Specialist - Dance, Production Stage Management

Utah Valley University; Orem (UT); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Utah Valley University seeks an experienced Dance Production Manager to coordinate and execute concerts, showcases, festivals, adjudicated performances, and other productions. You will serve as the central stage management authority throughout planning and performance, working with choreographers, dancers, musicians, designers, technicians, and venue staff.

The role emphasizes applying choreography knowledge, movement, and rehearsal practices to guide productions from planning through final

Qualifications

• Experience in dance stage management or related role.
• Experience managing rehearsals and live performances.
• Experience working with choreographers, dancers, and technical personnel.
• Experience calling live technical cues for dance performances.

Responsibilities

• Manage stage management operations for dance productions and schedules.
• Direct rehearsal and safety procedures for dance performances.
• Coordinate choreography with lighting, sound, and technical teams.
• Maintain production documentation and communication across all stakeholders.

Skills

Choreographic knowledge

Production scheduling

Technical cueing

Dance documentation

Communication

Stage management

Safety management

Education

Degree in Dance or Dance Production

Job description

Join Utah Valley University and play a pivotal role in bringing dynamic dance productions to life. This position offers the opportunity to lead the coordination and execution of concerts, showcases, festivals, adjudicated performances, and other high-profile events while serving as the central stage management authority throughout the production process. Working closely with faculty, choreographers, dancers, musicians, designers, technicians, and venue staff, you will help transform artistic vision into exceptional performances that showcase student talent and creativity.

This role is ideal for a professional with specialized expertise in dance production who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. You'll apply your knowledge of choreography, movement, music, rehearsal practices, and performer safety to guide productions from planning through final performance. With significant autonomy and responsibility, you'll use your judgment and problem-solving skills to anticipate needs, coordinate complex logistics, maintain production quality, and create an environment where performers and productions can succeed at the highest level.

• Dance Production Management Manages stage management operations for dance concerts, showcases, festivals, adjudicated performances, and other productions involving multiple choreographers, works, casts, musicians, and technical personnel. Develops and maintains technical & dress rehearsal, performance, and production schedules. Manages and communicates production timelines and requirements to dancers, choreographers, faculty, musicians, designers, technicians, production personnel, and venue staff. Applies specialized knowledge of dance rehearsal practices, including movement, formations, spacing, entrances, exits, transitions, partnering, lifts, floorwork, and musical timing.
• Dance Rehearsal Management and Safety: Directs the operational aspects of dance rehearsals, spacing, technical, and dress rehearsals. Maintains accurate rehearsal information and ensures dancers, choreographers, faculty, musicians, designers, and technicians have the information necessary to execute productions safely and effectively. Identifies and addresses safety concerns related to the physical and spatial demands of dance performance and rehearsal. Evaluates conditions involving dance flooring, footwear, stage and backstage areas, spacing, props, costumes, partnering, lifts, and technical equipment. Uses professional judgment to determine when conditions require modification, additional preparation, consultation, or interruption of a rehearsal or performance.
• Choreographic and Artistic Integration: Uses specialized knowledge of choreography and movement when planning and managing productions. Interprets movement patterns, formations, spacing, transitions, musical structure, counts, entrances, exits, partnering, lifts, floorwork, and other choreographic elements when developing rehearsal and performance procedures. Identifies conflicts between choreography and technical or production requirements and works with appropriate personnel to resolve them. Maintains choreographers' artistic intent while addressing technical, operational, and safety requirements.
• Technical Rehearsal and Performance Management: Leads the stage management process during spacing, technical, dress, and final rehearsals. Directs the integration of lighting, sound, music, projection, scenery, props, costumes, and other technical elements with choreography. Serves as the primary stage management authority during assigned performances. Calls lighting, sound, music, projection, scenic, and other technical cues based on choreography, movement, musical timing, visual formations, entrances, exits, and transitions. Monitors onstage and backstage conditions and makes timely decisions regarding safety, performer readiness, technical issues, and unexpected circumstances.
• Production Documentation and Communication Leads or participates in production meetings involving artistic directors, choreographers, faculty, designers, production personnel, and venue representatives. Maintains production schedules, daily calls, cue sheets, rehearsal reports, running orders, contact information, spacing information, costume-change information, and other stage management documentation. Communicates production requirements and changes accurately to artistic and technical personnel.Maintains documentation necessary for production continuity across rehearsals and performances.
• Post-Production Evaluation and Process Improvement Leads post-rehearsal and post-performance evaluations to identify production issues, safety concerns, technical deficiencies, communication problems, and process improvements. Evaluates production outcomes and recommends changes to rehearsal procedures, technical processes, documentation, scheduling, communication, and stage management practices for future productions.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs other duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope and level of the position

• Demonstrated experience in dance stage management, dance production management, or a closely related specialized dance production role.
• Demonstrated experience managing dance rehearsals, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and live performances.
• Demonstrated experience working with choreographers, dancers, and technical personnel in a production environment.
• Demonstrated experience calling technical cues for live dance performances.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess production situations and make timely decisions affecting safety, artistic execution, technical operations, and performance continuity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Dance, Dance Production, Theatre/Stage Management, or a closely related field.
• Experience as a dance stage manager, dance production manager, rehearsal director, or comparable dance production professional.
• Experience with university, professional, or pre-professional dance concerts, festivals, showcases, adjudicated performances, or multi-work productions.
• Experience with partnering, lifts, floorwork, complex formations, costume changes, props, live music, projections, or other specialized dance production elements.
• Experience calling lighting, sound, music, projection, scenic, or other technical cues for dance performances.
• Experience working directly with choreographers throughout the complete production process.

Knowledge

Knowledge of dance production and stage management practices, dance terminology, choreography, movement, and rehearsal practices. Musical timing and phrasing as they relate to dance performance. Dance-specific spatial relationships, including formations, spacing, entrances, exits, pathways, and transitions. Partnering, lifts, floor-work, and other movement practices that affect stage management and dancer safety. The physical and spatial demands of dance performance and rehearsal. Dance-specific safety practices. Integration of choreography with lighting, sound, music, projection, scenery, costumes, props, and other technical elements. Stage management documentation and live performance procedures. Technical rehearsal and performance practices specific to dance. Production processes involving multiple choreographers, dance works, casts, and technical personnel.

Skills

Reading, interpreting, and communicating choreographic information. Applying dance knowledge to production, scheduling, technical, and safety decisions. applying technical cues based on choreography, movement, musical timing, and visual events. Managing complex dance rehearsals and live performances. Anticipating production needs and resolving problems before or during rehearsal and performances. Maintaining detailed production documentation. Communicating effectively with dancers, choreographers, faculty, musicians, designer, technicians, production personnel, and venue staff. Managing rapidly changing production conditions while maintaining accuracy and composure. Applying professional stage management practices in dance-specific environments.

Abilities

Ability to understand and communicate choreographic information. Apply specialized dance knowledge to state management and production decisions. Recognize how technical decisions may affect dancer safety, movement quality, choreography, and artistic intent. Anticipate the needs of dancers and choreographers throughout the rehearsal and performance process. Exercise independent professional judgment in high-pressure live performance situations. Make timely decisions when safety, timing, technical execution, or artistic integrity is at risk. Maintaining composure and professional authority in complex and rapidly changing production environments. Communicate effectively using professional dance and production terminology. Work independently with minimal supervision. Manage multiple production and competing priorities while maintaining accuracy. Balance artistic intent, technical requirements, operational needs, and dancer safety.