Transmitting Cultural Dance: The Role of Formal Education and Institutional Collaboration

Cultural dance is increasingly at risk of decline. In this study, I explored the perceptions of cultural dance teachers in transmitting cultural dance to the next generation. Anchored in Cultural Transmission Theory, I explain how cultural beliefs, behaviours, knowledge, and traditions are passed across generations through social learning and interaction. I employed a qualitative descriptive research design, utilizing in-depth interviews with nine purposively selected cultural dance teachers. I analyzed the data using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that cultural stewardship, intergenerational bridging, social learning engagement, and authentic and adaptive practices within formal education and institutional collaboration are essential in preserving and transmitting cultural dance to the next generation. I highlight the critical role of teachers as cultural mediators who sustain cultural heritage while adapting to contemporary educational contexts. I suggest that future studies may employ exploratory factor analysis, regression, and mediation analysis to examine how formal education, institutional collaboration, and social learning influence cultural transmission. I also recommend that educational leaders and institutions initiate programs, strengthen partnerships, and provide training opportunities to enhance teachers’ capacity to effectively transmit cultural dance to the next generation.