Rodney Bell Ngāti Maniapoto is a renowned dancer and performer.  His artistic expression demonstrates elements of traditional Maori culture, and at the same time he's continually seeking new ways to enhance his creative process.  

Rodney received the 2017 Arts Access award for artistic achievement and the 2016 Atttude award for Artistic achievement both recognising his most recent work MEREMERE 

Rodney has been dancing professionally since 1994 beginning as a founding member of Touch Compass Dance Trust, which is an internationally renowned physically integrated dance company based in Auckland, New Zealand.

In 2007, he relocated to California, U.S.A, to join AXIS Dance Company, based in Oakland, where he remained principal dancer until 2012.  Since return back to New Zealand Rodney has actively work not only as an artist but also worked as an advocator and provocator towards stronger integration and voice for people with diverse requirements and backgrounds with particular interest in arts access.  Rodney is currently working on a new piece that will be presented in Australia in April 2018, He travels to Singapore to present a work in the Festival of colour and will tour New Zealand in May-July 2018 with his work Meremere.