Nobby at Knee Deep: When Locking Becomes Abstract - a discussion with Chunky

At the 2025 edition of Knee Deep, a Locking dance event, one performance stood out for different reasons, depending on who you asked. Dancer Nobby delivered a set that some found confusing, others mesmerizing, and a few even described as “contemporary.” It was not typical Locking. And yet, according to Chunky, that might be exactly why it was powerful. “If you are somebody who is new to Locking, you’ll be very confused,” he admits. “But if you’ve been doing the Campbellock, or have been assimilated with street dance, or if you appreciate dance as a whole — over the years, you will grow to appreciate Nobby’s performance a lot.”

A Performance That Defies Labels

Chunky reflects on how his own appreciation for abstract movement has evolved. “Obviously, if I had seen this performance when I first started out, I would have been very confused. But to me now — we learn how to remove labels. And we learn how to appreciate good dance. A good dance is a good dance. A good dancer is a good dancer.” For Chunky, Nobby’s movement transcended categories. Though grounded in Campbellocking vocabulary, it morphed into something less structured and more sensory — a ten-minute loop that captivated (or even lulled) its audience. “He puts you in a loop… you’re either mesmerized, or maybe you’re even falling asleep. But the fact that he has some kind of impact on the audience… even though it may manifest very abstractly, is everything to me.” Locking as Experience, Not Just Technique Rather than evaluating dance solely by form or structure, Chunky encourages a broader, more emotional approach to understanding movement. “It is a sensory experience. Why? Because you see it. But you not only see it, you also feel it.” In that sense, the abstract nature of Nobby’s piece was not a weakness, but a strength. It challenged the audience’s assumptions and expanded their sense of what Locking could be. “Sometimes I feel we need some kind of disruptors like that… That makes our dance interesting.” In the Spirit of Don Campbell On drawing a parallel between Nobby and Don Campbell, the originator of Locking, Chunky agrees wholeheartedly. “Don is a disruptor. James Brown is a disruptor… Don is not even a dancer, but his mistake made the dance.” To Chunky, that spirit of disruption — of breaking rules and reshaping expectations — is essential to the evolution of any art form. Don’s creation came not from polish, but from a mistake. It would be ironic, even tragic, if Locking lost that raw, experimental core. “We must hold space to have things that are also not perfect. Sometimes we must embrace and celebrate that… We shouldn’t make the mistake of turning our dance into something that is too refined.” Beyond Preservation: Towards Exploration Chunky acknowledges the importance of preserving history — especially for dancers in the West who may feel responsible for maintaining the “pure stuff.” But in Asia, he argues, it may be time for exploration. “To be honest, I think Asia has done its part to really keep the dance going. I think it’s also time for us to explore.” He jokes about calling his own expression the Chong Pang Flavour (named after a Singapore neighborhood), while affirming that such exploration can still remain rooted in Campbellocking. “If I wanna do a Chong Pang style — cannot say style — a Chong Pang Flavour, ok, but that is still Campbellocking.” Not to Imitate, But to Inspire In the end, Chunky emphasises that Nobby’s performance should not become a blueprint for others. Its power lies in its individuality — and in the freedom it gives to others to express themselves in new ways. “Somebody who watched Nobby’s performance should not dance like Nobby. They should see his performance and take it away: Oh man, you mean I can do it so differently? I want to do it differently my way too. And that’s the Don.” Chunky himself does not intend to dance like Nobby. “I will never dance like him. If given a choice, I wouldn’t dance like him. I would have done it differently, but I love it that he did it that way, yeah.” His final reflection sums it up best: “The human movement is boundless.”