After a selection process from over 400 applications worldwide, the eighth edition of the Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition (RIDCC) is set to showcase sixteen selected choreographers. From June 18 to 20, Theater Zuidplein will host this edition of RIDCC. Over the course of three evenings, the choreographers will compete for several awards, including the XL Production Award.
The XL Production Award, made possible by Stichting Droom en Daad, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and RIDCC, provides the winner with a €100,000 budget to create a new work. This makes it one of the most substantial and prestigious dance awards in the world.
Choreographers worldwide increasingly recognize RIDCC as a vital catalyst for their careers. Traditionally, many entries originate from the US, Italy, and Spain, but this year shows a marked increase in applications from Asia and South America. This shift is natural because the competition serves as more than just a contest, acting as both a global networking hub and a springboard to international success.
This year’s selection reflects a wide range of styles and backgrounds. The makers presenting their work in Rotterdam this June are:
Marc Sayer Cassú & Milica Bajčetić (ES+GB/RS), Gabriel Camprubi Reza & Jennifer Jaime (VE/AR), Alex Soares (BR), Alessio Damiani (IT), Tim Van Den Bos de Lucas (NL/ES), Zach Enquist (US), Sabine Van Rensburg & Natasha Patterson – People Watching (ZA+FR/FR+US), Daichi Yamaguchi & Shintani Souki (JP), Maé Nayrolles & Anna Beghelli (FR/IT), Diego Pazó & Lucía Burguete – QABALUM (SP), Eduardo Ignacio Fizona Camargo (AR), Adam Khazhmuradov (BE), Jordan Johnson & Aidan Carberry – JA COLLECTIVE (US), Chueh-Kai Kuo (TW), Xi Zhang & Youngdae Park (CN/KR), and Rhiannon Beausoleil-Morrison & Dorėja Atkočiūnas (CA/ LT+ US).
Maya Roest and Mischa van Leeuwen, founders and artistic directors of RIDCC said, “It is inspiring to see how new generations of makers from all corners of the globe are finding their way to RIDCC. For them, this competition is a true springboard: an opportunity to showcase their work to both a local and international audience, and to share valuable experiences with the dance world and their fellow creators. We are bringing the choreographic talent of tomorrow to Rotterdam and greatly look forward to taking the audience on a journey across sixteen diverse cultures and dance styles.”
On Thursday, June 18, and Friday, June 19, 2026, the sixteen selected choreographers will present their duets. An international jury will select the makers who advance to the final on Saturday, June 20, where the winners will be announced.
In addition to the XL Production Award, twelve Partner Awards will be presented by leading dance institutions, including Club Guy & Roni, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT), and Acosta Dance Foundation. These awards offer emerging talent concrete opportunities for further development and international collaboration. The audience will also decide the recipient of the Audience Award. The final marks the highlight of the competition.
The international jury of experts looks for originality and artistic potential. In addition to their evaluation, the jury members engage in dialogue with the choreographers about their work.
The 2026 jury is led by chair Kristin de Groot (consultant and former director of Dansateliers). The other jury members are Anouk van Dijk (choreographer and founder of Countertechnique), Anna-Kay Alicia Gayle (dance artist and choreographer), Rupert Tookey (artistic assistant at Scapino Ballet Rotterdam), and Katrín Hall (artistic director of GöteborgsOperans Danskompani).
For more information, visit www.ridcc.com
