Assistant Teaching Professor in Dance, Theatre & Dance

Detailed Position Information

The Department of Theatre and Dance invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor position in Dance. The successful candidate will engage with students across the MFA and BA dance programs through teaching, mentoring, research and creative activity, and service. The faculty member will teach a combination of dance studies and studio courses, which may include dance pedagogy, graduate research methods, graduate dance seminars, and improvisation and composition, in addition to all levels of technique in the candidate’s area of expertise. While we are particularly seeking candidates with experience teaching all levels of jazz and/or ballet techniques, additional expertise in dance forms such as Hip Hop, House, Street Style, or Latin forms, and in dance technology and digital media, will be considered an asset. The position also offers opportunities to contribute to the reimagining of curricular initiatives and the development of new courses. The faculty member will mentor graduate and undergraduate students in teaching, choreography, and research.

The faculty member is expected to maintain an active professional creative practice, including work both within the university and beyond the institution. This is an exciting time for creative work within the department, and in Fall 2027, we will open the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts, a new performing arts center featuring four venues including the dedicated 450-seat Eliza P. Culverhouse Dance Theatre. Opportunities on campus include choreographing, rehearsal directing, and/or re-staging works for students in the pre-professional company Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre and other departmental productions. The faculty member may also mentor student creative work and serve as an artistic director for student-choreographed concerts. These opportunities provide meaningful avenues for the faculty member to contribute to the creative life of the department while supporting the artistic development of students.

Additional responsibilities include student recruitment, mentorship of student dance concerts, and service to the department, college, and university. The faculty member will also advise and mentor students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, contributing to their artistic, academic, and professional development throughout their time in the program.

Minimum Qualifications

Master of Fine Arts or PhD in Dance or related field. Record of successful teaching at the college and/or university level. Candidates should demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusive pedagogical approaches and a record of work using various and collaborative perspectives. Good communication and organizational skills are imperative.

Preferred Qualifications

3-5 years of university teaching experience.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

This position begins on August 16, 2027. To apply, go to https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/search/AS. Review of applications will begin November 15 and remain open until filled. Submit a letter of application, specifically addressing how your qualifications, training, and experience meet the stated needs of the position, a detailed dance curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for three current references. Please submit PDF including links of teaching samples and creative works/research as Additional Documents. Additional questions may be directed to Associate Professor McDonald at ltmcdonald@ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School

The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama offers an exciting and dynamic environment for faculty seeking to make an impact in their field and in the lives of the innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.

As the largest college at The University, we house over 9,000 students and 1,000 faculty and staff across our 22 departments.

With nationally recognized programs and award-winning faculty, our College has positioned itself as a leader in higher education. Our facilities and resources include state-of-the-art laboratories, research centers, and performance venues, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and opportunities for research and creative expression.

The College is committed to the liberal arts philosophy that fosters creative and critical thinking and a lifetime of learning.

About the University

The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.