Gandrung and Barong Using, Typical Arts of People in Banyuwangi

On August 28th to 30th 2015, the Gandrung and Barong Using, typical arts of people in Banyuwangi , East Java province nicely performed in Frankfurt, Germany . The performance of Gandrung and Barong Using in Germany as guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015 has attracted the audiences . While in Germany, the Gandrung arts, and Barong Using also performed for three consecutive days at the Suferfest Museum, the largest cultural festival in Europe, in Frankfurt along with the appearance of several famous Indonesian musicians, such as Djaduk Ferianto, Kua Etnika, Dwiki Dharmawan and J-Flow . Currently, in today’s edition of Indonesia Wonder, we invite you to know one of the arts that performed at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, the Gandrung Art . Gandrung art is a traditional dance of community in Bayuwangi, East Java . The Gandrung dance comes from the word of Gandrung, which means admiration . According to its origin, the dance tells about spellbound of Blambangan community in Bali, to Dewi Padi or the rice goddess, namely Dewi Sri who bring prosperity to the people . The dance actually is a reflection of the people’s thanksgiving over post-harvest . This dance is brought by female dancers as the main dancer then they invited male audiences (called Paju) to dance together . When dancing, the dancers always wear the unique crown called Omprok . The dancers crown usually made of buffalo leather and given a gold and red ornaments . The clothes worn by dancer made of black velvet which is decorated by golden ornaments and beads . Meanwhile, the bottom of cloth, the Gandrung dancers wearing batik which generally they use common batik pattern of Gajah Oling or plant style with elephant's trunk that characterizes typical Banyuwangi . the performance of Gandrung Art divided into three parts, namely row, move forward and Seblang Subuh . Part of Jejer is the opening of entire Gandrung show . In this section, the dancers sing some songs and perform solo dancing . Once the row is complete, then the dancers began to give shawl-scarves to the guests especially honorary guests who get the chance to dance together . This is part of a dance called Maju . After completing the Maju movement and take a rest for a moment, then begin the Seblang Subuh section . It is a concluding part of the whole series of performances of Gandrung Banyuwangi . The dancers began to dance with slow movements while singing the sad song theme . Mystical atmosphere felt at part of the dance . Gandrung dance now appear in various events, such as weddings and the state official occasions . When performed, the dance is always accompanied by traditional Gamelan music . Since 2000, the dance has become the official mascot of Banyuwangi tourism . Gandrung dancer sculptures displayed at various angles of towns and villages . The government of Banyuwangi also promote Gandrung Dance to be staged in various regions even abroad such as Surabaya, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and America .

The performance of Gandrung and Barong is really very traditional to java people and they really attract lots of tourists. The govt. of Indonesia is also helping to promote this art and it is really very nice move.

The eastern-most edge of the island of Java, just across the island of Bali, lies the town of Banyuwangi. Its busy port, Ketapang, serves regular ferries that ply daily between Bali and Java carrying passengers, cars and buses, as well as trucks laden with all sorts of goods to and from Java.


Being the east-most city on Java, this is where the dawn first rises in the morning throwing its welcoming rays over Java, this lush green but also most densely populated island. Not yet quite popular as a tourist destination, the regency of Banyuwangi, in fact, hides many secret gems, from looming mountains, natural game reserves to rolling surge of waves, that are the dream of surfers all over the world. Here also live the Osing ethnic sub-group, believed to speak the oldest Javanese language from which evolved Java’s most sophisticated civilization over the centuries.


Banyuwangi Regency extends over an area of 5,800 sq. km, comprising southern beaches brushed by the Indian Ocean, to impressive Mt. Raung that stands at 3,282 m and Mt. Merapi at 2,800 m above sea level. To its north is the Regency of Situbondo, while the Regencies of Jember and Bondowoso lie to its west, and to its east is the island of Bali.


Besides being the largest regency on Java, Banyuwangi is also the largest fish producer of the province of East Java, with the town of Muncar by the Bali Strait, its main fishing wharf. Banyuwangi is also known for its banana crops. Almost all gardens in this district boast trees that produce luscious bananas.


Because of the close proximity here between the islands Bali and Java and for centuries being a busy trading port, the exchange of many cultural influences in Banyuwangi is unavoidable. Here the kingdom of Blambangan was once its most greatest kingdom, showing a fusion between the cultures of Java and Bali, mixed with that of the island of Madura, as well as absorbing Malay, Eropean, Chinese influences and traces of ancient roots from the ancient Osing Jawa people. Some typical Banyuwangi dances that are infused with these multi-cultural influences are: the gandrung dance, barong kemiren, seblang, janger, rengganis, hadrah kunthulan, patrol, mocopatan pacul goang, jaranan butho, barong, kebo-keboan, angklung caruk, and gedhogan. These are shown during the annual Banyuwangi Etno Carnival where most of the ethnic dances are performed for locals and visitors to enjoy.


Banyuwangi literally means Aromatic Water, which is associated with the local legend, The story goes that once upon a time a king abducted the wife of his own prime minister. When the minister came to know about it he went into a rage and stabbed his wife. But before she died, she vowed that as proof that she had always remained faithful to her husband the water of the river where her blood flowed would exude an aromatic perfume, which indeed it did. The prime minister, who dearly loved his wife, regretted the murder for the rest of his life.


The town of Banyuwangi is the gateway to your explorations to watch wild animals roam freely in the reserve of Alas Purwo, the oldest game reserve on Java, go trekking through the savannahs of Baluran, or find secluded and untouched beaches at Pulau Merah or G-Land, and travel to Sukamade Beach where turtles come to hatch their eggs. Mountain climbers can hike up from Banyuwangi to the stunning Ijen Crater and be amazed by blue flames that spring out among the yellow sulphurous rocks, cut and gathered manually by traditional miners.