Delay
Delay
DELAY is a journey of self-assessment, shaped through the gesture of Tumpang Lalu—the customary Malay act of lowering the body when passing in front of someone, accompanied by the phrase “Excuse me.” This embodied politeness becomes a metaphor for un-bodying the self: a practice of shrinking, of negotiating presence, and of apologetic self-awareness in relation to space and others.
In Malay dance, Tumpang Lalu is more than etiquette—it is a choreographic device that guides dancers as they encounter one another, embedding the form within a system of social codes. Malay dancers, as cultural models, are shaped by the values of Budi—a core principle in Malay philosophy that encompasses reason, intelligence, and refined behaviour.
DELAY was first conceived during the 2nd and 3rd editions of Asia Discovers Asia Meeting (Taipei), further developed through Dance Nucleus’ Scope#6, and presented in the inaugural edition of its VECTOR programme (Singapore, 2021). Norhaizad performed DELAY at the Venice International Performance Art Week in 2020. A collective version, Mass Delay, was later staged at the Singapore Night Festival in 2022.
Presented at
Singapore Night Festival, 2022
Dance Nucleus Vector, 2021
Venice International Performance Arts Week, 2020
Asia Discovers Asia Meeting, 2018, 2019
Credits
Choreography - Norhaizad Adam
Performer - Norhaizad Adam
2022
Performer - Norhaizad Adam, Danish Hamzah, Ahmad Dzaki
Sound Artists - Cheryl Ong, Luqman Hakim, Tini Aliman, Andy Yang