Jones studied at the Royal Ballet School in London and danced with the Royal Ballet from 1957-1958. She was a principal Artist with the Borovansky Ballet and was invited to join its successor, the Australian Ballet in 1962. She danced with the Australian Ballet until 1978, when she took up the position of Artistic Director of the company from 1979-1982. In 1991, Jones founded the Australian Institute of Classical Dance and became its artistic Director. Other appointments have included Director of the National Theatre Youth Ballet (1996–98), and Director of the National Theatre Ballet School (Melbourne; 1995-98). She taught at the Western Academy of Performing Arts in 2000.
In 1963, Jones married fellow principal Dancer Garth Welch and they had two sons, Stanton Welch and Damien Welch, who both became Dancers. Stanton has since become a Choreographer, and Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet. Damien is currently a principal Artist with The Australian Ballet, and has a son Oscar with Kirsty Martin, fellow principal Artist.
She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1972 for her services to Australian ballet.
