Mama'ku
A documentary directed by Sven Peetoom and a dance duet choreographed by Cheroney Pelupessy, exploring the bond between mother and daughter through the lens of Indonesian heritage
Mama’ku (Bahasa Indonesia – my mother)
How well do we really know our mothers? What stories do they carry, and what do they pass on without ever saying a word?Mama’ku is an intimate documentary and dance performance about the invisible threads that connect generations. Choreographer and dancer Cheroney Pelupessy delves into her personal family history, exploring not only how memories, patterns and unspoken stories are inherited across time — but also who our mothers are beyond the role of ‘mother’. What is never said, yet always present?
The performance opens with the documentary Mama’ku, directed by Sven Peetoom. Known for his layered and personal storytelling, he traveled with Cheroney and her mother to Indonesia and the Moluccas, capturing their journey of reconnection. The film reveals how the past echoes in the present, and how a mother’s imprint lives on in the next generation.
The screening is followed by a dance duet, with Cheroney sharing the stage with renowned Javanese dancer Elly Lutan, who travels from Jakarta to perform in this work. As the embodiment of the mother figure, Lutan brings both a personal and cultural presence to the stage. Her deep-rooted knowledge of Javanese dance adds a rich dimension that extends beyond the personal — linking tradition to the present, and body to lineage.
Mama’ku is a layered and deeply personal work about identity, family, and the things we carry in silence. Through movement and image, it asks: How do we carry our mothers with us, even as we walk our own path?
“With Mama’ku, I want to make the invisible lines between mother and daughter tangible. It’s a search for what gets passed on — not just through words, but through silence, gestures, and unspoken stories. By combining dance and documentary, I hope to show how memories live not only in our minds, but also in our bodies. This performance is a way for me to get closer to my own history, while creating a shared sense of recognition for others. Because in the end, we all carry a part of our mothers with us." — Cheroney Pelupessy
TOUR DATES 2025
*12 august Theaterfestival Boulevard, Verkadefabriek Den Bosch | Tickets
*13 august Theaterfestival Boulevard, Verkadefabriek Den Bosch | Tickets
*14 august Theaterfestival Boulevard, Verkadefabriek Den Bosch | Tickets
*6 november Podium Hoge Woerd, de Meern | Tickets
*14 november Korzo, Den Haag | Tickets
*19 november Schouwburg Amstelveen | Tickets
26 november Podium Mozaïek, Amsterdam (PREMIERE) | Tickets
3 december Schuur, Haarlem | Tickets
4 december Theater Rotterdam | Tickets
5 december Stadsschouwburg Utrecht | Tickets
10 december AINSI Theater, Maastricht | Tickets
13 december de Meervaart, Amsterdam | Tickets
*Â Indicates performance with an alternate dancer in place of Elly Lutan
Gallery
