<![CDATA[Dance education is not only oriented toward developing students’ movement skills but can also serve as a means of instilling cultural values and strengthening students’ character. This study aims to analyze Sasak traditional dance learning as a medium for strengthening students’ character through the integration of local cultural values. The study employs a descriptive qualitative approach focusing on the learning process of Sasak traditional dance, the local cultural values embedded within it, and the forms of character development that can be fostered through learning activities. Data were obtained through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, and were analyzed interpretively through data organization, theme identification, interpretation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the learning process of Sasak traditional dance has the potential to develop students’ discipline, responsibility, cooperation, perseverance, and self-confidence. Local cultural values are not merely understood as knowledge about tradition but are integrated through practice, habituation, group interaction, and reflection on the meaning of dance. Teachers play an important role in connecting students’ dance-learning experiences with cultural values and their application in everyday behavior. Thus, Sasak traditional dance learning can function both as a medium for character education and as an effort to introduce and preserve local culture. This study emphasizes the importance of developing contextual art learning based on local wisdom that is relevant to students’ lives.]]>
