First ACDC Duet Xchange celebrates bold new choreographic voices

The inaugural ACDC Duet Xchange (DX) closed on a high note this past weekend at The Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre, marking the successful launch of a new bi-annual competition dedicated to growing contemporary choreography and dance-making in South Africa.

Presented by Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography, Duet Xchange was created to support new choreographic voices, encourage artistic exchange, and offer audiences a powerful entry point into contemporary dance through the intimacy of the duet.

The two-night programme opened on Friday with established choreographers presenting work as a forerunner to Saturday’s competition platform. The opening night featured works by Janine Booysens, New World Dance Theatre, Northern Dance Project, and a mesmerising video art project by Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in connection, experimentation and movement-led storytelling.

On Saturday, shortlisted choreographers took to the stage in a competitive showcase judged by an independent jury. The inaugural winner was Michael Halim from Indonesia, whose work, “Parasite”, was recognised for its distinctive movement language, compelling imagery and choreographic clarity.

Halim receives the R30,000 first prize, which will support the creation of a new work to be presented at Dance Intersect 2027.

The R15,000 second prize was awarded to South African choreographer Nicolas Laubscher for his work, “Tainted”.

Carvalho, who conceived and created Duet Xchange, said the success of the first edition confirmed the need for platforms of this nature.

Carvalho said:

“The success of ACDC Duet Xchange is a collective success, a reminder that collaboration is not only possible, but powerful. It affirms that diverse voices can meet, merge, intersect, and inspire one another to aspire beyond individual boundaries.”

“Duet Xchange was created to give choreographers space to test, risk, connect and be seen. What we witnessed over these two nights was not only talent, but courage – artists using the duet form to tell stories through the body in ways that were deeply human, contemporary and alive.”

Friday night choreographer and jury member Janine Booysens observed:

“What stood out was the honesty of the work. The duet is a demanding form because there is nowhere to hide. It asks for presence, trust and precision, and the finalists brought a remarkable range of voices, textures and stories to the stage.”

The platform drew strong interest from the dance community, with more than 50 entries received for its first open call – a clear indication of both the appetite and need for sustained investment in contemporary choreography.

Beyond the performances, Duet Xchange included a Choreographic Xchange masterclass led by Spanish-Dutch master choreographer Marta Reig Torres, offering participating artists an opportunity to engage in creative process, artistic inquiry and exchange.

For Carvalho, the first edition is only the beginning.

“Duet Xchange is not just a competition. It is a meeting point – between artists, audiences, disciplines and ideas. It is about building a future for contemporary dance that is collaborative, grounded and brave.”

Duet Xchange will return as a bi-annual competition, continuing its commitment to nurturing choreographic development, artistic risk-taking and the growth of South Africa’s contemporary dance movement.