A powerful new platform for choreographic innovation takes centre stage this May as Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC) presents the inaugural ACDC Duet Xchange at the Homecoming Centre’s Star Theatre on 22 and 23 May 2026.
Conceived as a bi-annual competition and performance platform, ACDC Duet Xchange is designed to grow and elevate South Africa’s contemporary dance movement- placing choreographers, collaboration, and new work firmly at the centre.
The response to the inaugural open call has been significant, with over 90 entries received, reflecting both the depth of talent and the need for platforms that support original dance-making in South Africa.
At its heart, ACDC Duet Xchange celebrates the art of the duet – a form that is intimate, immediate and deeply human. Across two evenings, audiences will experience a curated programme that moves from collaborative exchange to high-stakes competition, showcasing a new generation of choreographic voices alongside established creators.
A Two-Day Programme of Collaboration and Competition
Day 1: DXCHANGE 1 – Opening Collaborative Platform
The opening night brings together leading voices in a shared creative space, featuring:
- Janine Booysens (Cape Town)
- Marlin Zoutman (New World Dance Theatre |Cape Town)
- Deborah McFadden (Northern Dance Project | Noordhoek, Cape Town)
- Anderson Carvalho (ACDC |Netherlands | Cape Town)
Day 2: DXCHANGE 2 – Performance & Competition Platform
The second evening shifts into competition, where shortlisted choreographers present newly created duet works. Finalists include:
- Aaghier Isaacs (Wellington | Cape Town City Ballet)
- Nicolas Laubscher (Cape Town | Cape Ballet Africa
- Awonke Mtonjana (Johannesburg | UCT-trained)
- Michael Halim (Indonesia | Indonesia Dance Company
- Mbongeni Moyake (Cape Town | former Joburg Ballet, ACDC alumnus)
- Lusindiso Dibela (Cape Town | Sbondaba Dance)
They are joined by guest companies:
- Gain Collective (Cape Town)
- Oorleef Dance Project (Cape Town)
Winners of ACDC Duet Xchange will be awarded R30,000 and the opportunity to stage a new work at ACDC Dance Intersect 2027 (Jury Award) and R15,000 (Audience Award) – an investment into the future of choreographic development.
Curated with intention, judged independently
While ACDC Duet Xchange is curated by Anderson Carvalho, final award decisions will be made by an independent jury, ensuring a fair and objective adjudication process.
In selecting the finalists from over 90 submissions, Carvalho was drawn to works that pushed beyond form into meaning. “I was looking for a distinct movement language – something that moves beyond geometry into feeling,” he explains.
“Work that is contemporary but grounded. Work that tells a story through the body – where imagery, diversity, and narrative are carried clearly through the movement. The duet demands honesty, and I was looking for artists who could hold that truth.”
This approach reflects ACDC’s broader artistic philosophy – one rooted in connection, storytelling, and the lived experience of movement.
A platform for the future: “This is about creating space,” says Carvalho. “We are building a platform where choreographers are empowered to take risks, collaborate meaningfully, and be seen. The duet is one of the most honest forms in dance – it demands connection, vulnerability and precision. Through ACDC Duet Xchange, we are investing in that honesty and in the future of contemporary choreography in South Africa.”
Set within the Homecoming Centre in District Six – a site rich in memory and cultural significance – ACDC Duet Xchange anchors contemporary expression within a broader narrative of identity, place and creative evolution.
ACDC Duet Xchange is a commitment to the future of choreography in South Africa, inviting audiences to feel movement and discover the duet as a compelling, human entry point into contemporary dance.
PROGRAMME SNAPSHOT
Day 1 Highlights (22 May):
- Convergence – Janine Booysens
- Speak the Hidden – New World Dance Theatre
- New work – Northern Dance Project
- Intimacy of the Skin – Anderson Carvalho
Day 2 Highlights (23 May):
- Unraveled – Aaghier Isaacs
- Tainted – Nicolas Laubscher
- Salt in My Mouth – Awonke Mtonjana
- Parasite – Michael Halim
- The Third Day – Mbongeni Moyake
- By My Stripes I Shall be Known – Lusindiso Dibela
- Guest works: Discord (Gain Collective), Onrus (Oorleef Dance Project)
Tickets are priced at R150, with box office proceeds shared directly among the local guest artists – offering audiences a meaningful way to support the creation and sustainability of new South African dance.
