"Assistant/Associate Professor of Movement in Media in the School of Dance"

Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor of Movement in Media in the School of Dance

Details

The University of Utah School of Dance and the Department of Film & Media Arts invite applicants for a full-time, tenure-line Assistant/Associate Professor position to begin July 1, 2026. This faculty line holds a teaching and research focus in the interplay of movement and media, including Screendance practice and theory, as well as potentially related areas of scholarship, performance, and production.

The position includes:

• Teaching across the School of Dance and the Department of Film & Media Arts.
• Serving as the Program Director for the Graduate Certificate in Screendance.
• Working collaboratively with faculty, students, and administrators in both the School of Dance and the Department of Film & Media Arts to expand research, teaching, curation, and practice of Screendance, dance on film, and movement in media.
• Working with University and community partners on developing, curating, and promoting public festivals, screenings, symposia, and workshops.

We seek candidates who are leaders in the fields of dance and media and who can model interdisciplinary approaches that connect the School of Dance, the Department of Film & Media Arts, the College of Fine Arts, and the University at large. The ideal candidate will be a practicing artist-scholar with a strong potential for publication, demonstrated teaching expertise, and a distinctive perspective on contemporary approaches to movement, dance, and media making.

The University of Utah has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation among research universities with the “highest research activity” in the nation and is the flagship of the Utah System of Higher Education. As a reflection of the research-focused university, the successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to research and to research-informed teaching, be actively engaged in research that furthers the field of dance and demonstrate the potential to achieve tenure at a research-intensive university. Creative research may include a wide variety of art practices and genres in which the dancing/moving body is in dialogue with the camera. Inquiry into the relationship between bodies and the camera also affords possibilities in a multiplicity of forms which might include installation, and multi-channel works for museums and galleries, single channel works for theatrical screenings, or alternative investigations within a variety of moving image technologies. In the College of Fine Arts, the definition of research is broad and may include a range of modes of dissemination.

The teaching load is 12 credit hours per academic year (typically 6 credit hours per semester). The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses and serve on graduate thesis committees. They will also contribute to curriculum development, faculty governance and administration, and may serve in various service roles, as needed. The successful candidate will oversee the Graduate Certificate in Screendance; recruit students into the program, mentor both Dance and Film graduate students in thesis research; and collaborate with community partners. Rank will be dependent on experience compared to the tenure and promotion expectations as outlined in the home department's Retention, Promotion, and Tenure policy.

About the School of DanceThe School of Dance is one of five academic units within the College of Fine Arts. As one of the first U.S. universities to offer degrees in dance, the University of Utah has developed one of the largest and most established dance programs in the country. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, the School celebrates nine decades of alumni who continue to shape the field. Today, we are a vibrant and forward-thinking program that combines rigorous training with artistic innovation. Faculty connect closely with students, fostering an environment that supports personal growth, scholarly inquiry, and creative exploration. Students benefit from extensive performance opportunities, interdisciplinary engagement, and a curriculum that balances performance with research and scholarship.

Our curriculum includes anatomy, choreography, dance education, dance studies, history, music, pedagogy, Screendance, somatics, and a variety of dance techniques. Admission is competitive. We have approximately 200 undergraduates (BFA) and 10 graduate (MFA) students enrolled in either Ballet or Modern/Contemporary Dance degrees. Along with certificates and minors in specialized areas, the School offers the nation's only graduate Certificate in Screendance.

The School of Dance is housed in the state-of-the-art Marriott Center for Dance, which features a 333-seat professional theatre and costume shop, a black box theatre, six large studios, a dedicated faculty studio, and a cross-training room with an on-site athletic trainer.

About the Department of Film & Media Arts Film & Media Arts builds upon a foundational platform — the intersection of global critical studies with film and media production. Film & Media Arts is the largest academic unit in the College of Fine Arts, which also includes the School of Dance, School of Music, Department of Art & Art History, and Department of Theatre. Students studying in this department include around 800 undergraduates (on two campuses) and 12 MFA candidates on the Salt Lake campus. The Department offers a wide range of courses in film and media history, media publishing, global critical studies, screenwriting, direction, animation, production, and post-production. Undergraduate students can earn a BA with an optional emphasis in Animation or Film Production or with minors or certificates in Animation Studies, Documentary Studies, Film Teaching, and Screen Performance. Graduate students earn an MFA and an optional Screendance Certificate.

The Department of Film & Media Arts is home to a range of state-of-the-art production and teaching facilities, including a multi-modal cinema, working soundstages, screening rooms, a computer lab equipped with industry-standard systems and software, and dedicated facilities for animation, color grading, and 16mm production, as well as spaces for students to gather, work, and collaborate. Honoring the rich traditions and shared history of moving image making and study, we develop and support independent artists across the spectrum of contemporary film and media arts, and prepare our graduates to be global media citizens, active participants in the evolving international image-sound cultural landscape.

About the University The University of Utah is the state's public flagship institution of higher education with an enrollment of approximately 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers 111 undergraduate and over 100 graduate degree programs. A member of the American Association of Universities (AAU), the University of Utah is classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the 146 research universities with the “highest research activity” in the nation. The university has been named by Forbes as one of the top ten employers in the state and recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best national universities. The University of Utah has several campus-wide initiatives that contribute to a rich campus climate, attract academic and professional talent, improve access to higher education for historically underrepresented groups, and strengthen the U's ability to educate the next generation of leaders.

About Salt Lake City The University is located in Salt Lake City, the center of a metropolitan area with a population of approximately 1.26 million residents. The city is known for extensive arts and cultural activities, boasts a new major international airport, and has received international recognition for its light rail system, foodie culture, downtown renewal, and increasing diversity. Hosting a vibrant arts, film and dance scene, Salt Lake City is home to thriving, long-standing arts entities, including Salt Lake Film Society, Ballet West, Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Symphony, and Utah Opera, among others. Located at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with ten world-class ski resorts and five national parks within hours of the city. Salt Lake City is home to a robust array of diverse communities, facilitating numerous opportunities for interaction with a range of civic and political organizations, given the city's role as the governmental and social nerve center of the state. In 2023, U.S News and World Report ranked Utah as the best state in the U.S.A. and Salt Lake City as one of the top 100 best places to live in the nation.

ApplicationRequired Qualifications

• Terminal degree or professional equivalency
• At least 3 years teaching experience in higher education or similar settings

Applicants will submit:

• Cover letter that addresses the specifics of the position
• Curriculum vitae
• 3-4 Research samples (i.e. video of creative work, academic publications) via links or documents
• Contact information for 5 references
• Graduate transcripts (copies are fine for the application process, but official versions will be required upon hire)

Salary Range (commensurate with experience).

Review of applications will begin January 1, 2026.

Please direct questions to Eric Handman, Search Committee Chair, at eric.handman@utah.edu

Department: 00076 - School of Dance
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01444CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/192174

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/ Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu