ACE dance and music to premiere new double bill: TWAWSI - THE WORLD AS WE SEE IT this September

ACE dance and music, Birmingham’s highly regarded contemporary dance company returns to touring this autumn after an absence of 3 years with the world premiere of their bold new double bill, TWAWSI – THE WORLD AS WE SEE IT to be staged at long-time partner venue, the city’s beloved Midlands Arts Centre (MAC).

The production brings together two internationally acclaimed choreographers – Serge Aimé Coulibaly (Burkina Faso/Belgium) and Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa/France) – to offer powerful, contrasting visions of humanity in uncertain times.

In Echoes of Dust, Coulibaly and collaborator Sigué Sayouba conjure a world in crisis. Seven individuals, cast adrift in the aftermath of war, disaster and fractured human connection, must navigate chaos to rediscover hope and reclaim their voices. By contrast, Mantsoe’s Letlalo – meaning “Skin” in his native Sotho – draws on African, indigenous and contemporary movement languages to explore humanity’s deep and enduring bond with the earth. It is a work that layers strength, serenity, and spiritual resilience, reflecting on the wisdom of communities who live in harmony with the land.

Performed by ACE’s dynamic company of seven dancers, the double bill exemplifies the company’s signature style – fusing traditional African and Caribbean movement aesthetics with a contemporary lens.  TWAWSI – THE WORLD AS WE SEE IT It is both visceral and reflective, a journey that speaks directly to the human condition.

Artistic Director, Gail Parmel MBE, said of returning to MAC:

“Birmingham has always been at the heart of who we are. ACE dance and music was founded here nearly thirty years ago, and to bring this show to MAC for its first performance means so much. This production is about humanity, resilience and connection. To premiere it in the Midlands, before we take it out across the UK and internationally, feels like the perfect beginning.”

Founded in 1996 by Gail and Ian Parmel, ACE dance and music has become one of the UK’s leading, most eclectic and resilient dance companies. Over nearly three decades, the company has built a global reputation for innovative performance, nurturing the next generation of dancers, and pioneering work inspired by the African Diaspora. Alongside its professional touring productions, ACE runs extensive education and outreach programmes and leads ACE Youth, a nationally recognised young people’s dance company.

The premiere of TWAWSI – THE WORLD AS WE SEE IT at MAC is the first of 2 nights Mac on the 25^th and 26^th of September 2025 and will be the first chance for audiences to experience this brand-new work before it tours nationally and internationally through 2025–26.