"Assistant Professor, Department of Dance"

Job Details

Assistant Professor, Department of Dance

Rank: Assistant Professor
Tenure Information: Tenure Track

Department Summary:
The Department of Dance at Bridgewater State University (BSU) is committed to cultivating excellence, innovation and leadership in dance as education, a performing art form, cultural practice, scientific inquiry, and interdisciplinary application. We are an innovative, creative, and equity-focused community that approaches public higher education as a matter of social justice. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for our increasingly diverse student body. In our program, students gain comprehensive knowledge of dance forms and practices, critical thinking skills, and practical experience in a variety of dance applications. They do so through studies of diverse dance techniques and pedagogies, dance science, somatics, cultural dance forms, historical inquiry, dance composition, dance production and performance, and engagement with professional dance artists, educators, and scholars in the surrounding communities.We support students’ diverse learning while meeting NASD standards for movement space by capping our courses at 16 students, thus providing individual attention and opportunities to create deep bonds among students. Our students learn to support one another and engage in diverse modes of thinking, moving, creating, and expressing in theory and practice courses and in performing dance. Undergraduate Research is integral to our program. Faculty members consistently engage in collaborative research and mentoring student research. Our students present their research at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and the American College Dance Association (ACDA) conferences as well as at BSU, local, and regional symposiums and conferences. The BSU Department of Dance produces two mainstage concerts in the newly renovated Rondileau Student Union Stage under the artistic direction of faculty and at least one Honors or Advanced Individual Project or concert with artistic direction by students.

Our program offers a BA in Dance, a Concentration in Dance Education for elementary education majors, a Dance Minor, a departmental honors program, and an education program that can lead to MA teacher Licensure in dance. The dance program offers a variety of dance technique training including African Diasporic Dance, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Ballet. Our dance technique courses focus on theoretical and historical knowledge as well as technical proficiency. Our program provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation for choreographing and performing with two levels of choreography courses and mentorship of student choreographers in dance practicums, advanced research projects, and honors theses. Our courses emphasize dance pedagogy for all students to prepare for careers in the private or public sector and entrepreneurship.

Essential Duties:
The Department of Dance is seeking candidates for a full-time, tenure track Assistant Professor of Dance. The successful candidate should have expertise in dance education —or “how” to teach future and/or current dance educators to educate, instruct, or mentor through and about dance— with preferred emphasis in teacher training for K-12 education or the private sector. The candidate must be able to teach concept-based pedagogy in theory courses and in dance technique classes. Additional expertise in Laban Movement Analysis, somatics, dance science, technology, and/or and historical, cultural and global studies is a plus for the position. We are looking for equity-minded applicants who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of diverse backgrounds and identities, abilities, and accessibility challenges. The successful candidate must demonstrate knowledge and skills in a variety of teaching modalities such as embodied teaching/learning and culturally responsive, student-centered, reflective, and inquiry/conceptual based approaches for primarily undergraduate students. Other essential duties include engagement in university and departmental service and curriculum and assessment development.Essential Duties:1. Teach and develop introductory and upper-level courses related to dance education and teacher preparation.2. Teach Rudolf Laban’s movement framework (LMA) or Dance Elements/BSTERs (Body, Space, Time & Relationships) as it applies to teaching dance; dance science; dance composition; and /or dance technique(s).3. Teach varied courses from our dance curriculum such as Creative Dance for Children; Dance Methodology; First Year, Second Year, and Senior Seminars; Dance History; Dance Science; Ballet Pedagogy; Dance Composition; and/or Dance technique(s) of your expertise.4. Apply sustainable pedagogic practices in pursuit of equity and social justice.5. Be the Artistic Director for identified dance concerts.6. Mentor undergraduate and graduate student research and creative projects in dance.7. Supervise and teach student teachers and/or oversee teaching practicums in public or private schools.8. Continually develop scholarly and/or creative work in the professional community.9. Engage with prospective and incoming students.10. Assess student-teaching in community classrooms.11. Provide service to the department and university through student academic advising, curriculum/program development and assessment and others, and collaborate on school, college, and university-wide committees and programs.

Required Qualifications:
1. Terminal Degree in Dance: PhD, or EdD, or a closely related field. (Candidates with an MFA degree with comparable professional experience and credentials will be considered if background and experience is especially well matched to qualifications for the position.)2. Teaching experience in dance.3. Demonstrated experience with or knowledge of a variety of teaching modalities such as culturally responsive, embodied, student-centered, reflective and inquiry/conceptually based approaches to teaching and learning in both theory and dance technique classes.4. Demonstrated record of research, scholarship and/or creative activities, and a commitment to continual development in these areas.5. Demonstrated commitment to student success, integrity, and the shared values of the department and university. ***BSU Institutional Values***6. Demonstrated sensitivity engaging with students from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of abilities and skills.7. Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, undergraduate research and mentoring, university service, and community engagement.8. Clear written and oral communication skills that demonstrate professionalism across diverse contexts.

Preferred Qualifications:
Value Added Areas of Expertise or Experience:
1. Teaching experience in dance in higher education2. Training or certification in the somatics field (e.g., Somatic Movement Therapy, Feldenkrais Method, yoga, Pilates)3. Familiarity with, or openness to, adopting the effective use of technology in teaching and learning.4. Teaching experience in K-12 education in dance5. Student Teacher Supervision in public or private sector

Special Conditions for Eligibility:
Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check. Bridgewater State University is an E-Verify employer.

*Bridgewater State University is committed to attracting and supporting highly qualified faculty who bring a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and scholarly interests. However, due to recent and ongoing changes in U.S. immigration regulations, particularly those affecting the H1-B visa program, our ability to sponsor employment-based visas, including H1-B petitions has been impacted. Please be advised that the university will not provide employment-based visa sponsorship. The university reserves the right to modify this policy as the legal landscape changes.*
Salary is commensurate with experience in accordance with the Appendix O of the MSCA contract. A reasonable starting salary range to expect for a new faculty member appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor is $75,000 to $85,000.

Posting Number: F00586P
Open Date: 10/16/2025
Close Date: 11/26/2025
Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please note the following information is required to complete your application for this position:

• A minimum of three (3) professional reference entries in space provided on the application form.
• Letter of Intent (Cover Letter) highlighting your strengths in relation to this position
• CV
• Philosophy of Dance education: In the philosophy of dance education, please describe pedagogical approaches and working with diverse populations.

To apply, visit https://jobs.bridgew.edu/postings/31427

*Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.*