Barong dan Gandrung Dances Attract Foreign Tourists

BANYUWANGI, E Java, Oct 9 (Antara) - Barong and Gandrung dance peformance allured thousands of tourists including several foreigners in Banyuwangi District of East Java. The "Gandrung Sewu" or Thousands Gandrung Festival that was held in Boom Beach of Banyuwangi District on Sunday depiced heroes that fought colonizers for independence. As many as 1,286 dancers showed their dance mastery in colorful costumes. The story illustrated the barong and gandrung dances that were being performed to attack and ambush colonizers. A French tourist, Lionel Tournier, stated his appreciation for the cultural festival. "They showed beautiful dances and choreography," Tournier said. Additionally, the District Head of Banyuwangi, Abdullah Azwar Anas, said the dance festival has been consistently performed since 2012. "The festival is aimed at regenerating the traditional art enthusiasts," Anas said. Besides, the cultural festival could also grow understanding to cultural diversity in Indonesia. The local administration had selected the best gendrung dancers among 3,000 participants in the district.