09.02.2026
Acknowledging the passing of Matz Skoog
It is with great sadness that the Royal New Zealand Ballet acknowledges the death of former Artistic Director and dear friend of the company, Matz Skoog, on 7 February 2026.
Matz Skoog, Artistic Director 1996-2001
1957 – 2026
For information on Matz’s Wellington-based memorial service, please scroll to the bottom of this page. All are invited and welcome.
Matz was born in Stockholm and trained as a dancer in Sweden and Russia. After graduating he became a member of the Royal Swedish Ballet, later joining English National Ballet (ENB) where he was a Principal Dancer from 1979 to 1991, and Nederlands Dans Theater. During this time, Matz worked with ballet greats such as Serge Lifar, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn.
Matz brought new perspectives to the RNZB when he arrived in 1996, as well as a special connection back to our Scandinavian heritage. His vast touring experience enabled him to understand the work required in making connections with audiences in a small country such as New Zealand, and in 1997 he established the RNZB Road Tour, later known as Tutus on Tour.
With General Manager, Sue Paterson Matz presented innovative programmes including Dracula in 2000 and in 2001 Ihi FrENZy, a collaboration with choreography set to Split Enz songs from New Zealand-raised, London-based choreographer Mark Baldwin and kapa haka performers from Te Mātārae i Orehu. He commissioned new works from choreographers Douglas Wright, Michael Parmenter, Eric Languet, and Shona McCullagh and had an enduring relationship with RNZB kaumātua Russell Kerr, commissioning Kerr’s Peter Pan (1999) and A Christmas Carol (2001), both with original scores by composer Philip Norman.
Matz Skoog with Managing Director Sue Paterson, photograph by Bill Cooper.
From 2001-2005 Matz was Artistic Director of English National Ballet. He was nominated for the 2002 Theatre Management Awards for outstanding achievement in dance, and on behalf of English National Ballet, the 2003 Critics’ Circle Award for Most Imaginative Repertoire.
Even when the demands of his international career took him all over the world, Matz remained part of the RNZB family, returning to the company in 2009 to stage Bournonville’s La Sylphide, as Interim Artistic Director for nine months in 2011, and for many shorter visits. He brought high expectations, rigor and precision to his artistic work, but also great kindness, generosity and encouragement to everyone who was lucky enough to work with him.
Artistic Director of the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Ty King-Wall, says “The RNZB whānau and the wider dance community has lost a great leader, luminary and custodian with the passing of Matz. He has made such an indelible contribution to ballet in New Zealand, and this legacy has continued far beyond his time here as Artistic Director. His generosity, insight, calmness, and care for the art form always shone through and benefited so many, extending around the world and impacting across generations. We are eternally grateful to him, and our thoughts and aroha are with his immediate family and all those close to him today.”
The RNZB extend our love and sympathy to Matz’s wife Amanda, RNZB Managing Director from 2007 – 2015, and their sons Sam and Louis, and to Matz’s worldwide ballet family.
There will be a memorial service for Matz at St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9ED at 3.30 pm on Friday 27 March.
You can read Jennifer Shennan’s obituary for Michelle Potter on Dancing here.
Memorial Event in Wellington
Jennifer Shennan, Anne Rowse (co-editors, The Royal New Zealand Ballet at 60) and Jane Meares (Chair, Royal New Zealand Ballet Foundation) invite members of our dance community to a gathering, Remembering Matz Skoog, to be held on the same date that his memorial service will be taking place at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden in London.
There will be a screening of Matz’s extended interview (2022) with UK dance writer Ismene Brown, part of her Interviews with Ballet Legends series and an opportunity to share reflections with friends and colleagues. There will be a tributes book available for signatures and messages that will be sent later to Amanda in London.
If you are unable to attend in person but would like to send a message, either to be read at the gathering, or included in the Tributes book if you wish, you are very welcome to do so via email to Jennifer Shennan.
When: Friday 27 March, 4 – 6pm
Where: The Long Hall, 13b Maida Vale Road, Roseneath, Wellington
RSVP: RSVPs would be appreciated, to jennifershennan@xtra.co.nz
All are welcome to attend, to share memories of a very special friend and colleague who made a major contribution to dance in New Zealand.
Please note: the Long Hall is a ‘shoes off’ venue. You are welcome to bring slippers or indoor shoes to change into at the door.
A look at Matz's time with the RNZB
