Biography

Born in Porirua, Neil graduated from the Auckland Performing Arts School, before joining the acclaimed Douglas Wright Dance Company, performing in the major works Gloria, A Far Cry, Forever, How on Earth and Buried Venus.  He subsequently worked with many of New Zealand's leading choreographers. In 1995, Neil formed Black Grace Dance Company, debuting with a record-breaking season at Auckland's Maidment Theatre.  He choreographed all of the Company's major full-length works and created the concepts behind New Works and Urban YOUTH Movement.

Neil has also choreographed work for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Opera New Zealand, New Zealand Wearable Arts and the Holland Dance Festival.

In 2003 Neil received a nomination for the prestigious international Rolex Mentor Programme. In 2007 he directed the Cultural Traditions programme at Jacobs Pillow for their 75th Anniversary Season, Boston MA, USA, an event which brings together distinguished artists from all over the world.

Following on from 2007’s The Grass Roots Tour, which visited nine North Island regional centres, Black Grace performedat Womad in 2008 and Neil presented his short works programme on a seven week tour with well respected international theatre agent, Rena Shagan & Associates through North America and Canada.

In 2009 Neil accepted a Resolution passed by the Guam Legislator in recognition of the Company's work in Guam. Neil is a 2009 recipient of the Paul D. Fleck Fellowship in the Arts from  The Banff Centre, Canada.

A nearly two month long tour in 2010 began with a oversold performance in Hawaii and directly after the performance it was announced by Michael Pili Pang, Director of the Mayors Office of Cultureand Arts, on behalf of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, that the 6th February 2010 is officially 'Black Grace Day!' Neil and the Company were presented with the proclamation on stage.