Tenure-track faculty at Point Park University are expected to conduct creative activity/research in their area of expertise. These activities include, but are not limited to, research leading to publication of books and/or articles in academic and professional journals, performances/choreography in the fine and performing arts, seeking funding in support of research and teaching needs, and contributing to workshops and conferences.

Qualifications: Terminal degree or an equivalent record of professional accomplishments in the field. A minimum of 3 years of successful university teaching and/or extensive professional teaching experience is required. Must have at least five years of professional dance experience. Demonstrated creative and/or scholarly activity in the dance field. Candidates with experience working with diverse student populations and/or committed to diversity and inclusion through student engagement, teaching, scholarship, and service, are of particular interest to the Department and the University.

Point Park University Mission Statement: Point Park University provides innovative undergraduate education in a dynamic urban setting. Dedicated to academic excellence and community engagement, we prepare students of diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skill, and experience to lead meaningful lives as informed citizens and successful professionals.

About the University: Located in the heart of one of the most livable cities in the US, Point Park University, was recently listed as a 2018-2019 college of distinction. The university is a vibrant, urban campus located at the periphery of historic Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh, with an enrollment of approximately 4000 full and part-time students in more than 50 areas of academic study. With over 300 full-time undergraduate students, the Dance Department is one of three departments in the University’s prestigious and nationally recognized Conservatory of Performing Arts. The department offers a B.F.A. degree in Dance, with concentrations in Ballet, Jazz and Modern. Admission is highly competitive, with students matriculating from 47 states and around the world. The programs are professionally oriented with rigorous training in dance technique and a strong academic curriculum, which provides the skills needed for success in today’s world and also addresses social, cultural, and political issues.

Application: Please forward a letter of application, Current Curriculum vita/professional resume, statement of teaching philosophy, list of three professional references with contact information, and samples of creative work via DVD or URL to: Search Committee Chair – Department of Dance, Conservatory of Performing Arts, Point Park University, 201 Wood Street, Suite 625 LH, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or by e-mail to: Dancejobs@pointpark.edu. If submitting your application by e-mail, please note that the subject line must state the position for which you are applying. Review of applications will begin on January 6, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience. 

Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States and not require employer sponsorship.

Point Park University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For additional information, visit http://www.pointpark.edu.