ARTISTRY OF GANDRUNG FROM BANYUWANGI

Gandrung from Banyuwangi


Gandrung Banyuwangi come from word " gandrung", meaning ' nuts about' or ' love all hollow' in Javanese. This artistry still one genre with like ketuk tilu in West Java, tayub in Central Java and East Java part of west, lengger in region Banyumas and joged bumbung in Bali, entangledly a professional dancer woman dancing together the guest ( especially man) with music accompaniment ( gamelan).

Form artistry predominated dance with this typical orchestration is popular in region Banyuwangi which is located in back part of Java east, and have come to individuality from the region, till do not be wrong if Banyuwangi always typicaly by gandrung. In reality, Banyuwangi is often nicknamed Gandrung town dancer gandrung idol and can be met in various regional corner of Banyuwangi.

Gandrung often show at various event, like marriage, pethik laut (one of tradition in banyuwangi), circumcision, seven floging and the formal event and also the opening do not be other either in Banyuwangi and also other region. According to habit, show wholy started since about beating 09.00 pm and till end before at dawn ( about beating 04.00 am).

History of Gandrung

According to history note, gandrung first time danced by all boy adorned like woman and, according to report Scholte ( 1927), especial instrument accompanying this dance gandrung lanang is kendang. At that moment, violin have been used. But that way, gandrung of this men by degrees vanish from Banyuwangi of about year 1890, what is anticipated because teaching of Islam prohibit all the form of transvestisme or dress up like woman. But, dance gandrung of new men really evanescent in the year 1914, after death of last dancer, namely Marsan

Gandrung of Woman of first recognized in history is gandrung Semi, a moppet which at that time the age still ten years in the year 1895. According to trusted story, at that time semi to suffer from which hard enough. All way of have been conducted till to soothsayer, but semi do not also the visit heal. So that the Semi's mother ( Mak Midhah) make pledge like “ Kadhung Sira waras, sun dhadekaken Seblang, kadhung sing yo sing” ( If you heal, I make you Seblang, except that yes do not become). Really, finally Semi to heal and made seblang at one blow start new chapter with danced gandrung by woman

Tradition of Gandrung Semi then followed by younger daughter of his woman by using next name Gandrung as name of his stage. This artistry then go up to expand in entire region of Banyuwangi and become local typical icon. In the begining gandrung only may be danced by all clan dancer of previous gandrung, but since year 1970-an strarting a lot of young girl which is non clan of gandrung learning this dance and make it as source of living beside maintain eksistensinya which more and more gone to the wall since final of 20th century.

old world, dancer of gandrung generally bring the two fan for the show. But nowadays dancer of gandrung just getting one fan and just to the parts of certain in the theatre, specially in shares of seblang at dawn.

Music of Attendant for gandrung Banyuwangi consisted of kempul or gong, kluncing ( triangle), violin, two kendhang, and a couple of kethuk. Despitefully, incomplete show otherwise accompanied by panjak or seldom referred as hilarious maker ( giver of spirit) commisioned cheer on and give effect barrel of fun in every show gandrung. role of Panjak can be taken by player kluncing.

At Opening of staging or so-called Jejer, dancer of singing some song and dance in solo, without guest. All guest which generally the men only witness. After jejer finish, hence the the dancer start to give shawl to be passed to a guest. Important guest which beforehand get opportunity dance together. Generally all guest consisted of four people, forming square with dancer reside in midst. The gandrung will visit upon all guest dancing with one by one with movement luring, and that's esensi from dance gandrung, nuts about namely or the atmosphere Iust.

After finishing, the dancer will visit upon audience entourage, and ask one of audience to chosen song to be brought. This event is after interlude between going forward and repèn ( hymn which is not danced), and nightlong till before at dawn. Seldom this show face chaos, what is because of all audience awaiting innings or get drunk, so that the unavoidable fight again.

Part of conclusion is seblang at dawn, this represent conclusion from entire network of show of gandrung Banyuwangi. After finishing to do to go forward and rest a moment, started by shares of seblang at dawn. Started with movement of slow dancer and full carrying out of, sometime at the same time bring fan waggled by according to rhythm or without bringing fan at all at the same time singing song of have sorrowful theme to like for example seblang lokento. Mistical atmosphere felt at the time of shares seblang of this at dawn, because still incircuit sliver by ritual seblang, a ritual of healing or hallowing and still be done ( difficult even met) by dancer of old age woman. a period of this time, part of seblang of eliminated frequent at dawn though in fact part of this become conclusion one show of stage gandrung.