Context

Mathilde Caillard has been a part of a French activist group called "Alternatiba Paris" since 2019 that focuses on climate and social justice in France. This group has been known for coming up with new ways of animating demonstrations and protests, and it was Mathilde's idea to incorporate dance into this partictular demonstration. This protest was fighting against the French pension reform that was put into place in April 2023. Her dance to techno music provided by her activist group inspired others, even outside of France, to use dance to fight for what they believe in. The music itself provided a protest of its own, because it contained slogans fighting against the climate crisis and connected to the pension reform. The music says, "No retirees on a burnt planet, pensions and climate are part of the same fight".

This message conveyed was extremely important, and spread around the world because of Mathilde's viral dancing. She ultimately decided to dance in this protest because dance has been used in social movements for a long time, but her unique idea was the addition of the techno music. She inspired others around her to join in the dance to protest the pension reform and other demonstrations around France and the world, and give strength to the protesters. She is one of the main people today that demonstrates and performs the use of dance as a form of protest.