About

Emiel Sanders was born in 1998 in Amsterdam. He grew up in Zeist, spending most of his time playing in the forest. After high school, he felt compelled to move back to Amsterdam, where he began studying Artificial Intelligence at the University of Amsterdam. However, he soon realised he was missing a creative outlet in his life. This changed when he discovered the Mime Academy at the Academy for Theater and Dance.

At the Mime Academy, everything begins with the body. Rooted in a tradition that emphasises physicality, mime explores how the body can tell stories and create meaning. Not to be confused with pantomime, this form of theater challenges performers to connect with space, time, and their own physical presence. During his time here, Emiel worked with artists such as Marcelo Evelin and Katja Heitmann, developing his own voice as a performer and creator.

His work ranges from physical performances to fountain pen drawings, poetry to photography. Whether on stage or on paper, everything he creates starts with the body and is infused with a sense of childlike playfulness.

Photo by Sjoerd Derine