Darkroom Contemporary Dance Theatre
Darkroom Contemporary
The performance creation company
Creating innovative, contemporary performance experiences that connect artists, technologies and audiences across stages, screens and borders.
Institute of Curiosity
Powered by Darkroom Contemporary
A space for curiosity, creativity and connection - nurturing movement practice, artistic development, experimentation and meaningful cultural exchange.
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Current Programme
Live work & screen dance
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South African State Theatre | 25 - 28 February, 2027
AI Opera. Through its critical engagement with Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. This charged game of musical chairs confronts questions of agency, autonomy, influence and the blurred boundaries between free will and manipulation, in a digital age.
Choreographed & directed by Louise Coetzer, with original score by Brydon Bolton, Njabulo Phungula and Inge Beckmann.
Choreographed & directed by Louise Coetzer, with original score by Brydon Bolton, Njabulo Phungula and Inge Beckmann.
AI Opera. Through its critical engagement with Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.
South African State Theatre
This charged game of musical chairs confronts questions of agency, autonomy, influence and the blurred boundaries between free will and manipulation, in a digital age.
25 - 28 February, 2027
Choreographed & directed by Louise Coetzer, with original score by Brydon Bolton, Njabulo Phungula and Inge Beckmann.
e.ID: A Fugue
Baxter Theatre | 7 - 11 April, 2027
We are living between worlds, between the physical and the digital, the inherited and the constructed, the human and something not yet fully defined. A choreographic meditation on identity, mortality and existence in an increasingly digitised world. Structured as a fugue. Performed live.
Created and directed by Louise Coetzer, the production combines choreography, responsive scenography and an original South African–German score by Njabulo Phungula, Inge Beckmann, Heidrun Schramm and Nicolas Wiese, under the musical direction of Brydon Bolton.
Created and directed by Louise Coetzer, the production combines choreography, responsive scenography and an original South African–German score by Njabulo Phungula, Inge Beckmann, Heidrun Schramm and Nicolas Wiese, under the musical direction of Brydon Bolton.
We are living between worlds, between the physical and the digital, the inherited and the constructed, the human and something not yet fully defined.
Baxter Theatre
A choreographic meditation on identity, mortality and existence in an increasingly digitised world. Structured as a fugue. Performed live.
7 - 11 April, 2027
Created and directed by Louise Coetzer, the production combines choreography, responsive scenography and an original South African–German score by Njabulo Phungula, Inge Beckmann, Heidrun Schramm and Nicolas Wiese, under the musical direction of Brydon Bolton.
Blue Funk
TRACE Festival | 19 - 22 November, 2026
Touring Screendance work. Blue Funk charts the physicality of being afraid. The resulting cacophony evokes the volatility of this moment in time, a mounting pressure edging towards its breaking point.
Created in response to the aftermath of the pandemic, its relevance is increasingly potent in today’s uncertain climate - a visceral expression of internal revolution, in response to the unknown.
Created in response to the aftermath of the pandemic, its relevance is increasingly potent in today’s uncertain climate - a visceral expression of internal revolution, in response to the unknown.
Touring Screendance work. Blue Funk charts the physicality of being afraid.
TRACE Festival
The resulting cacophony evokes the volatility of this moment in time, a mounting pressure edging towards its breaking point.
TRACE Festival
The resulting cacophony evokes the volatility of this moment in time, a mounting pressure edging towards its breaking point.
19 - 22 November, 2026
Created in response to the aftermath of the pandemic, its relevance is increasingly potent in today’s uncertain climate - a visceral expression of internal revolution, in response to the unknown.
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What's On
16 October
Studio Sessions
Open classes resume
Monday & Friday mornings
Monday & Friday mornings
12 Buitensingel Street, Cape Town
19 October
Studio Practice
Open classes launch
12 Buitensingel Street, Cape Town
22 October
Institute of Curiosity
Launch
12 Buitensingel Street, Cape Town
17 November
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UCT Teaching & Learning Conference
University of Cape Town
19 – 22 November
TRACE Movement Art Film Festival Africa
Labia Theatre & Guga S'Thebe
The Labia Theatre, Cape Town
3 December
First Thursdays
Open Studio
12 Buitensingel Street, Cape Town
COMING SOON
12 December
Summer Festival
venue TBD
COMING SOON
25 – 28 February 2027
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South African State Theatre
320 Pretorius St, Pretoria
COMING SOON
7 – 11 April 2027
e.ID: A Fugue
Baxter Theatre
Main Rd, Rondebosch, Cape Town
COMING SOON
In the press
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Awards
Most Innovative contribution to dance: DCAS Cultural Affairs Awards 2023
Best of Festival Award at Third Coast Dance Film Festival (USA)
Artist Award 2022: POOL Movement Art Festival Berlin (DE)
Best Choreography Awards at Utah Dance Film Festival (USA)
Best Choreography Awards at Boston Dance Film Festival (USA)
Best Choreography Awards Exeter Dance International Film Festival (UK)
Audience Choice Award at Boston Dance Film Festival (USA)
Best Ensemble Performance at Utah Dance Film Festival (USA)
Best Female Director Award: Mirada Corta Festival 2025 (Mexico City)
Best Screendance film: Berlin Shorts Awards (Germany)
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Selected work
The living archive
Our 15-year legacy of innovation in dance, digital, development and interdisciplinary performance productions, tours and screenings, fully indexed.
COMING SOON
