Assistant Professor of Dance

The Department of Theater and Dance at Carleton College invites applicants for a tenure track position in dance to begin September 1, 2026. An MFA or Ph.D. in Dance or a related field is required by the start of the appointment.

The department seeks a dynamic artist-scholar to direct the dance program and teach a range of studio and dance studies courses across the curriculum. Ideal candidates would have excellent leadership skills, a commitment to teaching dance within a liberal arts context, an inclusive pedagogical approach, and evidence of a strong emerging creative/scholarly profile. Candidates must be able to teach dance history/theory, choreography, dance technique and practice (contemporary, modern, or other specialty), and develop new studies and studio courses that serve the entire student body.

Carleton operates on a 10-week trimester calendar, with faculty on tenure track positions teaching the equivalent of five courses during the year. As part of the five-course teaching load, the candidate would serve as Director of the Dance Program and co-Artistic Director of the student repertory dance company.

The following materials are required:

letter of application

curriculum vitae

two creative and/or scholarly work samples (these can be shared as files or online links)

a statement about teaching students from diverse backgrounds in an undergraduate, residential liberal arts environment

names of three references (written recommendations will be requested of finalists)

two sample syllabi (one from a practice-based course and one from a studies course).

Applications submitted by November 1, 2025, will receive full consideration. First round zoom interviews will take place in December of 2025 and the finalists will be invited to campus in January and February of 2026. All application materials can be submitted here.

Carleton is consistently recognized as one of the leading teaching institutions in the nation. We seek candidates who are deeply passionate about teaching, mentoring, and advising undergraduate students from a variety of backgrounds. Carleton is also committed to developing its faculty to better reflect the composition of our student body and American society. Candidates from population groups that are under-represented at the College are strongly encouraged to apply.

Carleton is a highly selective liberal arts college with a student body of approximately 2,000. Located in the thriving two-college town of Northfield, Minnesota, it is forty-five miles from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, in easy reach of a vibrant metropolitan area that is home to three million people and rich cultural resources, including a thriving professional dance community.

Further information about the faculty at Carleton can be found on the website of the Provost’s Office.For further information about the department, consult the Department of Theater and Dance website:

Carleton College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, status with regard to public assistance, disability, or age in providing employment or access to its educational facilities and activities.

The expected starting salary range for this position is between $87,480 and $91,460. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including:

A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution

Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees

A dependent tuition program after six years of service

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