Started from her love for Indonesian culture, her interest in traditional dance and the background of a master's degree in archeology, Diah Kusumawardani Wijayanti built a foundation called Belantara Budaya Indonesia. This woman who is familiarly called Diah has loved traditional dance since she was in a kindergarten.
The Belantara Budaya Indonesia Foundation is a foundation built to preserve Indonesian history, culture and education. Through this foundation, Diah built ten free traditional dance schools spread in many locations, especially in historic museums in Indonesia.
In Jakarta, dance schools can be found at National Museum, Museum of National Awakening, fX Sudirman, and Prajawangsa City. While outside Jakarta, dance schools can be found in Depok, Bogor, Bandung, Cirebon, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). For anyone who wants to join the dance class, they can immediately visit the location without paying any fees.
Dance classes in museums in Jakarta are generally held every Saturday at 10:00 WIB. While at Fx Sudirman, dance class usually start at 15.00 WIB every Saturday. While outside Jakarta, dance classes are held every Sunday.
Apart from her love for Indonesian culture, Diah claimed to have hesitated when she would started her first dance class. Diah thought no one would be interested in coming. But apparently, it was only the beginning, Diah dance class had been visited by 100 students. Now the number of students who take part in Belantara Budaya dance class has reached 1,700 people.
Students who take part in dance activities in museums are generally dominated by children ranging from toddlers to elementary school. But the dance class at fX Sudirman is focused on teenagers to adults. The reason Diah opened a dance class in a shopping centre was deliberately intended to attract millennials and adults. Unexpectedly, many were interested. Participants who came to fX Sudirman came from any backgrounds and ages, some were 40 to 50 years old, from employees to directors.
Students can’t only explore traditional dance, but also had the opportunity get the benefit from their perseverance. They can perform and get paid. Students who are already clever and proficient in dancing often become dance instructors.
Belantara Budaya has also demonstrated their skill in the international arena. Last year, the Foundation, which has been existed since 2013, has the opportunity to perform in one of the most prestigious fashion events in the world, New York Fashion Week. Seeing the rapid growth of the foundation she built, Diah hopes that in the future Belantara Budaya will continue to support the interest of the nation's children in Indonesian culture. Diah also aspires to have a free dance school in all museums in Indonesia.
Facebook: Belantara Budaya Indonesia