Phyllis Bedells was an English ballerina

Ballerina

A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...

 and teacher. She studied with Bolm

Adolph Bolm

Adolph Rudolphovitch Bolm was a Russian born American ballet dancer and choreographer....

, Cecchetti

Cecchetti

Cecchetti is an Italian surname. Notable people with the surname include:* Enrico Cecchetti , Italian ballet dancer* Alberto Cecchetti , politician of San Marino* Silvia Cecchetti , Italian singer...

, and Pavlova

Pavlova

- Persons :* Anna Pavlova * Anna Pavlova * Alla Pavlova * Karolina Pavlova * Anelia Pavlova * The feminine form of Pavlov, a common Russian and Bulgarian family name- Other :...

. From 1907 she was a dancer at the London Empire Theatre and became the first British prima ballerina there in 1914. She left in 1916 to dance in West End

West End theatre

West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...

 musical revues and in opera ballets at Covent Garden

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...

. She was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Dance

Royal Academy of Dance

The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...

 in 1920 and helped to draw up its first syllabus. She was also a member of the Camargo Society. In 1931 she appeared as a guest artist with the Vic-Wells Ballet. She retired in 1935, becoming both a ballet teacher and an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance

Royal Academy of Dance

The Royal Academy of Dance is an international dance education and training organization, and examination board that specialises in the teaching and technique of Ballet. The RAD was established in London, England in 1920 as the Association of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain, and received its...

. In 1979 the annual Phyllis Bedells Bursary was established in her honour. She published her autobiography, My Dancing Days, in 1954.