Ethno-Beauty of Women in Traditional Performing Arts from a Cultural Communication Perspective

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_61How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Ethno-Beauty; Women in Performing Arts; Traditional Performing Arts; Cultural Communication

Abstract

This study examines the concept of ethno-beauty in the traditional Muang Sangkal dance of Sumenep, Madura, through the lens of cultural communication. Muang Sangkal is a ritual dance performed to symbolically remove misfortune and convey prayers for safety and prosperity. The research focuses on how beauty is constructed and communicated through movement, costume, makeup, music, and ritual elements. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, drawing on literature review, observation of performances, and interviews with cultural officials, dance instructors, performers, and community members. The findings reveal that beauty in Muang Sangkal is defined by disciplined, graceful movement and moral integrity rather than physical appearance. The use of the dodot legha costume, symbolic color combinations, modest makeup, and ritual objects such as yellow rice and flowers collectively express values of purity, humility, and hospitality. The requirement that dancers be unmarried and in a state of ritual purity further reflects the sacred character of the performance. Movement patterns emphasize refinement and respect, influenced by the historical legacy of the Sumenep palace. The study demonstrates that Muang Sangkal functions as a medium of nonverbal communication that transmits cultural identity and communal hope. Preservation efforts through education, festivals, institutional support, and digital documentation strengthen its sustainability. This research confirms that ethno-beauty in Muang Sangkal represents a culturally grounded aesthetic system where ritual symbolism, gender values, and artistic expression converge to sustain Madurese cultural identity in contemporary society.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Dinara Maya Julijanti
AU  - Bani Eka Dartaningsih
AU  - Myrtati Dyah Artaria
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/04/30
TI  - Ethno-Beauty of Women in Traditional Performing Arts from a Cultural Communication Perspective
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Social Environment Diversity (ICOSEND 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 512
EP  - 517
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_61
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-565-2_61
ID  - Julijanti2026
ER  -