Uswatun Khasanah, or more familiarly known as Mba Atun, lives in Demangan Village, Argodadi, Sedayu, Bantul. She is a graduate of the Indonesian Karawitan High School (SMKI) of Yogyakarta and majored in Dance Arts in 2012. Atun’s love for dance blossomed during her teenage years. For her, dancing is more than just a simple pastime; it is a calling that fills her days with purpose and significance.

After graduating from SMKI, Atun began giving private dance lessons to children in her village. In Demangan at the time, there were no dance studios. This sparked the idea of opening a learning arts centre for the children in her village. Then, in 2015, Sanggar Kartika Budaya, meaning ‘Cultural Flower’ was born. The name was chosen to inspire students to become ‘flowers of Indonesian culture,’ blossoming and preserving the richness of regional art. Over the years, Atun was also selected to teach at various schools. Eventually, she joined Wadah Arsem as a tutor, where she now spreads her inspiration to an even wider audience.

^{Ms. Atun teaches the children at the art centre}

Building Generations Through the Art of Dance

Atun’s journey in life involved more than just dancing; she was also deeply committed to understanding the needs of the children she cared for. From her small classroom and studio, she learnt that every child has their own story and challenges. Some are talented but face financial constraints, while others struggle to learn because their parents are busy working. From then on, Atun became even more determined to help. Though she could not offer material support, she dedicated her skills as an SMKI-trained dance artist to support them, pouring her heart into her craft.

She started to develop more engaging teaching methods for her students, mixing dance with traditional games and instilling character values. Through this approach, children not only learn to dance but also gain confidence, develop teamwork skills, and learn to appreciate their own culture. This is exactly what makes Sanggar Kartika Budaya vibrant and cherished by both children and parents.

^{The art centre children are practicing}

Impact and Self-Growth

Through her journey with the community and Wadah, Atun has experienced a significant boost in her competence and motivation. She has gained valuable insights from her interactions with her students, parents, and her surrounding environment. From simple conversations to hands-on fieldwork, every experience has enriched her knowledge and strengthened her resolve for empowering children and preserving Javanese culture.

In addition, she co-founded Bimbel Rumah Cerdas (Smart House Tutoring Center), a learning centre for local children. By securing anArts Identification Number (NIK), she enabled the center to access arts development funds without placing a financial burden on the children she mentors.

This impact is real and tangible. Children who used to be shy now confidently perform on stage, and some are even brave enough to represent their dance studio in competitions. Parents, once just spectators, now participate by preparing costumes, making props, and bringing snacks for practice. The small, simple studio has grown into a place of togetherness, where children learn discipline, manners, and the value of hard work.

To her surrounding environment, the existence of Sanggar Kartika Budaya brings a fresh palette, not only as an art space, but also as a place that revives the spirit of teamwork and enriches local cultural pride. Many parents feel supported because their children now have positive activities in their weekends, keeping them away from gadgets and unhealthy social interactions.

^{Children from Kartika Budaya Art Centre participate various competitions}

Rising Through Adversity

In building and developing her studio, Atun was not always in smooth-sailing waters. She faced many challenges, from competition with other studios to overcoming mental hurdles when facing negative opinions from other people. Some children left to other studios, but that did not make Atun give up. Instead, she sought ways to motivate her students by inviting them to perform outside their village, attend in dance competitions, dan encouraging those she taught to join her studio.

Every hurdle instead becomes into a motivational trigger for her. ‘There is heartache sometimes, ’Atun admitted. ‘But from there, I learn to rise and prove that I can. I have to make it, ’she said optimistically.

Today, Sanggar Kartika Budaya continues to grow as a home for children who want to dance, study, and embrace their culture. ‘I’m grateful to be a part of the Wadah family, which always supports, motivates, and encourages us so we can continue to move forward,’ Atun expressed. ‘Hopefully, our dream of preserving culture and empowering the community will come true.’

^{Kartika Budaya art centre new studio}

Author: Dwi Septiani
Editor: Zul Herman