Pengabdian Batin

And with every production, the hurdle seems to grow. The challenge is to always create something better and bigger than the last. Pengabdian Batin has not been without its own unique circumstances. An attempt at narrating the issue of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), it proved challenging given the sensitivity of the topic and my lack of direct personal experience with it. The issue deals heavily with abstract mental and emotional dimensions that are difficult to translate into body movement and especially Malay Dance. In that regard, I would like to express my highest gratitude to NUS Ilsa Tari. To the Executive Committee for their dedication to the research work and preparation that have ultimately shaped this show. And to the members and alumni for collectively being part of the creative process and realising our artistic vision for the show. My heartfelt appreciation also goes to NUS Dikir Barat for enabling me to experiment with the fusion of the different cultural art forms and add unique layers to what would have been a typical dance production. The process has been a liberating one for us, having pushed us to move away from convention. We would like to invite our distinguished viewers to be part of this experience. We ask that you step into the theatre with an open mind and seek to be free of the shackles of stigma and negative presumptions towards victims of an issue that itself hardly receives much attention. We hope that you enjoy the show and, more importantly, walk away with a greater sense of understanding and empathy.