Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track Faculty Position, Department of Musical Theatre

Description

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE & DANCE. SMTD cultivates artistic vitality, advances knowledge, and serves the public good through exceptional teaching, creative practice, scholarly inquiry, and community engagement. As a premier performing arts school in a world class public research institution, we prepare students to lead with both artistic excellence and ethical action, enriching society through the transformative power of the performing arts.

Summary: The Department of Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan seeks a tenure-track faculty member in dance to provide artistic leadership and strengthen our dance curriculum. The ideal candidate will possess expertise in musical theatre dance styles, including classical jazz, tap, contemporary, and other evolving movement forms shaping the professional field. This position combines high-level instruction, choreography for departmental productions and special projects, and mentorship of students, preparing them for versatile professional careers. Candidates should have experience in higher education and/or equivalent professional practice, with a demonstrated ability to contribute fresh perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, and leadership to the department’s artistic and academic mission.

Duties: The appointee will teach dance classes for undergraduate students from first through senior year in the Department of Musical Theatre, covering core musical theatre dance styles—including ballet, jazz, and tap—while introducing diverse, contemporary, and culturally relevant forms shaping the professional field. The teaching load for the appointee will consist of five courses, or four courses and a choreography assignment, per academic year. The appointee will oversee choreography for departmental productions, special events, and the senior showcase, ensuring high artistic standards and consistency across performances. In addition to teaching and choreography, the appointee will have opportunities to provide artistic leadership and contribute to the long-term vision of the dance program. The appointee will also mentor students in technical development, performance, choreography, and professional readiness, contribute to curricular innovation, and advise students on career pathways while supporting the integration of dance with acting and singing.

The appointee will be expected to: demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence; create an innovative curriculum for a broad range of students of varied identities and backgrounds who seek to explore a range of educational opportunities and career pathways; recruit and retain students of exceptional promise; and continue to develop and maintain a visible national and/or international profile as a performer and a pedagogue. The appointee will also be expected to participate in faculty governance, attend faculty meetings, and serve on faculty and university committees as appropriate.

Qualifications

Qualifications: The appointee will have significant professional experience as a performer, choreographer, or director in the musical theatre and/or dance world, and/or prior university teaching experience demonstrating effective pedagogy and curriculum development.

Required: An MFA, or commensurate professional experience, in dance, choreography, or a related field; thorough knowledge of traditional musical theatre dance styles–ballet, jazz, tap–as well as contemporary and culturally diverse forms; demonstrated ability to empower, advocate for, and value a broad range of students of varied identities and experiences, as shown through pedagogy, mentoring, and related activities.

Preferred: Experience in curriculum development; experience supporting student understanding of professional pathways, industry expectations, and the structural and business practices of the musical theatre industry.

Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track

Work Mode: This position is expected to teach on campus weekly. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work are approved at the discretion of the Dean.

Application Instructions

To Apply: Materials are only being accepted via Interfolio. Required documents to be uploaded are: letter of interest, curriculum vitae, evidence of professional and teaching activity, and a list of at least five current references with contact information [three letters of recommendation may be required, depending on discipline]. To apply, please click "Apply Now". Please ensure you upload documents to the position for which you are applying and not to your personal Interfolio account.

Deadline: Review of materials will begin November 15. Materials need to be received by November 14.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.