IN the dimly-lit rehearsal spaces of the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), the air is thick with a different kind of energy.
It is not the usual clinical precision of a dance studio, but rather a “restless, interdisciplinary storm.”
This is the birthplace of ‘Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu’ (‘We Are Liars, But We Do Not Lie’), a full-length contemporary dance performance that promises to be a “cracked mirror” reflecting the soul of Malaysia.
The production, set to debut at the Five Arts Centre in GMBB from today until Sunday, is a bold departure from traditional staging.
It is described as 60 units of organised chaos — 60 one-minute bursts of raw, unfiltered Malaysian life.
Imagine the rapid-fire aesthetic of TikTok colliding head-on with the gravitas of experimental theatre.
It is fast, biting, and at times, heartbreaking.
BREAKING THE MOULD
For co-choreographer and producer Mohd Nur Faillul Adam, the project was born out of a desperate need to break the mould.
A lecturer at Aswara and a seasoned performer, Faillul found himself itching to move beyond the “compact ideas” that often define academic choreography.
“I created ‘Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menipu’ because I needed to move beyond what feels familiar,” Faillul explains during a break from rehearsals.
“For years, my practice has lived in shorter forms — quick creations with limited time. This production is my decision to break from that comfort zone and commit to a longer, multi-layered process. I wanted to stretch my senses and my artistic patience; to learn how to dig further, the way my gurus always taught me to do.”
REAL VOICES
Armed with nothing but a camcorder and a sense of curiosity, the creative team roamed the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
They didn’t ask for directions; they asked for truths. They posed uncomfortable questions: “If corruption were an Olympic sport, where would Malaysia rank?” and “If the country were a person, what would their therapy session sound like?”
“Hearing real voices — raw, funny, painful, honest — was an experience I cannot fully explain.
“It was not ‘research’ in a clinical sense; it felt like standing inside the country’s pulse. Those encounters changed how I see people, how I read silence, and how I understand what is left unsaid. This is why the work is built from 60 one-minute units: fragments of a lived reality that hold contradictions rather than forcing a single answer,” said Faillul.
The project eschews “polished technique” in favour of “raw truth”.
It is an intentional effort to allow the overlooked to take up space on a living stage.
It isn’t a polite discussion; it is a “necessary confrontation” with the Malaysian identity.
VERSATILE ENSEMBLE
The ensemble tasked with bringing this project to life is a diverse mix of discipline and flair.
Joining Faillul is co-choreographer Mohd Nuriqram Azhar, an assistant lecturer at Aswara known for his risk-driven, conceptual approach.
Nuriqram views the work as an experiment where dance meets other ways of thinking, allowing the choreography to provide its own “hints and directions” as it grows.
The performance features a powerhouse of young talent, including award-winning dancers Putri Nea Adreanna and Nur Syafiqah Erdina, both of whom recently clinched first place at the International Dance Games 2025 in Spain.
They are joined by the expressive Muhamad Shafi Danial, a specialist in traditional and creative dance, and Shazzyra Edora, a seasoned television actress with nearly a decade of screen experience now pivoting to the stage.
Adding a melodic layer to the movement is singer Siti Nuraida, whose versatility spans pop and classical repertoire, and music director Khairul Idham, a flautist who has performed with The Purple Symphony Orchestra. The visual landscape is crafted by Syamsul Azhar, a lighting and multimedia designer whose work explores technology as a “live performance partner”.
NEW-FOUND LOVE
“My love for Malaysia has been quietly planted in me for years through the passion and arguments of my teachers,” Faillul reflects.
“Only now do I realise how deeply their influence has shaped my identity. This show is my invitation to audiences to see Malaysia, and ourselves, with new eyes.”
‘Kami Penipu Tapi Kami Tak Menip’u, which runs from Feb 6 to Feb 9, is supported by the Krishen Jit Fund 2025 and Aswara, with tickets available via www.cloudjoi.com.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
