Reconstructing Norms and Values in Gandrung Dance for Halal Tourism in West Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

This study examines the norms and values in Gandrung Dance and how they can be reconstructed for the needs in halal tourism industries. The dance performance usually brings negative impacts of stigmatized identities of the dancers particularly the female dancers. The study focuses on dancers in Lombok, NTB, where in around 1965 the dance had been criminalized as immoral and sexual. The study aims at establishing whether the dance can be reconstructed and whether the reconstructed gestures are powerful enough to prevent sexual harassment associated and resulting from the gestures. The study particularly investigates if maintenance of personal distance and dance moves during Gandrung performance can act as powerful self-defense strategies against sexual move and harassment. The subjects of the study were Gandrung dancers, the audiences and Gandrung dance teachers and they were selected purposively based on expertise, access, and convenience. The method used is descriptive and qualitative whereby the data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation. These data were analysed using content and ethnographic analyses. The results show that with the harmony between the music and the dance movements as well as the interaction between the dancer and the pengibing dancer, Gandrung dance can be reconstruct to suit Halal tourism needs. With the advents of three modern types of Gandrung dance (legong, janger, and shanghyang dedari), the dance can now be commercialized for dance presentation. The study also find that negotiation between the dancer and the pengibing on the limit of contact and dance moves prior to dance performance can prevent unwanted sexual gestures and, when this happens, the dancer has the rights to call the pengibingan off and offers it to the other pengibing dancers.