Desmond Jones received the first-ever grant from the British Arts Council to study mime. After two years with Etienne Decroux in Paris, he returned to devote himself to the study, teaching and performance of mime. As an actor himself he is conscious of the problems of movement in the speaking theatre, and generally how inadequately it is catered for in theatre training. Desmond was the first mime to be invited to perform at the National Theatre of Great Britain, and has performed regularly in Britain and throughout Europe. In 1977 he formed SILENTS, a 10-person company, one of the largest anywhere, to explore new forms of group movement.

Desmond's experience is wide-ranging and unique in its application, from straight theatre to street theatre, from cabaret to the classical stage, not only as a teacher, director and movement coach, but also as a performer.

Desmond has been Head of Movement on three Hollywood films and has trained, choreographed and directed actors for the ENO, the Royal Ballet, Opera Buffa, and many TV programmes and commercials. As as expert on the analysis of movement and body language, he has taught and lectured widely at Universities, Colleges of Art, Business Schools and Drama Schools, both nationally and internationally, as well as the National Theatre, RADA and Ballet Rambert.

Desmond Jones has been an Advisor on Mime not only to the Arts Council, but to all the central organisations promoting mime and mime training and his teaching techniques are used in Schools both here and abroad.