Description
The Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Practice in Dance (non-tenure track). The successful candidate will have demonstrated expertise in ballet and the ability to build and teach curriculum in/across one or more of the following areas: contemporary and/or traditional dance forms, somatic practices, performance and repertory, dance studies, choreography, and/or movement improvisation. The ideal applicant will capably teach all skill levels and confidently address multiple levels of ability within a single class. This position teaches courses for non-majors, dance majors (BFA and BA), and dance minors and contributes administration, expertise, and leadership through university, college, department, and area service commitments. The department encourages balancing professional rigor with student-centered pedagogy consistent with the expectations of a public university.
This position is part of the Dance Area, which offers an MFA in Dance, BA in Theatre and Dance, BFA with a Performance and Choreography emphasis, BFA with a Dance Education emphasis, and a Dance minor. The Dance Area’s priority is to cultivate well-rounded artist citizens with a broad range of skills who can compete in and contribute to the shifting landscape of the performing arts and entertainment fields with agency and innovation. The faculty encourage students to develop concrete skills in dance with roots in live performance while simultaneously emphasizing the application of those skills to a variety of contexts and disciplines. The Dance Area supports and is supported by programs in Acting, Directing and Playwriting, Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities/Theatre Education, Live Design and Production, and Performance as Public Practice. This position requires relocation to Austin, TX.
As an integral part of the thriving creative culture of Austin, Texas, the Department of Theatre and Dance offers an array of programs to prepare artists, scholars, and teachers to make profound contributions to theatre and dance through engaging study, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exceptional performance experiences. The department has 35 full-time faculty members and 18 full-time staff members and is housed in well-equipped facilities, which include black box, proscenium, and lab theatres; teaching and practice spaces; and state-of-the-art design and computing labs. The department produces six large-scale and numerous small productions per year, including the largest student-driven biennial New Works Festival in the country.
The University of Texas at Austin is a flagship, tier-one research institution situated in Austin, Texas, a city known for its vibrancy, quality of life, and active engagement in the arts. The University has been awarded the Seal of Excelencia, designating it as a Hispanic Serving Institution.
Minimum salary: $63,000, Nine-month appointment
Start Date: August 2027
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Terminal degree in dance or a related field.
- Demonstrated ability to teach all levels of ballet technique and coursework in two or more of the following specialties: somatic practices/conditioning, experiential anatomy, repertory, movement composition/choreography, movement improvisation, dance studies/dance history, commercial dance, and/or professional development.
Preferred Qualifications
- History of working in the dance field in one or more of the following areas: performer/company member, choreographer, studio owner, dance educator.
- Demonstrated success in teaching in higher education as a guest artist, teaching artist, adjunct faculty, teaching assistant, or faculty member.
- Demonstrated ability to proactively engage students in emerging professional development and employment strategies in the dance profession.
- Administrative experience sufficient to maximize opportunities for engagement with our learning communities and to competently fulfill service requirements to the Dance Area, Theatre and Dance Department, and University.
- Demonstrated ability to balance professional rigor with student-centered pedagogy consistent with the expectations of a public university.
- A history of working across artistic and academic disciplines and facilitating productive engagement with colleagues in content areas of the department other than dance.
The selection committee encourages applications from candidates who do not meet all of the preferred qualifications.
Application Instructions
Review of applications will begin November 30, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.
To apply for the position, please submit the following documents to Interfolio:
- A letter of application that speaks to the required and preferred qualifications of the position
- Curriculum Vitae
- Link or links to examples of professional engagement in the field such as professional website, documentation of creative work, teaching portfolio, written scholarship, etc.
- A list of three professional references and contact information (letters will be requested for short-listed candidates)
Additional materials, such as full letters of support, may be requested at a later date.
For additional inquiries email theatreanddance@utexas.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
