MOMMY, LOOK !
Mannheim-DE
Choreographers: Imre & Marne Van Opstal
Costume designer: Mathilde Baillarger in collaboration with Imre & Marne Van Opstal
This is how we should look. This is how we should sound. No doubt, no remorse, no weakness. Instilled since youth, endured through manhood – the silent, predetermined pressures to be – more than, better than, never enough. We all cry for attention with the desire to be seen – if not in the arms of your mother then through the eyes of some other. Now wipe your tears, man up – don’t ever let them see you cry.
By holding onto the classic and outdated image that’s stimulated and perpetuated, the one dimensionality of what it means to be a ‘man’; ‘Mommy, Look!’ exposes where the borders and boundaries are set. The enduring show of strength and force that perpetuate this sometimes toxic cycle. Five cisgender men, in their arena of masculinity, trapped in the stereotype, slowly crumble and reveal their vulnerability. Embattled and worn down the other man’s shoulder baring comfort and solid ground.
Mommy, Look! has been premièred at the Basel Theater, in 2023, with 5 dancers. And a new version has been premièred at the National theater Mannheim, in May 2026, with 10 dancers.
LES NOCES & LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS
Augsburg-DE
Choreographers: Didy Veldman & Ricardo Fernando
Costume designer: Bregje Van Balen
Assistante costume designer: Mathilde Baillarger
Two milestones in the history of music and dance united in one evening. Both works tell the story of fundamental human emotions and archetypal practices. “Les Noces” visualizes the rituals of an old Russian wedding, accompanied by harsh, mechanical sounds. The music to “Le Sacre du printemps”, the famous portrayal of a rite of spring, is equally intensive and stirring.
Les Noces & Le Sacre du Printemps has been premièred in Martini Park – Theatre Augsburg, April 2026.
ANOTHER DAY I'LL FEEL ANOTHER WAY
Den Haag-NL
Choreographer: Paxton Ricketts in collaboration with the dancers
Costume designer: Mathilde Baillarger
Natural dyer: Roos Mikx
Light designer: Loes Schakenbos
Paxton created a new piece interrogating mouvement. How do we keep the spontaneity of dance mouvements through all the repetitions, rehearsals and performances. How can it fade and reborn, slightly or maybe completely different.
Going through a conversation with him, he also told me he wanted to use the music of Karen Dalton. Here were my starting points: the cover picture of Dalton’s music, and the idea of fading. A specific colour palette fading through the piece. Working as a group, the dancer would have similar costumes, but slightly different. Like learning the same choreography, but putting their own personality in it. And the colour would fade between the start and the end of the performance.
With this idea of fading, I also had the opportunity to collaborate with Roos Mikx. She used her knowledges and skills to experiment and use natural pigments to dye part of the costumes. Another Day I’ll Feel Another Way is the first performance presented in Amare using this natural dyeing techniques.
Another Day I’ll Feel Another Way has been premièred in Amare (DenHaag), November 2025.
O2B3D
Den Haag-NL
Choreographer: Kele Roberson
Costume designer: Mathilde Baillarger
As part of the Young Talent Project, a collaboration between the Nederlands Dans Theater & the Royal Conservatorium in Den Haag, I met Kele Robinson. He was in the process of creating a new piece, where paper was a central theme, and needed help with costume design. We took inspiration in the 70’s and the office wear, which was matching with the scenography he had in mind. After many discussions, gathering documents, I started to get a collection of vintage clothes. I made silhouettes for each dancers. I worked with a specific color palette, to have an harmonized group, get more or less attention on some dancers depending on their role in the play.
O2B3D has been performed in Amare (Den Haag), November 2024.
One Way or Another
Den Haag-NL
Choreographer: Fay Van Baar
Costume designer: Mathilde Baillarger
Light designer: Loes Schakenbos
Score composer: Arefeh Hekmatpanah
As part of the Young Talent Project by NDT, Fay choreographed a new creation, On Way or Another.
“When we first met, she explained me her concept, which directly resonates with me. It’s about choices, about how easy it is for some people to make a choice and follow one path, while others get obsessed with making a choice when faced with all the possibilities. When you have all the options in the world, how do you choose? Fay also wanted to develop this idea with dancers who are just starting in their careers. “They can do anything, and it can be thrilling or terrifying”.
After this discussion, she also gave me a color palette, and I then had the freedom to come up with costume design ideas.
A group of dancers with two duets, the silhouettes had to be slightly different but also work as a group.
In my mind, working with second-hand clothes for this project was also an obvious choice, wearing clothes that already had a story, and bringing them to life through this new generation of dancers. After the fittings, I did a lot of dyeing to harmonise the colors. And I finally got to see what it looked like under stage light.”
One Way or Another has been premièred in Amare (Den Haag), November 2023.
