Assistant Professor of Movement & Acting

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Florida School of Theatre + Dance seeks an Assistant Professor of Movement & Acting for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track, promotion-accruing faculty position, with an expected start date of August 16, 2027. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate students, with primary responsibility for movement training that develops actors’ physical, expressive, and embodied skills. They will also teach stage combat in a variety of theatrical weapon styles and may teach acting, professional development labs, non-majors courses such as Oral Interpretation of Literature, and University of Florida Quest courses, depending on their expertise and curricular needs. The faculty member will mentor BFA and MFA students, advise undergraduate and graduate capstone projects, and contribute to student recruitment and retention within the School’s professional theatre training program. The candidate will bring a progressive perspective to actor training and integrate movement, embodiment, and physical approaches into contemporary performance training. Creative responsibilities include movement coaching for School productions and fight direction and theatrical violence and/or intimacy direction for approximately four productions each academic year. There may also be opportunities to direct School productions. The successful candidate will maintain an active national and/or international creative research profile in movement, physical approaches to acting, stage combat, or a related area, and contribute to the School’s creative practice, cross-disciplinary work, and professional engagement. The position includes participation in the Theatre Studies & Performance Area’s organizational and administrative activities, shared governance, service to the School, College, and University, recruitment and outreach, and other related duties as assigned. Typical tenure-line teaching loads in Theatre Studies & Performance are 5–9 credits per semester, generally distributed as 5–6 credits in one semester and 7–9 in the other. Most School courses are 2 or 3 credits. Salary is $68,000–$70,000, with a comprehensive benefits and leave package. This position is covered by the United Faculty of Florida Contract.

Requirements

Terminal degree (MFA, PhD, or PhD ABD) in Theatre or a closely related field, or equivalent qualifications based on professional experience.
Potential for a record of achievement at the national or international level, aligned with the unit’s tenure and promotion criteria.
Evidence of successful collaboration and collegiality with faculty, students, and staff.
Evidence of skill in designing and facilitating academic work that advances curiosity, respect, open intellectual discourse, and the welcome incorporation and well-being of all in an environment of complex differences.

Nice To Haves

At least three years of university-level teaching experience beyond a graduate assistantship, or equivalent.
Demonstrated experience integrating movement, physicality, and embodied practices into actor training.
Specialization, experience, and/or certification in one or more established movement-based approaches to actor training, such as Michael Chekhov Technique, Margolis Method, Laban Movement Analysis, Black Acting Methods, Grotowski-based training, Theatrical Biomechanics, or another recognized physical approach. Candidates with an eclectic or interdisciplinary approach are also encouraged, with evidence of effectiveness in practice.
Credentials and demonstrated experience teaching stage combat and/or conducting skills proficiency tests through recognized stage combat organizations.
Evidence of leadership potential and/or a national or international professional reputation in movement, physical actor training, stage combat, or a related area.
Evidence of a commitment to innovative and cross-disciplinary curricula.
Demonstrated commitment to teaching practices that reflect current and evolving professional practices and prepare students to navigate a changing field.
Experience navigating a multi-disciplinary higher education setting.
Evidence of success in collaboration toward creative and curricular goals.

Responsibilities

Develop, revise, and deliver undergraduate and graduate curricula, with primary responsibility for movement and physical approaches to actor training.
Teach undergraduate and graduate stage combat courses in a variety of theatrical weapon styles.
Mentor BFA and MFA students in preparation for careers in the industry.
Advise graduate and undergraduate capstone projects and contribute to curricular efforts in performance-related areas.
Contribute to recruitment and retention of graduate and undergraduate theatre students.
Participate in School productions through movement coaching, fight direction, and/or theatrical intimacy direction; fight direction and theatrical violence and/or intimacy direction are expected for approximately four productions each academic year.
Maintain an active national and/or international creative research profile in movement, physical approaches to acting, stage combat, or a related area, consistent with tenure and promotion expectations.
Contribute to the School’s professional theatre training environment through creative practice, collaboration, and professional engagement.
Engage in innovative approaches connecting theatre and the performing arts to critical discourse and research across disciplines.
Participate in the School’s learning community and contribute to a student-centered environment emphasizing teaching excellence, professional development and scholarship, innovation and flexibility, and teamwork and collaboration.
Participate in organizational and administrative activities of the Theatre Studies & Performance Area and shared governance through service to the School, College, and University.
Contribute to recruitment, outreach, and activities supporting the School’s academic and artistic programs.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
May teach acting courses, professional development labs, non-majors courses such as Oral Interpretation of Literature, and/or University of Florida Quest courses, as appropriate to expertise and curricular needs.
May direct School productions.