Job Information
University of Utah Assistant Professor of Movement in the Theatre Department in Salt Lake City, Utah
Position Information
Proposed Faculty Rank Tenure-Track
Department 00079 - Theatre Department
City Salt Lake City, UT
Track Tenure Track
New Position to Begin 7/1/2024
Details
The Department of Theatre at the University of Utah invites applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor Head of Movement commencing in fall 2024. The qualified applicant will hold an MFA in Theatre Movement or Dance, or an equivalent qualification.
Candidates will work in collaboration with the BFA Actor Training and Musical Theatre programs to lead an immersive movement curricula of ensemble-based theatre, to include both actor movement training and Musical Theatre dance. The ideal candidate is a visionary educator and artist with an expansive view of movement training from emerging fields who holds an on-going national research agenda as a movement artist, choreographer, actor, or director. The BFA courses that the candidate may teach include non-western based dance technique, contemporary musical theatre dance styles, and movement for actors (including, but not limited to such modalities as the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Laban, Viewpoints, Suzuki, Contact Improvisation, Stage Combat, Martial Arts, Yoga, and Clowning).
All candidates must have an active artistic practice. Current professional membership in movement-based certifying bodies (Alexander, Feldenkrais, Yoga, etc…) is recommended. Candidates should be apprised of innovations in best practices and adept at addressing rigor and wellness in their teaching. Candidates must have a background in teaching a diverse range of movement practices and an interest in both theatrical innovation and the exploration of non-western approaches. Candidates’ research should demonstrate a clear commitment to anti-racism and social justice and their integration within a holistic creative praxis.
Following the leadership of University of Utah President Taylor Randall, whose vision for the University is to become a top ten research institution with unparalleled societal impact, we seek a colleague whose research and/or teaching activities will advance our efforts to connect the department and the broader community—someone skilled in the exploration of BIPOC perspectives and engages diverse theatrical lexicons or creative practices, has demonstrated a commitment to accessible and inclusive theatre education, and is committed to the idea that theatrical expression is one of our most powerful tools to both build community and honor the diversity of human experience.
Salary Range: $60,000 – $70,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position also includes a full university benefits package. For more information, visithttps://benefits.utah.edu/.
Start Date: July 2024
Minimum Qualifications
An MFA in Theatre Movement or Dance, or an equivalent qualification in a related field
2 years employment teaching at the college/university level
Record of ongoing creative activity
Evidence of a commitment to engaging in professional development opportunities that build effectiveness in areas of inclusion, intercultural communication, and advancing diversity
Preferred Qualifications
Evidence of teaching non-western based dance technique
Certification in one or more movement-based certifying bodies
RESPONSIBILITIES
Teach movement and dance courses at all levels within the Actor Training Program and Musical Theatre Program curriculum, as assigned by the Chair
Work in collaboration with the Actor Training and Musical Theatre Area Heads to oversee the movement and dance curriculum
Depending upon expertise, may provide movement coaching and/or choreograph departmental productions
Engage in continued professional creative work and/or research
Participate in service and committee work for the Department, College of Fine Arts, and the University
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The nationally acclaimed Department of Theatre houses professional BFA programs in Actor Training, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts Design, Stage Management, and Theatre Teaching as well as a liberal arts BA program in Theatre Studies. Students studying in the program include over 200 majors drawn from across the United States. Department personnel consist of 21 full-time faculty members, approximately 30 part-time faculty members, and 9 staff members. An instructional faculty of artists and scholars provides academic training, engaged learning, and creative exploration for students working toward professional careers or advanced graduate studies in Theatre.
Housed in the newly remodeled Price Theatre Arts Building, the department’s mission is to prepare students to join the broader community of theatre practitioners and scholars, conduct research that is both innovative and rigorous, and to engage and serve our community in and through theatre. Our vision is to build a community that supports play and creative risk-taking and that honors different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. We engage in a continuous process of reviewing, revising, and developing curriculum, policies, and practices that support and advance our vision, including establishing consent-based practices in the classroom and rehearsal hall, developing transparent and equitable work-load policies for faculty, and adopting inclusive season selection and casting practices.
The Department of Theatre produces a six-show season in two performance spaces: the Babcock Theatre, a 125-seat end-view theatre, and Studio 115, a 115-seat thrust space. Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, the department will produce shows in the new Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Field House. This state-of-the-art 375-seat thrust stage includes a covered orchestra pit and facilitates multiple staging configurations. The department has recently relocated to the Price Theatre Arts Building ( PTAB ). PTAB provides department faculty and majors with multiple acting studios, a digital design studio, lighting and sound labs, a costume construction lab, a prop lab, faculty office suites, and meeting rooms. PTAB is ideally located next to the Pioneer Theatre Company ( PTC ), the Resident Professional on-campus theatre company. PTC is a fully professional company operating under a LORT B agreement with AEA , SDC , and USA829. PTC offers professional opportunities to students and faculty annually. For more information, visit our website:https://theatre.utah.edu.
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 THE LOCATION
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 community, Salt Lake City is home to thriving long-standing performing arts entities including Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah Symphony, Utah Opera, Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Sundance Film Festival, 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 place to live in the nation. Salt Lake City currently holds a 100/100 rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for its inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community.
University of Utah
College of Fine Arts
Department of Theatre
EEO/Non-Discrimination Information
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
Notice
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
Special Instructions for Candidates
Please submit the following:
A cover letter (addressed to The Search Committee) that addresses the specifics of the position and your research
teaching philosophy
A CV that demonstrates your qualifications for the position
Names and contact information forthreereferences.
Screening of applications will begin November 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. For additional information, please contact Professor Gage Williams atgage.williams@utah.edu
Open Date 10/13/2023
Close Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Requisition Number PRN01120CF
Type Faculty