Instead of focusing only on formal education, why not wider your repertoire of talents by taking on some extracurricular activities. Especially for teenagers, engaging in the right amount of extracurricular activities can give them more life skills and better mental and physical health.

Aside from those offered at school, here are some activities worth a try that are fun as well as good for body and soul.

Ballet

There is no age limit when it comes to ballet. Even if someone doesn’t start early, he/she can still enroll in an adult ballet class. Namarina Pusat and Namarina Kebayoran, for example, are attended by junior high school students as well as workers—even those without experience. As there are no tests, the main goal of this class is for students to improve their posture and physical health. You can look for class schedules here.

Price: Rp 300,000 per month (US$ 22.79) for a maximum of five classes per month in Namarina Kebayoran.

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Music

Just like ballet, children who are more than 12 years old and interested in taking music lessons can join classes for teens and adults. One example is the piano study class at Yamaha music school, where students will be given private classical piano lessons, from the most basic level to the most advanced. They will also be given the chance to display their skills at several events, including final tests, concerts and competitions. Aside from piano, there is also classes for other instruments available.

Price: Rp 400,000 (registration) + Rp 540,000 per month (weekend class) for piano study class. Maximum four classes per month.

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Traditional dance

It is possible to learn Indonesian traditional dance for free in Jakarta. One place that makes this possible is the National Museum in Central Jakarta. The place hosts Balinese dance class by Prajnapramita Dance School every Saturday at 10.00 a.m.  As it is totally free and open to everyone, around 150 dance enthusiasts of various ages regularly come to join the class—from children to grandmothers. Although the only dance currently taught is Balinese, teacher Pinkyvi Tiffany has said that there are plans to start other dance lessons as well.

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Language

Adding a new language skill is never a bad option. If you are looking for an institution that has several language courses, you could explore the courses offered at Lembaga Bahasa Internasional Universitas Indonesia (LBI FIB UI). LBI FIB UI Salemba or Depok offer 10 languages: English, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. As there are several registration periods within a year, we advise that you check the schedule regularly through its site. It is also important to be aware that tuition fees vary for different levels. (kes)

Price: Rp 75,000 (registration) + tuition per level