Job Summary

The Department of Dance (https://dance.illinois.edu/) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty appointment in Dance at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level. We seek a candidate with a focused choreographic research trajectory and accomplished track record of performing and teaching in forms beyond the traditional Euro-American canon. Examples include, but are not limited to, dance practices rooted in Indigenous, Latina/o, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Brazilian, East Asian, and South Asian communities. This position will be a 100% time 9-month contract appointment with 40% time teaching, 40% time research, and 20% time service breakdown. Responsibilities include teaching a 2/2 or 2/3 load, advising students, participating in academic advising and governance, choreographing and/or directing departmental productions and continuing a high profile of nationally and internationally recognized creative research.

The UIUC Department of Dance is one of the oldest and most well-respected Dance Departments in our nation leading the field on the forefront of progressive pedagogical invention. Our vibrant guest artist program and accomplished faculty connect our students directly with the professional fields of Dance all over the world. The mission of Dance at Illinois is to contribute to Dance’s positive impact on the world, as a distinctive generator of new knowledge and as a vital cultural agent and signifier. We activate the power of Dance to root out historically unbalanced, hierarchically oppressive perspectives and are committed to investigating the dynamic intersections between research and teaching in academic, professional, and community settings.

The College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) is singular in the nation for its diversity, innovation and breadth. Its mission is dedicated to the advancement, practice, and understanding of the arts, and its central focus is the synergy between research and the preparation of students for professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the environmental, visual, and performing arts. Deeply related to that focus is the commitment to elevate and sustain the study of the arts as both a necessary mode of understanding and a vibrant expression of human experience within the local, national, and international communities.

The college comprises the Schools of Music, Architecture, and Art and Design; Departments of Dance, Landscape Architecture, Theatre, and Urban and Regional Planning; the Sustainable Design program; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Krannert Art Museum; and Japan House. FAA employs more than 660 faculty members and staff, including more than 150 tenure system faculty members, and more than 1,850 undergraduate and 635 graduate students enroll in FAA’s more than 30 majors and 10 minors.

Minimum Qualifications

An MFA degree and/or equivalent long-term professional experience in the field
A well- defined creative research mission and portfolio of accomplishment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience teaching in the Higher Ed context
Social justice dimensions are a key component of our program offerings. To increase this profile, we strongly encourage applications from individuals with demonstrable commitments to equity and social justice through teaching, research, and/or community engagement, and a reflective approach to transforming the discipline with respect to inclusion and anti-racism. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who bring experience working with under-represented and underserved communities and traditions.

Institutional Context:

The Department of Dance is an independent ACADEMIC unit in the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois, whose social justice efforts have the support of dedicated staff at the college and campus levels who work with students, faculty, and staff to facilitate learning and transformation with regard to anti-Black racism, violence, and prejudice in all its forms.

The University of Illinois is an internationally recognized research and educational institution located in Urbana-Champaign, a vibrant university community within driving distance of Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. With the nation’s third largest research library, the University supports faculty as active researchers in the humanities, arts, sciences, and engineering through opportunities for funding and vital cross-disciplinary exchange in the campus’ many institutes, centers, and initiatives. These include the Siebel Center for Design, Campus Research Board, the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, the Center for Advanced Study, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and numerous other specialized centers. Additional collaborative opportunities include Krannert Art Museum and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, each a respected international hub for innovative scholarship and public engagement.

For more information, please visit https://illinois.edu/ for the University, https://faa.illinois.edu/ for the College, and https://dance.illinois.edu for the UNIT.

Appointment Information

This is a 100%, nine-month faculty appointment (paid over 12 months). The anticipated start date is August 16, 2027.

The salary range for this position is $75,000-$85,000 for Assistant level, $85,000-$100,000 for Associate level, $115,000-$130,000 for Full Professor. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate’s experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

Application Procedures & Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on December 11, 2026. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting and upload the following items:

CV/Resume including names and contact info for three professional references
Cover Letter
Teaching statement
Research Statement
Video links to choreographic work (at least 3 no more than 8) and at least one video link of your teaching

Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact FAA HR at faa-hr@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land-grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm-shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career — along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or accessibility@illinois.edu.

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