Moss Te Ururangi Patterson
Artistic and executive director of The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC)
Moss Te Ururangi Patterson (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) is the artistic and executive director of The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) and one of Aotearoa’s most acclaimed choreographers.
Known for his culturally grounded and emotionally resonant work, Moss creates dance that reflects whenua, whakapapa, and storytelling through movement.
Born in Tūrangi, he trained in physical theatre and music in Ōtepoti before studying dance and choreography at Unitec, Tāmaki Makaurau. His performance career includes work with Footnote, Touch Compass, Atamira Dance Company, Black Grace, and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Since becoming NZDC’s artistic director, Moss has pushed the boundaries of Indigenous dance in Aotearoa. Recent works include 100 Winds, a collaboration with Chamber Music New Zealand and the New Zealand String Quartet, and Home, Land and Sea, a major co-production with the Royal New Zealand Ballet exploring land, legacy, and shared futures through a te ao Māori lens.
Moss is a 2020 Arts Laureate and recipient of multiple national awards, strengthening the visibility and vitality of Māori voices in performing arts.