Esther Balfe graduated in 1990 from Brunel University, West London with a diploma from Ballet Rambert. On finishing her studies, she was employed as a demi soloist at the State Theatre, Saarbrücken, under the direction of Philip Landsdale (Royal Ballet). She then went on to work with the Heidelberg Ballet under the Direction of Liz King and appeared as a guest at the National Theater in Mannheim (DE). In 1995 Esther was a re-founding member of Tanztheater Wien, which later joined the Volksoper Vienna in 1999 under the new Direction of Liz King.
Between the years of 2003-2006 Esther began to teach and research movement on a more intensive basis, giving workshops for Tanztheater Wien, Salzburg Experimental Dance Academy, Anton Bruckner Private University Linz, Tanzquartier Vienna and was a part time lecturer at the Conservatory of Vienna, Private University. In 2005 Esther was invited to perform at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (UK) where she appeared as "Giselle" in the Opera Faust by David McVicar.
In 2006 Esther was asked to go on to tour with The Forsythe Company. Since 2007 she was a fulltime member of TFC appearing in Forsythe's work from the last decade "Three Atmospheric Studies", "Heterotopia", "Yes we can’t", "I don’t believe in outerspace" and "Sider" to name but a few. During her time at The Forsythe Company Esther became deeply involved in the processing and archiving of movement, researching on a daily basis - movement modalities, systems and improvisation technology, that included leading workshops whilst on international tour with TFC. In 2012 Esther was asked by Scott de Lahunta to take part in the research and development phases for the Motion Bank team in Germany.
In 2012 since taking a full time teaching post at the Conservatory of Vienna, Private University where she is a Professor of Dance, she still appears as a Guest Artist with The Forsythe Company.