Dorcas Walters

Dorcas Walters

I come from a theatrical family and decided I wanted to be a dancer at the age of 4. I studied ballet at Elmhurst Ballet School, Merle Park’s School and The Royal Ballet School (lower & upper schools) before joining Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet in 1986. I moved with the company to Birmingham in 1990 when we became Birmingham Royal Ballet.

As a soloist & principal I danced a wide variety of classical and contemporary roles and created for roles for a range of choreographers. Some of my favourite leading roles were in Romeo & Juliet, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardee, Two Pigeons, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, In The Upper Room, Symphony in 3 Movements, Hobson’s Choice.

After an 18 year ballet career came motherhood, a franchise business and a fellowship on the Clore Leadership Program, during which I spent time working at The Royal Shakespeare Company and Dance UK and wrote a research paper on career development in dance.

I have been a dance assessor for The Arts Council & part of the selection panel for Birmingham Royal Ballet Dance Track Program. In 2008 I discovered Gyrotonic and started my training as a Gyrotonic Instructor. After teaching at home in Bournville for many years I opened Birmingham’s first Gyrotonic Studio in January 2019.

Gyrotonic Qualifications:

  • Level 1 Gyrotonic

  • Level 1 Gyrokinesis

  • Level 2 Gyrotonic (prog 1 & 2)

  • Jumping Stretching Board

  • Gyrotonic Applications for Dancers

  • Gyrotonic Applications for the Fascial Body

  • Gyrotonic Applications for Scoliosis

  • Gyrotonic Applications for the Pelvis

  • Gyrotonic Applications for the Shoulder

  • Gyrotonic Wingmaster Course

  • Gyrotonic Pre-Trainer (teacher training)

I am continuously adding to my training and have trained with master trainers, Leda Franklin, Elaine Puren, Beatriz Pascual, Dylan Elmore, Cherie DeHaven, Ronny Perry-Nadav, Miriam Barbosa, Paul Horvath, Domini Anne, Jovita Bonsiepe & Irene Rampino.

I studied Myofascial Anatomy with Gary Carter of Natural Bodies Trainings

In 2019 I presented Gyrokinesis classes at the online British Fascia Symposium.

I also have an MA in Applied Dance from Birmingham University and a Coaching Accreditation from Relational Dynamics. 

Photos by Bill Cooper & Asya Verzhbinsky