Theresia Suharti

This gentle figure, Theresia Suharti (more often written as Th. Suharti), was born in Yogyakarta, February 8, 1947. She can be called a Yogyakarta style classical dance maestro. He had loved the art world since he was young. His life is dedicated to preserving the art of tad especially the classical princess tad of Yogyakarta style. Now, at the age of seven, this woman who also has the title of paringan dalem Nyi K.R.T. Pujaningsih, still serves as a teacher for the daughters of Kawedanan Hageng Punakawan Kridha Mardawa Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat. Suharti started formal education in the field of tad after graduating from junior high school, namely continuing her education at the Yogyakarta Indonesian Conservatory of Tad (Conservatory of Tad Indonesia, now SMKI) graduating in 1965. As soon as she graduated she was asked to teach at her alma mater. Initially he refused, but due to forced circumstances (among other things his alma mater lacked qualified teachers) he finally accepted on the condition that while teaching he could continue studying at the Indonesian Tad Art Academy (ASTI, now part of the Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI Yogyakarta). In 1973 he graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Indonesian Dance Academy (ASTI) Yogyakarta, and in 1980 he graduated as a Dance Artist (SST) with an academic degree at the undergraduate level, also from ASTI. Gai rah learning is not slow. Th. Suharti continued her studies until she earned a Bachelor's Degree (S,U, master's degree/S2) from the Study Program for Performing Arts and Fine Arts, UGM Postgraduate School (1990), and from the same institution earned the highest doctorate degree akadmeik (Doctorate) in 2012. One of the monumental works of Th. Suharti is a reconstruction of the Bedhaya Semang, the sacred instrument of the Yogyakarta Palace which is more than a century old and has not been danced. This work also led Suharti to become a baccalaureate and doctorate. Together with his team, Th. Suharti tries to reconstruct the dance which tells the story of the bond of love between Sultan Agung and Kanjeng Ratu Kidul. Suharti had to study old manuscripts, including the musical notations to recreate the former Bedhaya Semang. The four-hour long dance was finally successfully performed at the Keraton in 2002, more than thirty years since he started his research on it. Suharti was asked by Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X to summarize the dance so that it has a shorter duration of just two hours so that it can be performed according to the current conditions of the palace. Suharti is not only involved in Bedhaya Semang. He mastered almost all the classical dances of the Mataraman style, not only did he master the movements, he also understood philosophy, history, musical notation, and costumes. He could easily tell the difference between Yogyakarta and Surakarta dances. If you see a variation in the development of a dance, you can immediately find out the origin of the dance. Especially regarding costumes or dance clothes which are also an integral part of the world of dance, Suharti pays special attention. Since entering the Conservatory of Indonesian Dance in Yogyakarta, he has been interested in experimenting with making dance attire, both conventional and modern but still based on tradition, especially Yogyakarta-style dance. Suharti collaborates a lot with sculptors, batik makers, jewelry entrepreneurs, and even small trinkets in dance. Experimentation that was originally only used alone was finally much in demand among the dancers at large. According to Suharti, the production of these dance clothes must always be done, because the production of these dance clothes can also benefit (economically and the sustainability of the clothing artisans) the craftsmen, on the other hand it can also broaden their insights regarding the rules of dance clothes. In its development, the interest in dance clothes has become wider, not only to meet the needs of their own circle, but to other countries. The activity was originally a family coaching. However, over time Suharti's children—who also work in dance—developed it as a source of investment. Many artisans are involved according to their respective fields and expertise. Suharti has lived and appreciated the art of dance for a long time. Starting from 1965-1969 he taught at the Yogyakarta Indonesian Dance Conservatory with the status of a civil servant. Then in 1969-1972 he became a teaching staff of Javanese dance at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, USA. During the summer, he also teaches Javanese dance at the ASEA (American Society for Eastern Art) Summer Program in Oakland, California, USA. Furthermore, in 1975-2012 Suharti became a teaching staff at the Department of Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts, Yogyakarta Art Institute of Indonesia. In 2000, he became a teaching staff at the Yogyakarta Art Institute's Postgraduate Program until his retirement in 2012.

Some of Suharti's written works include a dissertation entitled Bedhaya Semang Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat: Reactualization of a Tad Pusaka (2012) which was later recorded in 2015, as a member writer in the Yogyakarta Encyclopedia (2009 & 2010), several art journals, and others. Meanwhile, several works of art that have been produced are as a presenter and arranger for the Bedhaya Sapta taxi in the framework of the culmination of the One Century Commemoration of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwana IX, in collaboration with the DIY Privileges Joint Secretariat on Cultural Dialogue and the "Yogya Semesta" Art Exhibition. series 51, at Kepatihan Yogyakarta (2012). In 2011 as the presenter of the Bedhaya Sang Amurwabumi dance in the framework of the Arts and Panelist Exhibition in the Cultural Dialogue and the "Yogya Semesta" Art Exhibition, series 47, with the topic "Teachings of Sang Amurwabumi, a Source of Reference for Character Education Values" at the Kepatihan Yogyakarta. He has also been a dancer for Bedhaya Sang Amurwabhumi (2008), dancer for Bedhaya Babarlayar (2007), and many more. Suharti has also received a number of awards, including as a dancer in APPAN: International Dance Performances and Seminars from the Director of LPK Tari Natya Lakshita (2015), Award as choreographer for Ringkes Bedhaya "Sang Amurwabhumi" (2014), Special Award as presenter of dance art " Bedhaya Sapta" (2012). ***

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Theresia Suharti
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