A new era of the Malaysian creative forces you are about to see everywhere. Get to know them now before they take over.

For Alisya Razman, dance is a way of decoding Malaysia itself. The contemporary dancer draws from landscapes, social dynamics and everyday behaviour, translating them into movement that questions, provokes and connects. In her work, the body isn&rsquo;t just an instrument; it&rsquo;s a mirror of culture in motion. In 2025, creativity in Malaysia is shaped by a fast-changing cultural and technological landscape. What does being creative here and now mean to you? The cool thing about tech now is I get to soak up art from all over the world without leaving my couch. Plus, it keeps me connected with friends near and far, so teaming up on something never really feels out of reach. Dance is often seen as ephemeral; once the movement passes, it only lives in memory. How do you preserve or extend the life of your work beyond performance? I think it&rsquo;s by sharing my experiences and knowledge in dance with others. Teaching has been a growing passion through the years. By teaching, I hope it encourages others to embrace who they are and share their art.

Malaysian identity is complex, layered with heritage, modernity and global influence. How does this complexity inform your creative process? It&rsquo;s tough to pin down an audience here. Malaysia&rsquo;s such a mix of cultures and backgrounds that I&rsquo;m always questioning who I&rsquo;m really creating work for. My process is basically throwing myself into places and scenes I don&rsquo;t know, different crowds, different events, just to understand people better. How they live, what drives them, what they&rsquo;re into. That curiosity ends up fuelling the work. With the rise of digital platforms and AI, the way we consume and even create art is shifting. How do you see technology influencing contemporary dance in Malaysia? I really hope contemporary dance and live performance in general stick around for centuries. There&rsquo;s something you just can&rsquo;t replicate about watching someone pour real sweat and effort into a stage. AI can do a lot, sure, but it doesn&rsquo;t &ldquo;project&rdquo; effort, and that struggle is what makes art hit differently. That said, I think there&rsquo;s exciting potential in how tech can enhance live performance. Artists are already experimenting with it, and I&rsquo;m curious to see what kinds of stories will come out of our evolving relationship with AI.

"I believe hope is essential. Hope that your work will reach the right people. Hope that more individuals will have the privilege to see and appreciate art, enriching society as a whole." - Alisya

As a Malaysian woman in the arts, do you feel a responsibility to redefine representation in dance? How do gender and cultural identity influence your performances? As a Malay woman, I recognise both the privileges and the barriers that have shaped my pursuit of dance as a career. I&rsquo;ve noticed how my identity is...

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Photography Floyd Grey Creative Direction, Styling &amp; Words Syazil Abd Rahim Hair &amp; Makeup Joey Yap Photography Assistant Sze Yang Styling Assistant Fekar Khairul

Malaysia Day Special: Alisya is taking one step at a time

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