Sixteen talented choreographers compete in the seventh edition of RIDCC!
Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition (RIDCC) proudly presents the selected choreographic talents for the seventh edition of this prestigious dance competition. After an intensive selection process from 415 entries across 60 countries, RIDCC has chosen 16 promising duets to showcase their talent during the event. Notably, this year marks the selection of the very first duet from South Africa, further highlighting the international reach of the competition. The pre-jury faced the challenging task of selecting a small number of duets from this vast pool to present their work on the stage of Theater Rotterdam on 12th, 13th, and 14th June, 2025.
Over these evenings, the talented choreographers will compete for prestigious awards. The XL Production Award, made possible by Stichting Droom en Daad and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, includes a production budget worth €100,000—one of the most remarkable dance prizes in the world. This year, RIDCC is part of the Dance Week at Theater Rotterdam, a celebration of dance in all its forms.
Meet the talented choreographers of RIDCC 2025
From a total of 415 submissions, the expert jury has selected 16 choreographers to showcase their talent during the competition. The selected participants are: Nikita Zdravkovic (SRB), Tamara Fernando (FR), Giovanni Napoli (IT), Thomas Martino (IT), Chapsal Noé (FR), Júlia Godino Llorens & Alexa Moya Panksep (BE/ES), Tilda Åsberg & Albert W. Buchreitz (SE/DK), Iannes Bruylant & Anna Benedicte Andresen (BE/NO), Louis Thuriot (BE), Maciej Kuźmiński (PL), Laura Perron & William-Nicolas Tanguay (CA/CA), LAI Hung-chung (TW), CHEN Shuchang & SHI Renqi (CN), Justin de Jager & Sem Deliveyne (NL/BE), Iga Włodarczyk & Katarzyna Zakrzewska (PL) and Nomasonto Radebe (ZA).
Maya Roest and Mischa van Leeuwen, founders and artistic leaders of RIDCC, share insights about the selection process and what the seventh edition has to offer: “We are delighted to share our enthusiasm for the diverse and inspiring submissions we received this year. We are particularly excited to see a remarkable increase in applications from Africa. This development is the result of our targeted efforts to welcome a broader range of voices and stories into our community. It is amazing to witness how dance continues to evolve and innovate worldwide. The creativity and originality of the submissions reflect the richness and diversity of the international dance culture. We look forward to welcoming these voices and stories at RIDCC 2025 in June and cannot wait to share these unique perspectives with our audience.”
For the seventh edition of RIDCC, we are proud to present a fully female jury for the first time. The jury is chaired by Kristin de Groot, former director of Dansateliers and advisor in the Dutch dance world, and consists of top women from the dance world, including Sarah Baltzinger, a former winner of the RIDCC XL Production Award 2023, and Anna-Kay Alicia Gayle, a dance and movement artist, performer, choreographer, and actress based in London, originally from Jamaica. Bonnie Doets is also part of the jury; she is a former dancer of Scapino Ballet Rotterdam and currently a ballet master at Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. Finally, the jury includes Janine Dijkmeijer, former dancer and creative director of New Zealand Dance Company, and now the managing director and head programmer of Parkstad Limburg Theater.
Experience three special evenings at Theater Rotterdam!
On12th, 13th, and 14th June, 2025, the 16 selected choreographers will bring their duets to the stage, sharing their creativity and passion with the audience. An international jury will determine which duets will advance to the grand finale on Saturday, 14th June, when the winners of the awards will be announced. The XL Production Award will be granted to the most promising choreographer, and 12 Partner Awards will also be presented that evening. These awards are given by renowned dance institutions from the Netherlands and abroad, including Club Guy & Roni, FORM Dance Projects, and MiR Dance Company. These awards provide valuable support to emerging talents and contribute to their artistic development, offering them the opportunity to take significant steps in their careers. Of course, the audience will also have a say in choosing the winner of the Audience Award. This festive finale will close the Dance Week at Theater Rotterdam, ensuring a beautiful and inspiring conclusion to a week full of dance and talent!
