UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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| Abstract : Perpustakaan Tuanku Bainun |
| This thesis investigates the role of Dalang Dance, an intangible cultural heritage of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in strengthening cultural identity and safeguarding practices within secondary education. The study aims to understand how Dalang Dance can be effectively preserved and promoted among high school students by examining its cultural significance, identifying barriers to transmission, and exploring strategies for increasing awareness, appreciation, and participation. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey responses from 103 students with interviews involving four teachers and four cultural experts, alongside four direct observations of Dalang Dance performances. Findings reveal that Dalang Dance embodies Zhuang cultural identity through its agricultural symbolism, ritual functions, and collective aesthetic, while also serving as a medium of intergenerational learning and community cohesion. However, the research highlights a critical gap in awareness and perception: many students reported limited familiarity with Dalang Dance, a weak sense of cultural connection to the Zhuang heritage, and a preference for modern entertainment forms. Teachers similarly faced challenges due to insufficient training, scarce resources, and difficulties in contextualizing the dance for contemporary learners. These gaps in awareness and perception represent significant barriers to safeguarding efforts, as they reduce the capacity of Dalang Dance to function as a living tradition. At the same time, observations indicate that when students and teachers are exposed to the dance in festival or school contexts, their perceptions shift positively, with increased interest, curiosity, and cultural pride. This underscores the importance of meaningful exposure and guided engagement in strengthening safeguarding awareness. To address these challenges, the study proposes integrating Dalang Dance into school curricula, enhancing teacher training, leveraging digital platforms, establishing dance clubs, organizing cultural festivals, and fostering collaboration with community experts. These strategies aim not only to preserve Dalang Dance but also to transform student and teacher perceptions, positioning the dance as both a cultural marker and an educational resource for sustaining Zhuang identity in a rapidly modernizing society. |
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