4 February 2026
We spoke with Christina Walters, a dancer who has built a successful career performing in major productions, including The Lion King and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Tour. Alongside her performance work, she is also expanding her skills through the ISTD Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Modern Theatre, supported by professional‑development funding from Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures.
Growing up with ISTD exams
My ISTD training was a constant during my years as a young dancer. I grew up completing Tap and Modern grades throughout my childhood. It gave me structure and the technical skills I needed to get into full-time training. It also gave me a really special group of friends who I am still very close with to this day!
I then trained at Bird College under some really brilliant teachers who were also ISTD trained. I believe that the technical foundation exams built allowed me to focus and build on my craft. Once I graduated, I was lucky enough to work on The Lion King in the West End, which had always been a dream show of mine! The Lion King is a show where you really need stamina, focus, and the ability to pick things up quickly. I felt that the foundation was already there because of the way I’d trained.
Every contract teaches you something different, with Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, the physicality and storytelling demanded a huge amount of consistency. There’s such beauty in the detail of Matthew Bourne's work. It was one of those jobs that really made me step back and appreciate how far my training had carried me.
Training for the DDE with support from New Adventures
In 2025, Christina received New Adventures funding to support her career development, choosing to put it towards getting her ISTD DDE in Modern Theatre.
I wanted to invest in something that would support me long‑term. The DDE made sense! As a freelancer, I think teaching as a part of that career can be a great option. I think the DDE really makes you consider how you deliver information, how you keep students safe, and how you adapt to different learning styles. It’s made me much more intentional when I’m teaching.
How does teaching work alongside your dance career?
Freelancing work isn’t always predictable. Teaching dance adds another dimension to my work, and it uses skills I already have in a literal sense, but also gives me a whole new level of love and appreciation for dance - seeing it passed on to students I teach feels super special. You have to articulate ideas clearly, so you become more aware of how you move yourself. She hopes eventually to bring her industry experience directly into her classes. The ISTD syllabus gives students solid technique. Pairing that with first-hand knowledge of how professional rehearsals operate feels really valuable.
To any professionals thinking about gaining their qualification, go for it! It gives you something meaningful and enjoyable to focus on during quieter performing periods and being qualified with the ISTD really helps you stand out. The ISTD also offers excellent APEL routes for those who already have relevant training or professional credits.
