Jelle De Wit is a performer, director and coach. Originally from Belgium and currently based in Berlin, he uses his creativity, his energy and his vision to produce inspiring projects and collaborations. Authenticity, soul and connection are key elements in everything he makes.

From Jelle’s perspective, performing and creating are never a purely individual or conceptual matter. Words, movements and tableaux come to life once they truly connect with someone and something else. A fellow actor or dancer. A pupil. A shared, public space with its own meaning and resonance. An audience.

In his mind, the performing arts can hold up a mirror to society. What we see in that mirror can make us laugh or pause. Sometimes, it leaves us speechless and makes us turn inward to take an honest look at our own ideas, opinions and desires. Perhaps something shifts. Perhaps a specific thought becomes a bit more clear, colourful or layered. Perhaps it leaves us feeling a bit closer to our authentic selves. But something has definitely shifted.

Throughout his career, Jelle has never prioritized theory over practice. He is a physical player and maker, who always looks for a harmonious balance between rational thoughts and emotional responses. Our minds can come up with all kinds of concepts, but our bodies have stories to tell too.  

Jelle studied Social and Cultural Work, after which he headed to the Netherlands where he trained in directing and theater education. He has a BA in Theater from Fontys Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (The Netherlands) and an MA in Devised Theatre and Performance from the Rose-Bruford College in London and Arthaus.berlin. 

Over the years, he has taught a wide range of classes, covering subjects such as acting, expressive skills, movement analyses, public speaking, pitching, diction, voice training and diversity. In his own creations and performances, he explores the authenticity of his surroundings and natural human behaviour, offering up a poetic mirror to society. Currently, Jelle performs with CO-LAB, a collective of Latin American and European artists.