Kurt Gorrell

Kurt Gorrell has been an athlete and fitness enthusiast his entire life. He was a soccer player and competitive gymnast growing up and at the late age of 20 he started dancing where he enjoyed a 16-year career as a professional dancer, performing principal and soloist roles with many regional ballet and contemporary companies. Broadway National Tour credits include Contact (2005) and Twyla Tharp’s Movin’ Out (2008-9). 

In addition to his professional dance career, Kurt has been a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach since 1996, a Pilates instructor since 2010, and a gymnastics coach for 25 years. He is a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and a Level 1 Weightlifting Coach through USA Weightlifting. He holds Pilates certifications in both equipment and mat work from Pilates Academy International, is a Level 1 and 2 certified CoreAlignÒ instructor, and a certified trainer in RedcordÒ, a dual suspension training system. Kurt is also certified in Pre- and Post-Natal Pilates and Fascial Movement/ Kinesiology Taping.

 After retiring from dance and rehabbing his second knee surgery, Kurt earned his bachelor’s degree in dance performance from Butler University in Indianapolis and Hunter College in NYC. He went on to earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY and in 2018 Kurt and his wife and two cats relocated to San Francisco, CA. In 2024 Kurt earned his certification as a Functional Manual Therapist (CFMT) through the Institute of Physical Art.

With his extensive knowledge of the body and his experience as a dancer, gymnast and personal trainer, he was able to develop classes such as Gymnastics for Dancers (featured in Dance Magazine, March 2011), and Gymtensity, a gymnastics conditioning class featuring a boot camp style workout involving ring training, basic gymnastics conditioning and calisthenics. Kurt has worked with elite and recreational athletes including professional dancers, former Olympians, Cirque du Soleil performers, competitive figure skaters, competitive gymnasts and competitive hockey players. Kurt was also the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Russell Sage College. In addition, Kurt developed a specific interest in rehabilitation across the lifespan, having had the privilege of working with stroke survivors, and those with age-related physical limitations.

 Kurt currently splits his time between working with his mentor Charlie King and the team at Beacon Physical Therapy in downtown San Francisco, and with the San Francisco Ballet where he provides strength and conditioning and PT services for the dancers of the company.

In his approach to manual physical therapy, Kurt aims to provide patient-centered care that treats the body as a whole; to get to the root of the issue rather than only focusing on the symptoms. He also aims to provide his clients with the tools and education to further their knowledge of their presenting issues, working toward full functional movement that is pain-free and sustainable.

 Outside of his professional practice, Kurt enjoys spending time with his wife and their two Siamese cats, wine tasting (he is a Level 1 sommelier), surfing, bodyboarding, collecting vintage skateboards, and playing guitar.