The Process of Rupa Dance Creation as an Emotional Processing Medium for Gifted Children with Special Needs

Abstract

Gifted children or children with special needs require an emotional processing medium that corresponds to their feelings. This study aims to develop a dance creation as a positive emotional processing medium for gifted children with special needs. This is a research and development (R&D) study using a dance creation model which consists of four stages, i.e. (1) exploration, (2) improvisation, (3) composition, and (4) evaluation by involving children with special needs. The result is a dance product named Rupa Dance. The Rupa Dance was then taught to children with special needs. Data collection was conducted by participatory observation. Data analysis was performed using descriptive techniques. The result shows that the dance created by involving children with special needs could be a medium for processing positive emotions and a medium for creative expression for gifted children with special needs.