Assistant Professor of Dance

Job Title
Assistant Professor of Dance

Requisition Number
FE05092

Working Title

Department Name
8X300:Fine Arts - Theatre Arts

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Type of Position
Faculty

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track

Required Education

An MFA in Dance is expected by the date of appointment.

Required Related Experience

The position is intentionally designed to accommodate a range of professional expertise. While Functional Anatomy/Dance Kinesiology is a priority area, candidates with strengths in other areas of dance teaching, creative practice, and scholarship are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate’s teaching and creative assignments may be shaped by their strengths, professional experience, and the evolving curricular and production needs of the program.

Required License/Registration/Certification

N/A

Job Summary

Position Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach approximately six credit hours per semester, with teaching assignments determined according to departmental needs and the candidate’s areas of expertise. The candidate may contribute to the department’s curriculum through a range of creative practice and theory courses, including, but not limited to, Functional Anatomy/Dance Kinesiology, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Improvisation, Choreography, Dance History, Hip-Hop, Tap, nonwestern dance forms based on their areas of expertise and the needs of the program. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong technical and studio teaching practices and the ability to make dance technique accessible to students with diverse levels of training and experience. The ideal candidate will be able to mentor student dancers and choreographers to develop their artistic voices, as well as support students’ research and writing skills.

Creative responsibilities may include choreographing and setting original work on students for the annual dance concert, and/or musical and theatre productions. Depending on experience and departmental needs, the candidate may also serve as an artistic director or contribute to the artistic direction of dance concerts and other departmental productions.

Additional responsibilities may include participating in student recruitment and engagement events, attending and contributing to professional conferences, supporting departmental initiatives, and engaging in the broader life of the dance program and university community.

An MFA in Dance is expected by the date of appointment.

The position is intentionally designed to accommodate a range of professional expertise. While Functional Anatomy/Dance Kinesiology is a priority area, candidates with strengths in other areas of dance teaching, creative practice, and scholarship are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate’s teaching and creative assignments may be shaped by their strengths, professional experience, and the evolving curricular and production needs of the program.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a sustained, high-level record of research and creative activity that advances knowledge, practice, and innovation in the field of dance. We seek a scholar-artist whose work reflects both depth and breadth of inquiry, contributes meaningfully to the discipline, and engages relevant scholarly, artistic, and professional communities. The candidate will be expected to maintain an active and productive program of research and creative activity, pursue opportunities for external funding and collaboration, disseminate work through appropriate scholarly and artistic venues, and contribute to the continued growth and visibility of dance as a field of research, creative practice, and knowledge production within a Research 1 university.

Application materials

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Writing sample – Research and Creative Activity Statement
• Specific Request #1 – Teaching Methods Statement
• Specific Request #2 – Links to Two Choreographic Samples
• Specific Request #3 – One Additional Link to a Teaching Sample or Solo Performance
• References (names and contact information) to be provided as requested. Include the names and contact information for three references when prompted in the application. This information may be used to solicit reference letters immediately within the employment system.

The University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts thrives by engaging individuals and communities with unique creative perspectives. The College fosters a supportive environment through artistic programming and curricula that reflect a broad range of experiences and voices.

We believe the arts are essential to both individual and community life, and we actively promote creative expression among our faculty, staff, and students. We are committed to attracting skilled and passionate faculty, staff, and students who contribute meaningfully to the arts and academic excellence. As a member of the state’s flagship institution, the College promotes thoughtful engagement, respect, and collaboration. Visit our website at: http://finearts.uky.edu

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with many rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No

Preferred Education/Experience

• Minimum of two years of professional experience in the field of dance, which may include teaching, choreography, performance, artistic practice, or related professional work.
• Demonstrated potential to establish and sustain an active research, scholarly, and/or creative agenda that contributes to the advancement of dance as an academic and artistic discipline.
• Evidence of ongoing creative practice, scholarly inquiry, or professional engagement within the field of dance.
• Experience teaching dance at the university level, with the ability to contribute to curriculum development and student mentorship.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to pursue external funding, publish scholarly work, present creative research, and/or disseminate artistic work through appropriate professional venues.

Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled
Yes

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.