Norzizi Zulkifli (Malaysia)
Workshop Presentation
"Actor's Body Training
Through 'Mak Yong' Dance Form"
Norzizi Zulkifli
Norzizi Zulkifli started her journey in the arts scene as an actor in television, film and stage. She acted in many theatre productions such as Wild Duck directed by Ahmad Tamimi Siregar, Tiang Seri Tegak Berlima (Rohani Yousoff), - traditional theatre: ‘Bangsawan’ Raja Laksamana Bentan (Seniman Negara Rahman B.), ‘Mak Yong’ Anak Raja Gondang and ‘Mak Yong’ Raja Bongsu Sakti (Seniman Negara Khadijah Awang), Randai Anggun Nan Tungga (Bapak Dahmir), Lantai T. Pinkie (Rosminah Tahir), Pelayaran Nur Atma, Dejavu Seorang Perempuan, Bulan Menangis (Siti Rohayah Attan). She graduated from National Artas Academy in Theatre Deparment and took her Bachelor in Screen Arts (Hons) from Universiti Teknologi MARA and in 2006 completed her Master of Fine Art (MFA) – Theatre Directing from Middlesex University, London. Her directing debut are The Glass Menagerie 1998, Tour Theatre ‘Di Bawah Lindungan Kaabah’ 1999, Mak Yong Anak Raja Gondang 2002, Mak Yong Raja Tangkai Hati in 2003, Monodrama Senjalara 2007, Experimental Theatre ‘Medea’ 2007, Children Musical Theatre ‘Aladdin’ 2007. Her latest work was Mak Yong ‘Titis Sakti’ in June 2009 an inspiration from A Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare. She is now a lecturer in Faculty of Artistic and Creative Technology, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia. Since 2008, she started her own Mak Yong class every Sunday, teaching Mak Yong to the public. She has so much passion in Mak Yong and fell that she need to nurture the dying art form and in 2005 UNESCO proclaimed Mak Yong as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage and humanity.
Workshop Overview
The workshop will demonstrate the core movements in Malay traditional theatre called ‘Mak Yong’ which helps to train the actor’s body through the body control, body and mind coordination, balance, grounded and aligned bodies.
In Asian theatres, as we all known that training is vital between the master and the students. The process of imitation is compulsory to make sure the transmission of knowledge happen in both parties. The unique of traditional Asian training exist in ‘Mak Yong’ theatre performance from Malaysia. ‘The ‘Mak Yong’ may be defined as a Malay dance theatre form incorporating the elements of ritual, stylized dance, vocal and instrumental music, song, story and improvised and formal spoken text as well as stylized acting. Dance in Mak Yong considered as the hardest training for the actor. It is crucial for the performer to control the muscle and create the artificial tension especially in the fingers, wrist, torso and both feet. Shifting of weight are also demand in the arts form. In the workshop, participants will be introduced to the basic ‘Mak Yong’ movement. Tentatively there will be 4 sections:
Section 1
An introduction and video presentation of
‘Mak Yong’ performance
Section 2
• Basic warm up movements
• 5 basic hand and finger movements
• 3 styles of sitting postures
• 2 styles of walking
Section 3
Exploration project and presentation
Section 4
Solo Performance ‘Mak Yong’ by Norzizi.
