The Community Service Team from the Faculty of Education and Psychology (FIPP) of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) conducted training for early childhood education (PAUD) teachers in Sambirejo Village, Semarang Regency, on August 22, 2025. The activity, titled “Strengthening PAUD Teacher Competence in Dance Teaching to Enhance Creativity and Local Culture,” demonstrates UNNES’s commitment to supporting quality education and preserving regional culture.
The training focused on strengthening teachers’ skills in integrating dance into early childhood learning. Students were encouraged not only to move and express themselves, but also to recognize local cultural values inherent in the nation’s identity.
The Head of the Community Service Team, Renistiara Medilianasari, M.Pd., emphasized the important role of PAUD teachers in introducing arts and culture from an early age.
“PAUD teachers need to have confidence and creativity in teaching dance. Through this activity, we hope teachers will be able to present simple, enjoyable dance lessons while also introducing regional culture,” she said.
The event also featured Fathin Farah Fadhilah, S.Psi., M.Psi., as a resource person, who presented on the relationship between movement and song in early childhood development. The team was also supported by Ni Kadek Aris Rahmadani, S.Pd., M.Pd., Naila Nasywa, S.Psi., M.Psi., Fitri Febri Handayani, S.Pd., M.Pd., and students who actively participated in mentoring. This collaboration between lecturers and students strengthened the synergy of community service to provide tangible benefits to the community.
In the practical sessions, teachers practiced exploring simple movements, creating children’s dances accompanied by regional songs, and utilizing dance props made from simple materials. This approach is expected to foster courage, self-confidence, and cooperation in children from an early age.
Through this program, UNNES reaffirmed its commitment as a Conservation Campus in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 4 on Quality Education. The results of this activity are expected to encourage PAUD teachers in Sambirejo Village to be more creative in packaging learning while also becoming agents of local cultural preservation from an early age.
