Gandrung Sewu Banyuwangi Agenda to be Held at Night This Year
Banyuwangi, East Java – The Gandrung Sewu colossal dance event in Banyuwati Regency, East Java, will be held at night for the first time on 24 October, following 14 years of daytime performances as a cultural icon of the easternmost regency of Java.
This year, the Gandrung Sewu agenda has received full support from InJourney, the state-owned enterprise (SOE) holding company for the aviation and tourism sectors. This collaboration introduces a new concept featuring the Gandrung dance in a nocturnal setting, while maintaining the essential cultural values and essence that form the soul of the performance.
The Regent of Banyuwangi, Ipuk Fiestiandani, stated on Wednesday that the nighttime schedule was implemented to ensure Gandrung Sewu continues to evolve and provides a unique experience for both spectators and tourists.
“Every year, we strive to present something new in Gandrung Sewu; this year, for the first time, we are presenting it at night. This is not merely a change in timing, but we want to offer a different experience to the audience and tourists,” said Ipuk.
She noted that more than 1,000 dancers will participate in the performance, utilising phosphorus elements combined with specialised lighting to create distinct visual effects in the night atmosphere.
“Tradition does not have to remain static; tradition can continue to move, adapt, and evolve with the times without losing its identity. The core essence of Gandrung Sewu remains the Gandrung dance itself, with the movements, rhythms, expressions, and cultural values inherited from our ancestors,” Ipuk added.
According to the Regent, the collaboration with InJourney provides new energy for the development of Gandrung Sewu, whilst simultaneously strengthening the arts, culture, and tourism ecosystem in Banyuwangi.
“We express our appreciation to InJourney for collaborating in the organisation of Gandrung Sewu. The collaboration between local government, the business world, artists, communities, and the public serves as vital energy to strengthen the arts and culture ecosystem as well as tourism,” said Ipuk.
Meanwhile, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Secretary at InJourney, Yudhistira Setiawan, remarked that Banyuwangi possesses comprehensive tourism potential, ranging from natural and cultural wealth to various widely recognised attractions.
“Banyuwangi has many established and complete tourism elements, including destinations and attractions. Banyuwangi possesses very strong natural and cultural wealth, and in terms of attractions, there is Gandrung Sewu, which is already well-known to tourists,” he said.