Since the 1960s there has been a great interest in Asian culture, art, philosophy and performance in Dutch mime. Mime artist of the first hour Ellen Uitzinger became a sinologist in Leiden, Rob List (artistic director of the Mime Opleiding between 1985 and 1990) is strongly influenced in his work by Zeami Motokiyo; Ria Marks, Jeanet van Steen and Frits Vogels and Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot made study travels to Japan. Erwin Dörr, teacher of martial arts at the Mime Opleiding has spent intensive training in various monasteries in China. The research project Marijn de Langen is currently working on deals with these Asian traces in Dutch Mime, and focuses first on mapping the legacy of Phoa Yan Tiong. Yan Tiong came to the Netherlands from Indonesia at age 22 as a Peranakan Chinese, and became a world-famous magician. In addition to his magic work, he taught Tai Chi Chuan classes at the Mimeschool (previously school voor bewegingstheater) between 1965 and 1989. Interviews with mimes revealed how much Phoa's lessons have affected them, both in terms of their mime technique and their way of thinking. 

For more information check out Hester van Hasselt's interview of Marijn about this new research.  

During the UvM conference ‘the speculative Archive’ (Feb 28th 2025) researchers Marijn de Langen and Nita Liem & Bart Deuss presented their ongoing archival research, focusing on Asian traces within the Dutch performing arts field . Marijn is researching the legacy of Phoa Yan Tiong, a martial arts teacher who has had an important impact on Dutch mime education. Marijn added the booklet “Werkschrift nr. 15” of the Instituut Dramatische Vorming from 1981 about Phoa Yan Tiong to the collection of the Allard Pierson Performing Arts Collection. Nita Liem and Bart Deuss - the founders and former artistic directors of dance theater Don't Hit Mama (2000 - 2021) - shared about their research project Living Archive, through which they continue their work. With this living archive, they are building a place to go in and experience, look at the history of dance theater Don't Hit Mama. “Asian Celebration” is the title of a performance by DHM that was created in 2020, and is still being played.