Touch Compass
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 Lusi Faiva - founding member and current Artistic Direction Panel member of Touch Compass | |
| Formation | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Catherine Chappell MNZM |
| Purpose | Professional arts and accessible education organisation whose work is disability-led. |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Leader | Executive Director/Kaiwhakahaere Matua: Jon Tamihere-Kemeys, Artistic Directors: Rodney Bell, Dr Suzanne Cowan and Lusi Faiva (appointed 2021), Alisha McLennan Marler (appointed 2025) |
| Website | https://www.touchcompass.org.nz/ |
Touch Compass is a professional disability-led arts and accessible education organisation in New Zealand established in 1997 as a disability-integrated dance company.[1][2][3][4] They have been at the forefront of access arts, dance and theatre in New Zealand and have 'paved the way for many dancers and performers and companies across the country.'[1] They create contemporary dance, theatre and digital performances, accessible arts education programmes and have run workshops, weekly community classes and education for schools.[5]
Touch Compass was established in 1997 and has been a registered charity under the name The Touch Compass Dance Trust Board since 2008.[5] They are based in Auckland.[5]
Their mission statement includes:
Our mission is to explore the intersection of disability, Māori and Pasifika culture as our unique contribution to the arts. Our performances reflect disability aesthetics and practices that are culturally informed. They are interdisciplinary but rooted in movement practice and choreographic forms. We explore cultural diversity through authentic and multi-dimensional performance.[6]
Touch Compass recognise principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi and in 2019 the organisation after a review made an agreement to 'move to a disability-led business model, in which artists with disabilities hold leadership positions'.[7]
