The creative duo Mats & Rebecca are currently artists in residence at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst. The nationally and internationally acclaimed duo brings together dance, theatre and cinematic imagery in their work. During their residency, they are working on BASEGROUND, a physical and choreographic exploration of the layered character of Rotterdam. Drawing on the city’s rich history and diverse cultures, they explore how these can be translated into movement.
We sat down with Mats and Rebecca to talk about their residency:
The research has opened up possibilities that we’re excited to continue developing. We want to give this emerging world time to grow into a finished work, following the physical and theatrical discoveries made here. We hope to return to the city again one day with the finished duet, bringing it back to the place that helped shape it. Mats & Rebecca
With what plan or question did you begin this residency at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst?
“We came to this residency with a curiosity about Rotterdam itself: its history, architecture and, especially, the people who give it its character. We wanted to explore how the city’s history and physical landscape find expression in everyday human behaviour. We ask: how does the character of a place become embodied in the people who live there, and how might observing that relationship deepen our own physical research? Our research began beyond the studio, paying attention to the daily life unfolding around us. We were drawn to the small, often unconscious ways people inhabit their surroundings: how they occupy space, encounter one another and negotiate the pace of the city. What particularly resonates with us is the relationship between Rotterdam’s industrial character, its history of rebuilding, and the creativity and playfulness we encounter here. The thought “What stands in the way becomes the way” captures something of that relationship. We are researching how two people sustain playfulness, connection and optimism within changing circumstances. Our relationship becomes a source of strength within that transforming landscape, a way to adapt and imagine other possibilities together. Rotterdam’s capacity for reinvention resonates with a central question in our work: how can vitality emerge from the very conditions that seem to suppress it? We wanted to become receptive to the place we were working in, allowing its everyday life to influence our creative decisions.”
What is it like working in the studios at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst?
“Working at HUIS means being immersed in the life of Rotterdam. The passing boats and the activity around the building create a sense of continuity between the studio and the city, making it an inspiring place to create. We feel welcomed and supported, and that sense of trust allows us to take creative risks, follow unfamiliar directions and give ideas time to develop. There is a beautiful balance between the energy of the location and the space for concentration within it. HUIS has become a generous place for us to deepen our collaboration and let the work grow.”
You will be sharing the results of this residency on October 10. What do you expect or hope to share with the audience then?
“We hope to offer a first encounter with the world taking shape through this research. We are developing movement scores alongside a theatrical structure, bringing our observations of the environment and human behaviour into a shared situation between us. The presentation will be an opportunity to discover what happens when that world opens up to an audience. We are exploring physical approaches that take us beyond familiar territory, and there is a vulnerability in sharing those discoveries while they are still fresh. We hope to preserve that openness in the presentation, inviting the audience to join us in the exploration.”
