Michael Parmenter
Choreographer

Michael Parmenter is one of New Zealand’s leading dancers and choreographers. During the 80s he studied in New York with Erick Hawkins and in Japan with Butoh dancer Min Tanaka, and was a member of the company Stephen Petronio and Dancers 1983-84.

He has choreographed consistently for thirty years in New Zealand and internationally. His works span the spectrum from innovative solo works to large-scale opera-house productions. He directed his Commotion Company from 1990–2008 and has choreographed numerous works for Footnote Dance Company and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Over the past decades Michael has taught at Toi Whakaari/The New Zealand Drama School, the New Zealand School of Dance, and at the UNITEC School of Performing and Screen Arts where he was Adjunct Professor in Dance 2010-2011. In addition to being a leading teacher of contemporary dance technique, Michael has recently been developing the partner-improvisation forms PILOTING and TACTICS.