Rodney Bell (born February 6, 1971) is a male dancer born in Te Kuiti, North Island, New Zealand.He is internationally famous for physically integrated dance, which is a contemporary modern dance style that combines people with and without physical disabilities.
He is of Maori descent, from the Ngati Maniapoto tribe.He acquired a disability as a result of a motorcycle accident as a young adult that left him paralyzed from below the chest and he depends upon a wheelchair for mobility.
His artistic expression demonstrates elements of traditional Maori culture, yet at the same time he's continually seeking new ways to enhance his creative process.He has been dancing professionally since 1994.
He began 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., to join AXIS Dance Company, based in Oakland, where he remained principal dancer until 2012.
He has been nominated for numerous awards.