Douglas Wright was born in Tuakau, South Auckland in 1956. After dancing with Limbs of Auckland, the Paul Taylor Dance Company of New York and DV8 Physical Theatre in London, he returned to New Zealand in 1987 to form his own company. The Douglas Wright Dance Company toured extensively throughout New Zealand, in Australia, New York and Europe. Douglas's numerous works of dance-theatre include; How on Earth (1989), Gloria (1990), Elegy (1993), Forever (1993), Buried Venus (1997), rose and fell (1997), Arc (1999), halo (2000), Inland (2002) and Black Milk (2006). In 2000 Douglas was one of the five inaugural laureates chosen by the Arts Foundation of New Zealand, and presented 'wounded cloud and other works' -a debut exhibition of his painting and sculpture at the Stanbeth Gallery, Auckland.