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Dance as Cultural Embodiment in Public Space:Performances at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education · Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 41–59

DOI
10.15294/harmonia.v26i1.38859
ISSN
2541-2426, 2541-1683
Published
2026-07-30
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng

Abstract

Airports are public spaces and gateways into a country or region, and nowadays they have become cultural reflections, turning them into more than just a means of transport. Through a specific focus on dance at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), this study aims to explore the significance of these performances in embodying and communicating Malaysian culture for both dancers and airport visitors. This study is qualitative, drawing on ethnochoreology, performance semiotics, and a cultural embodiment perspective. Data were collected through direct observation of dance performances at KLIA, interviews with dancers and performance managers, documentation, and visitor survey data provided by Malaysia Airports. Triangulation was used to enhance the validity of the findings, while analysis techniques were used for data condensation, presentation, and verification. The findings indicate that dance performances at KLIA Airport are organized by airport management. As a multiethnic country, performances are scheduled in accordance with major commemorative events and meticulously designed in terms of themes, dancers, movements, music, costumes, and makeup. The airport transit space serves as the performance setting, adding a distinctive cultural experience for both dancers and visitors. For the dancers, the body becomes a medium for representing cultural codes. Their role extends from executors of choreography to co-authors of meaning and cultural ambassadors. For airport visitors, dance performances offer a culturally embodied experience that remains memorable long after the airport visit. This study contributes to the development of the concept of cultural embodiment by examining dance performance in the context of airport analysis. Dance serves as a conductor of cultural representation, embodied identity, and global audience participation.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 88 co-authorship links · showing the 40 most connected

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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
joko wiyosoAffiliation unknown6
Muhammad JazuliAffiliation unknown5
Alif FarkhatunnisaAffiliation unknown4
Wulan Suci Nur RomayaniAffiliation unknown3
Maria KrisnawatiAffiliation unknown2
Muhammad Dziaa’ul HaqAffiliation unknown1
Nabila Rizky AmilyaAffiliation unknown1
Angeline Sekar AntiqaAffiliation unknown1
Zainab Hannah HamidahAffiliation unknown1
Wandah WibawantoAffiliation unknown1
Rahman AthianAffiliation unknown1
Maharani Intan AndalasAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad Nasirul UmamAffiliation unknown1
Pratama Bayu WidagdoAffiliation unknown1
Karina Hanum LuthfiaAffiliation unknown1
Margunani MargunaniAffiliation unknown1
Suprapti SupraptiAffiliation unknown1
Evita Septiana Tyas UtamiAffiliation unknown1
Elza SeptianiAffiliation unknown1
Dinda MelatiAffiliation unknown1
Miftahudin HanifAffiliation unknown1
Lungguh LungguhAffiliation unknown1
Ilham Helsa ArdiansyahAffiliation unknown1
Surya Agung LesmanaAffiliation unknown1
Siti FatimahAffiliation unknown1
Nurdian SusilowatiAffiliation unknown1
Fauzul AdzimAffiliation unknown1
Vini Wiratno PutriAffiliation unknown1
Nurul FibriantiAffiliation unknown1
Baidhowi BaidhowiAffiliation unknown1
Alifa Rizqia RachmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Zana Saevanti FirdausAffiliation unknown1
Dian Ratri PramudhitaAffiliation unknown1
Dita Yuliana SavitrieAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/harmonia/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
<oai_dc:dc xmlns="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/  http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd">
	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Dance as Cultural Embodiment in Public Space:Performances at Kuala Lumpur International Airport</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Paranti, Lesa</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ha, Sang Woo </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hussin, Hanafi bin </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Putri, Rimasari Pramesti </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Prameswari, Nadia Sigi </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Latifah, Ani Nur Auliyatun </dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">dance performance; public space; airport; cultural embodiment; semiotics of performance</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Airports are public spaces and gateways into a country or region, and nowadays they have become cultural reflections, turning them into more than just a means of transport. Through a specific focus on dance at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), this study aims to explore the significance of these performances in embodying and communicating Malaysian culture for both dancers and airport visitors. This study is qualitative, drawing on ethnochoreology, performance semiotics, and a cultural embodiment perspective. Data were collected through direct observation of dance performances at KLIA, interviews with dancers and performance managers, documentation, and visitor survey data provided by Malaysia Airports. Triangulation was used to enhance the validity of the findings, while analysis techniques were used for data condensation, presentation, and verification. The findings indicate that dance performances at KLIA Airport are organized by airport management. As a multiethnic country, performances are scheduled in accordance with major commemorative events and meticulously designed in terms of themes, dancers, movements, music, costumes, and makeup. The airport transit space serves as the performance setting, adding a distinctive cultural experience for both dancers and visitors. For the dancers, the body becomes a medium for representing cultural codes. Their role extends from executors of choreography to co-authors of meaning and cultural ambassadors. For airport visitors, dance performances offer a culturally embodied experience that remains memorable long after the airport visit. This study contributes to the development of the concept of cultural embodiment by examining dance performance in the context of airport analysis. Dance serves as a conductor of cultural representation, embodied identity, and global audience participation. </dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-07-30</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/harmonia/article/view/38859</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/harmonia.v26i1.38859</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education; Vol. 26 No. 1 (2026): June 2026; 41-59</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2541-2426</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2541-1683</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/harmonia.v26i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/harmonia/article/view/38859/11105</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Harmonia: Journal of Arts Research and Education</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>