Dorothy grew up in Austin, Texas, training and performing corps de ballet roles with Ballet Austin. During this time she also trained in classical piano with Dr. Amanda Vick Lethco, professor at the University of Texas. Dorothy received her BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University in 1999. While at SMU she was cast in principal roles in Raymonda, Les Sylphides, and La Bayadere, among others, After graduation, Dorothy went on to dance with Colorado Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theater, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. After moving to New York in 2004, she danced for Ballet New York, Dances Patrelle, Collective Body Dance Lab, John-Mark Owen Presents, and many other choreographers and companies, working in a wide range of styles. While in New York, Dorothy began acting, training at the Atlantic Theater School and appearing in indie films, commercials, Off-Broadway, and as a dancer in the movie Black Swan.
In 2000 Dorothy sustained a major foot injury requiring two surgeries and a year away from dance. During this time she began to study Gyrotonic®, Gyrokinesis®, and Pilates. She soon certified in these disciplines, and has been teaching since 2001. She later trained in the Feldenkrais Method®, becoming a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner in 2011.
Dorothy has just completed her second year on faculty with the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas. In addition to teaching ballet technique and Gyrokinesis®, she was Co-Artistic Director of UT Dance Repertory Theater’s main stage concert in Fall of 2015. In this concert she also performed as a Guest Artist with the department, choreographing and dancing in the solo work Prelude Variation, as well as Manuel Vignoulle’s Maximizing the Audience.
Along with Magdalena Riley and Sara Paul, Dorothy is a co-founder of Austin Community Ballet, a organization of Austin-area dancers who provide affordable, professional-quality ballet classes. In the summer of 2015 she wrote and directed Prelude, her first short film, currently being submitted to festivals. She recently choreographed and danced in String Circle, a collaboration with UT musicians, theater artists, and dancers presented at Bates Recital Hall and the Blanton Museum of Art.
