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Sandi Uno tells Khofifah that Gandrung Sewu Festival is national art and culture icon
The Gandrung Sewu Festival once again succeeded in impressing thousands of tourists. Held at Boom Beach overlooking the Bali Strait on Saturday, a colossal performance featuring 1,200 dancers and 150 supporting acts captivated both domestic and international tourists.
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T
he Gandrung Sewu Festival once again succeeded in impressing thousands of tourists. Held at Boom Beach overlooking the Bali Strait on Saturday, a colossal performance featuring 1,200 dancers and 150 supporting acts captivated both domestic and international tourists. This world-class art attraction was made even more perfect by the mesmerizing aerial maneuvers performed by the Air Force.
Carrying the theme "Omprog: The Glory of Art," the Gandrung Sewu Festival is appreciated as a national tourism icon. "The Gandrung Sewu Festival deserves to be an icon of Indonesian art," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno, who delivered a virtual address.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indarparawansa referred to the Gandrung Sewu Festival as the gateway to introducing local culture to the global public. "This will be the opening door for how Banyuwangi's culture can appear on international stages," said Khofifah.
The Gandrung Sewu Festival has been held regularly in Banyuwangi since 2012. This year's theme was omprog, which refers to the crowns of the Gandrung dancers. "The omprog has become a strong icon that will make Gandrung dance more renowned worldwide," said Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani.
Also present were State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas, Air Force chief of staff Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, the Ambassador of Norway to Indonesia, Rut Kruger Giverin, and representatives from various ministries and local administrations across Indonesia.
"Special thanks to the chief of staff of the Air Force and his exceptional team. The aerial performances showcased the Air Force's reliability as the protector of the Homeland, Swa Bhuwana Paksa," said Ipuk.
Ipuk explained that the Gandrung Sewu Festival is not just about performances but also cultural consolidation. She recalled how difficult it was to find 1,000 Gandrung dancers when it was first held. In contrast, now thousands of young people eagerly participate in selections in their respective districts to perform.
"Gandrung Sewu is also part of cultural consolidation. It's about how Gandrung dance has become a source of pride for young people. They contribute to preserving their art and culture," she explained.
Meanwhile, Hasan Basri, the chairman of the Blambangan Arts Council, explained that the omprog worn by Gandrung dancers is rich in symbolism. Each part carries specific symbols, including pilisan, bathukan, ombyok, kether, nanasan and gatutkaca, which represents a dragon-bodied figure. "These components convey the meaning of a dynamic life, one that always leads toward goodness," he clarified.
This year's Gandrung Sewu Festival was further enlivened by performances from the Air Force as part of the Semarak Dirgantara series. This included various aerial displays by Air Force personnel, featuring 15 flag-bearing parachutists, a flypast of four EMB-314 Super Tucano fighter aircraft, and a flypast of three T-50i Golden Eagle fighter aircraft. This added to the excitement of the event, which was first held in 2012. (*)
