Peter Rockford Espiritu

Peter Rockford Espiritu is the Executive & Artistic Director of Tau Dance Theater, Hawaiis only professional dance company based in Honolulu founded by a Native Hawaiian. Since founding the company in 1996, Espiritu has established Tau Dance Theater as a leading force in contemporary dance, creating work that explores the intersections of Hawaiian culture, history, identity, and the broader Pacific experience. An accomplished choreographer, director, and educator, Espiritu was the choreographer for Disneys stage production of The Tale of Moana. The production premiered aboard the inaugural voyage of the Disney Treasure in 2024 and was subsequently featured in National Geographics The Magic of the Disney Treasure, now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. His relationship with Disney extends back to 2011, when he choreographed the Starlit Hui, the signature evening luau at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Espiritu’s artistic practice has been recognized nationally and internationally. He is a 2024 Western Arts Alliance Performing Arts Discovery Fellow; a WESTAF biopic Fellow; a 2023 Advancing Indigenous Performances Native Launchpad Fellow; and a Dance USA Artist Fellow. In 2022, he was selected for the prestigious Intercultural International Choreographer’s Creation Lab residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada. A seven time recipient of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Choreographic Award, Espiritu continues to champion Indigenous perspectives and expand the presence of Hawaii and Native Hawaiian artists on national and international stages. Through his choreography and leadership of Tau Dance Theater, he creates work rooted in place, culture, and lived experience while fostering meaningful connections between Hawaii and the global performing arts community.