Job Details

Quarterly Lecturer: Dance Choreographer

Position Number: 6312157
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Fine and Applied Arts - Theatre and Dance

Quarterly Lecturer: Dance Choreographer

Position Title:
Quarterly Lecturer: Dance Choreographer

Position Type:
Temporary

Salary Range:

$9,552 for each 4 or 5 unit course. The position is a 1.0 course load split 0.5 in Fall 2025, 0.5 Winter 2026.

Purpose:

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, seeks applicants for Quarterly Lecturer (non-tenure track) positions to teach courses in Dance Choreography - Rehearsal and Performance for the Fall and Winter quarters 2025-2026. Specific assignments will be made according to the academic qualifications of the individual and programmatic need.

The Department seeks an experienced dance choreographer working in any regional, place-based, spiritual, culturally-specific, or historical dance tradition that originates outside of a U.S. concert dance context (e.g., outside of ballet, modern and jazz forms). Hybrid forms and fusion techniques are also of interest i.e. K-Pop, Bollywood.

Santa Clara University is on the quarter system, and the quarters are 10 weeks long with an 11th week for final examinations. The successful candidate will teach no more than 2 courses in any quarter and no more than four courses over the fall, winter and spring quarters. All classes will be presented in- person, however, if the county health and university health conditions deteriorate, the successful candidate may be asked to teach part of the course online.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Terminal degree (Ph.D./MFA) in Dance or a closely-related field. Applicants who are ABD or possess a Master's degree, accompanied by commensurate academic experience in Dance or a closely-related field (5-7 years of college or professional teaching) will be considered.
Demonstrated excellence in teaching dance at the college level.
Excellent communication skills.
Prior experience choreographing in a non-Western style, i.e. Indian Classical or Contemporary, African, Middle-Eastern, Asian or Pacific-Islander at the university level or commensurate professional experience.
Collaborative work style and strong organizational skills.
Ability to carry out professional duties of position, working with department directors, designers, technical director and student dancers.
Commitment to teaching theatre and dance within a liberal arts context.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

MFA in Dance.
Experience with inclusive pedagogical practices that promote access and academic success for all students.
Experience teaching and mentoring a diverse population of undergraduate students.

RESPONSIBILITIES

TEACHING (100%)
Teaching duties will not exceed more than two courses in any quarter and no more than four in any academic year, and will include but are not limited to fulfilling all responsibilities associated with assigned courses, including:
a. Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting it effectively;
b. Assigning and evaluating assignments that align with the course description and course learning outcomes, and providing timely feedback to students;
c. Holding regular weekly office hours on campus;
d. Submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline;
e. Administering numerical and narrative evaluations for all courses;
f. Where applicable, teaching from an approved syllabus for the University Core courses assigned or working with the Chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee.

Duties for DANC 29/129 - Rehearsal and Performance: Images 2026 include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Create an original dance on 10 or more intermediate/advanced dancers for Images 2026 departmental dance concert.
2. Participate in Images audition (tentatively scheduled for late afternoon/evening of September 29) and conduct all assigned rehearsals through Fall and Winter quarters. Specific schedule to be discussed during interview process.
3. Communicate with Images Director for all logistical needs.

4. Assess and, following the final performance, report student performance to Images director.
4. Attend both all-day technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals.
5. Attend design and production meetings as required.
6. Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or the Chair of the Department.

SERVICE (0%)

This position does not require any service duties. You may be invited, but not required, to attend department meetings or activities.

REQUESTED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Please submit the following documents by JULY 6, 2025

Letter of interest describing your background and experience as a dance educator and choreographer;
CV, including choreographic record;
Samples of previous works available on the internet;
A two-paragraph statement outlining a proposed choreographic work to be set on 10 or more SCU intermediate/advanced dancers. Please include possible themes and address your rehearsal creative working process;
Names and contact information from two choreographic references (both email and phone numbers).

Questions can be directed to: Kimberly Mohne Hill, kihill@scu.edu

Letters of recommendation (if requested) and additional documentation should be sent to Ruth Mikusko, Academic Department Manager [rmikusko@scu.edu].

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Fall Quarter is September 22 - December 12, 2025.

Winter Quarter is January 5 - March 13, 2026.

Technical rehearsals: Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, 2026.

Dress rehearsals: Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

Performances: Thursday, February 5 - Sunday, February 8, 2026.

In addition to teaching the course, the successful candidate will attend all four nights of the dance concert.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please note that your employment is subject to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 ("Local 1021"; see https://www.scu.edu/provost/faculty-affairs/cba-ntt/).

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Work Authorization:

SCU does not sponsor any applicants for work visas for this position. The successful candidate must be able to provide evidence of identity and legal authorization to work in the United States.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Quarterly-Lecturer--Dance-Choreographer_R6229