SMU #6345 Assistant Professor of Dance (Ballet)

Description

The Meadows Division of Dance at Southern Methodist University, recently classified as an R1 research institution, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Ballet (position #06345) position to begin August 1, 2026. The division seeks a dynamic ballet artist with a strong pedagogical foundation, an active choreographic voice, discernable research interests, and the ability to engage students in all levels of ballet technique. This position serves a critical role in the division’s triple-track technique program (Modern, Ballet, Jazz), and we seek a candidate who brings both deep lineage and a visionary approach to ballet performance and choreography.

We are specifically seeking a Ballet instructor with experience teaching all levels of Ballet Technique, Pointe, Men’s Class, and Partnering. The successful candidate will contribute to the Division’s nationally recognized creative research agenda, including but exclusive to choreography, rehearsal direction, and internal and external creative projects. They will also co-teach DANCEWORKS, the Division’s critical student choreography showcase and a key platform for recruitment and performance.

The SMU Meadows Division of Dance offers professional dance training in a conservatory setting within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education. Southern Methodist University is situated in Dallas, TX near the Dallas Arts District. The student population of SMU as of Fall 2025 is 12,544 (7545 undergraduate and 4999 graduate students).

Qualifications

Minimum qualifications:
M.F.A. or B.F.A. in Dance or equivalent professional experience in ballet teaching, choreography, and performance; a commitment to undergraduate teaching and program development.

Preferred qualifications:
An M.F.A. in Dance; a significant record of teaching and choreographing at the university level; professional affiliations with ballet companies regionally or nationally; and demonstrated ability to teach in a rigorous and inclusive academic setting.

Application Instructions

Application:
Applications should include:
(1) A letter of application highlighting your qualifications, creative/research work, research interest trajectory, and teaching philosophy
(2) A complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae
(3) A sample syllabus and a sample of creative work (e.g. choreography, publications, other examples of research)
(4) The names and contact information of 3–5 references. (References will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge. Initial application should not include letters of recommendation.) 

Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/170789

Review of applications will begin January 18, 2026. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by January 10, 2026, though the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check.

Start Date: August 1, 2026
Contact: Questions regarding the search may be directed to Brandi Coleman, Search Committee Chair, at bcoleman@smu.edu.

Founded in 1969, the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University is one of the foremost arts education institutions in the United States. The Meadows School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in advertising, art, art history, arts management and arts entrepreneurship, creative computation, music, theatre, dance, film and media arts, corporate communication & public affairs, journalism and fashion media. The goal of the Meadows School of the Arts, as a comprehensive educational institution, is to prepare students to meet the demands of professional careers. The Meadows School is a leader in developing innovative outreach and community engagement programs, challenging its students to make a difference locally and globally by developing vital connections between art, entrepreneurship and change. The Meadows School of the Arts is also a convener for the arts in North Texas, serving as a catalyst for new collaborations and providing critical industry research.

SMU is an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of teachers and scholars that values diverse research and creative agendas. We offer the rare confluence of a comprehensive global research institution and a close-knit intellectual enterprise in the liberal arts tradition. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. Explore SMU at www.smu.edu. Our beautifully shaded campus of Georgian-Revival-inspired architecture is situated in the heart of Dallas. The Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, a culturally rich arts and global business center, is home to over eight million people, and to many universities, arts organizations and Fortune 500 corporations. Visit www.dallaschamber.org.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.