Assistant Professor Dance Tenure-Track

Western Michigan University invites applications and nominations for the position of Assistant Professor in the School of Theatre and Dance in the College of Fine Arts. This is an academic year, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of fall 2026.

The Dance Program in the School of Theatre and Dance at WMU provides high quality, undergraduate education that prepares students for professional careers in dance and related fields. It is committed to experiential learning through which students integrate theory and practice to discover, explore, and articulate a sense of themselves as dance artists and leaders; offering comprehensive, tri-focal training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance techniques; and engagement with national and international dance communities through artist residencies and immersive experiences. This commitment requires faculty with extensive professional experience as dance artists and scholars who are actively engaged with the dance profession.

Major Responsibilities:

• Teach all levels of jazz dance technique with an emphasis on hip hop, street, commercial, and other contemporary jazz dance forms. Teach one or more of the following courses: Race, Gender, and Dance; Roots of Jazz; Music for Dancers; Career Preparation for Dancers; Composition and Technology. Participate in on-going scholarly/creative research, mentor student projects and performance and actively contribute to the life of the school, college, and university. Maintain an active career in the profession.

Minimum Qualifications

• MFA in Dance or terminal degree in related field by contract start date; or bachelors degree in Dance or related field with enrollment in MFA program within 1 year of contract start date. Five years of professional performance and/or choreography experience. Three years of teaching experience. Demonstrated extensive knowledge of jazz dance pedagogy, with experience teaching hip hop and other street dance styles.

Desired Qualifications

• Three years of university teaching experience. Demonstrated understanding of hip hop as a global cultural movement, with roots in Black and Latinx communities and grounded in resistance, resilience, and community-building. Well-versed in a range of hip hop and street dance styles including, but not limited to, breaking, popping, locking, waving, vogue, street jazz, and house and able to contextualize these forms within the broader continuum of African diasporic movement practices and transnational urban dance cultures. Utilizes an interdisciplinary approach. Demonstrated fluency in one or more movement vocabularies - modern, tap, ballet, jazz, African or improvisation. Experience in dance for camera, film or other digital platforms. Demonstrated ability to foster a critically engaged and supportive learning environment for students from varied backgrounds. Prioritizes holistic and inclusive, student-centered pedagogy that affirms diverse ways of knowing, moving and making.

The University: Western Michigan University is a learner-centered, discovery-driven, and globally engaged public university that stands out among Americas more than 4,000 higher education institutions. Founded in 1903, WMU has grown to become a major national research university enrolling more than 16,000 students from across the United States and 100 other countries. Based in Kalamazoo, WMU is a friendly, top-rated college town situated close to large urban centers, great jobs, and abundant recreational areas. WMU delivers high-quality undergraduate instruction, has a strong graduate division, and fosters significant research activities. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has placed WMU among the 76 public R2 institutions in the nation designated as a doctoral university with higher research activities.

The College: The College of Fine Arts (CFA) consists of the Gwen Frostic School of Art, the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music, the School of Theatre and Dance, and the Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation which houses the Product Design and Interior Architecture and Design programs. All units in the College are nationally accredited. Facilities for the learning and practice of the arts at WMU are exceptional and compare favorably with other schools nationally with similar mission and scope. With a student body of about 13084 the CFA entering class regularly has one of the highest academic profile of any college.

The College of Fine Arts is housed in Dalton Center, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, and South and Central Kohrman Hall, Dunbar Hall, and the Gilmore Theatre Complex surrounding Fountain Plaza. Students perform in three theatres, a 400-seat recital hall, three professional art galleries, and dance performance studios mounting over 400 performances annually. New technology-based curricula, a motion capture and virtual imaging technology lab, specialized computer labs, and other discipline specific laboratories. State-of-the-art facilities host exhibitions of student, faculty, and visiting artist works.

The School of Theatre and Dance has 20 full-time faculty and teaching staff, 10 adjunct and part-time professors, 330 majors, and is accredited by NAST and NASD. It is a vibrant, undergraduate-only, competitive-entry program that highly values collaboration. The School of Theatre and Dance offers both BFA and BA degrees in Dance in a robust, tri-focal program (Jazz, Modern and Ballet). The School also offers BFA degrees in Acting, Theatre Design and Technical Production, Stage Management, and Music Theatre. We also offer BA degrees in Dance and in Arts Administration.

Salary: Dependent upon experience, with an excellent benefits package.

Expected Start Date: August 15, 2026

Application Deadline: The review of complete applications is in progress and will continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, application materials should be received by January 10, 2026.

Required application documents:

• A cover letter describing qualifications for the position
• A professional CV including accomplishments and professional experiences related to the position
• The names and contact information of three references
• A single pdf document that includes online links to teaching and choreographic samples; no reels

WMU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Veterans, individuals with disabilities and all other qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

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