Assistant Professor of Tap and Musical Theatre Dance

Title Information

Faculty TitleAssistant Professor

Job Class Code10031

FLSAExempt

Position Information

Posting NumberFRGV2072

Working TitleAssistant Professor of Tap and Musical Theatre Dance

Number of Vacancies1

LocationRio Grande Valley, Texas

Division/OrganizationProvost - Academic Affairs

Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position

Tenure StatusTenure Track

FTE1

Scope of Job

The Dance Department within the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley invites applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor of Dance beginning fall semester 2027. We seek candidates who are currently active in artistic, intellectual, and physical pursuits within their areas of practice in the field of Dance.

Based on the successful candidate’s expertise, the candidate will teach studio practice/technique courses in the area of jazz, tap, and musical theatre styles. Additionally, this candidate will collaborate with music and theatre faculty by choreographing musical theatre productions. We seek a candidate that will bring technical expertise and teach sound conditioning practices for the dancer/performer in the pursuit of safe technique practice and injury prevention.

In addition to dance technique courses, the candidate should expect to teach theory courses, based on their experience, such as Dance Philosophy/Criticism, Dance History, Dance Theory, and/or Dance Science. The candidate will enhance the strengths of current faculty through excellence in teaching, mentoring, and supervising students across various expressions of dance performance and/or creative research. The Dance Department seeks a candidate with strong organizational and leadership skills, combined with the ability to foster collegiality and collaborative initiatives both within our dance department and the Rio Grande Valley community.

Successful candidates will pursue a national and international research agenda, including choreography or performance, publications and conference presentations, among other activities. Teaching responsibilities include training and preparing dancers in all three undergraduate programs, BA, BFA , and Teacher Certification programs. Candidates will contribute to the mentorship, review, and assessment of capstone projects, teach studio courses in their area of dance practice; develop new courses; and participate in shared governance through committee service, and Dance Department project initiatives as required.

About UTRGV :

UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ( UTRGV ) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.

Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration.

UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website (https://www.utrgv.edu/index.htm) .

About the College of Fine Arts:

The College of Fine Arts is led by Dr. Jeffrey Ward, who began his tenure as Dean in 2022. The college leadership team consists of Associate Deans for Academic Affairs, Research and Outreach, and Student Success; and the College Administrator who coordinates all staff across the college.

The college consists of five academic units (School of Art and Design, Department of Creative Writing, Department of Dance, School of Music, and Department of Theatre), the Center for Latin American Arts, and UTRGV ARTS , which manages public performances, exhibits, and outreach.

The College of Fine Arts has nearly 1,850 majors, 114 full-time faculty, and 25 full-time staff. In fiscal year 2025, the College of Fine Arts began a five-year strategic plan that identifies key aspirational objectives and articulates the role of the college in an R1 institution and a vibrant student-life community.

Minimum Qualifications

A terminal degree ( MFA , PhD or EdD) from an accredited institution in dance ( ABD considered, with all requirements completed by August 1, 2027.)

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications

• Experience as a dance and/or choreographer in: tap and musical theatre, including Fosse.

• Evidence of successful dance teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

Collegiate teaching experience.

License or Certification Required?

SalaryCommensurate with Qualifications and Experience

Desired Start Date09/01/2027

Posting Detail Information

EEO Statement

It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date10/05/2026

Close Date

Additional Information

UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas ( TRS ), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program ( ORP ) instead of TRS , subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215.

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas ( TRS ), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program ( ORP ) instead of TRS , subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dear Applicant,

Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following:

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Gender

Ethnicity/Race

Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days.

Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check ( CBC ). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview

Required Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. List of 3 References

3. Letter of Interest

4. Unofficial Transcripts

5. Examples of research and/or creative work: Online link to personal or other websites demonstrating quality work as a choreographer and/or performer.

Please Note

Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to

demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based

test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of

English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the

International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ). Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

Quick Linkhttps://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/52674

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae

• Unofficial Transcripts

• Other Document

• List of 3 References

• Letter of Interest

Optional Documents

• Resume

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

• Teaching Philosophy

• Writing / Publication Sample

• Reference Letter 1

• Reference Letter 2

• Reference Letter 3

• Multi Media

• Certifications and Licenses

• Training Certificates

• Evidence of Teaching Effectiveness

• Unofficial Transcripts 2

• Unofficial Transcripts 3

• Unofficial Graduate Transcripts

• Teaching Statement

• Research Statement

• Additional Document

• NCCPA Certification

• State Licensure

• Representative Research Publication/Grant Documents