Description
The School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), Division of Dance invites applications for a sessional instructor who will act as a Guest Artist to teach the following three courses in Winter 2026. Lectures for the Winter 2026 term run from January 12 to April 14, 2026. Please see the academic schedule for additional important dates and deadlines.
The sessional instructor will provide students with a strong base in Contemporary, African, and African fusion techniques and creation practices. The successful candidate will also contribute significantly to the students¿ national and international perspective on dance. This position includes teaching three half-course equivalents (HCE) and requires a 14-week commitment from January 12 to April 14, 2026.
The successful candidate will teach courses in contemporary dance technique (with an emphasis on cultural fusion), composition, and African Indigenous and Fusion forms.In addition to teaching responsibilities, the sessional instructor will be contracted to choreograph a dance work for Dance major students, to be presented in the March 2026 production of Mainstage Dance. This creative contribution will be compensated with an additional amount of $3,000.The candidate will be expected to provide service to the Dance Division by mentoring the students they teach.
The successful applicant must have:
- International reputation as an African, Contemporary and Afro-Fusion dance performance artist with minimum seven years professional experience in both genres
- International reputation as an African, Contemporary and Afro-Fusion dance performance artist with minimum seven years professional experience as an ensemble choreographer
- Minimum BFA Dance or equivalent professional training
- Minimum three years teaching Contemporary, African and Afro-Fusion forms of dance at university and/or professional levels
- International perspective on contemporary trends in dance as developed through dance practice
- Minimum seven years experience working as a professional dance artist outside of Alberta, Canada
- Professional experience in the following areas: Contemporary dance techniques from a Afro-Contemporary training perspective, African Indigenous and African Urban forms, with a preferred focus on Bantu Fusion and/or Bantu Urban Fusion forms
Desirable Skills and Abilities:
- Energy, enthusiasm and commitment to excellence in teaching.
- The willingness to work with students having a wide range of skills, varying abilities, motivations, and academic or vocational goals.
- The ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with others in a team environment.
- The ability to use instructional strategies designed for diverse learning styles and academic goals.
- Demonstratable knowledge of current literature on dance.
Winter 2026
DNCE 206.04 / 343.7: African Dance & Special Topics (African Dance & Culture)
Course Dates: January 12 to April 14, 2026
Course Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00-11:50
Course Description: An introduction to African Dance/Special topics in African Dance: Study of the theory and practice of Afro-Urban and Afro-Contemporary fusion forms
DNCE 407 / 507.2:Intermediate Contemporary Dance III / Advanced Contemporary Dance II
Course Dates: January 12 to April 14, 2026
Course Times: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-13:50
Course Description: Further study of intermediate study of the techniques of contemporary dance - this starts the sequence of advanced study of the techniques of contemporary dance.
DNCE 431: Creative Process III: Choreography
Course Dates: January 12 to April 14, 2026
Course Times: Mondays and Wednesdays, 14:00-15:50
Course Description:Continuing focus on developing choreographic structures that support clear artistic statements, with an emphasis on the duet form.
Additional teaching/creation:
As part of this position and in addition to the courses listed above, the Sessional Instructor will need to create one dance work on students for Mainstage Dance. The dance work (15-20 minutes in length) will be rehearsed approximately 6 hours per week and the work will need to be ready for presentation by the opening of the performance series in mid-March 2026.
Application Deadline: May 08, 2025
Application Process:
To apply to the above teaching opportunities, please submit your application documents (in pdf form) to the U of C Careers site, using the ¿Apply Now¿ link.
In support of your application, please provide the following:
- Current CV (if the SCPA does not already have one on file)
- Names and contact information for 3 potential referees
- Evidence of teaching proficiency (teaching evaluations if available)
- Letter of interest describing your qualifications in support of each course taught by the Sessional Instructor as listed as well as a teaching philosophy statement.
- Links to videos of choreographic work with an explanation of context, links to videos of performance works with an explanation of context
Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments, which may require you to merge documents.
If you have any questions, please contact Melanie Kloetzel, Division Lead, Dance, by email at dancedivisionlead@ucalgary.ca
Additional Information:
For salary information, please refer to TUCFA's Collective Agreement, Schedule B. As per the Collective Agreement, the Faculty of Arts adheres to the right of first refusal terms (Section 23.12.1 and 23.12.2) for Sessional Appointments.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments(equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)
For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Faculty of Arts, click here.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
About Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.
