The Jaran Kepang Traditional Dance Art in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The Indonesian island of Java is known for its many traditional arts, one of which is the Jaran Kepang traditional dance. Jaran Kepang is a performance art performed by several dancers in an open space accompanied by Javanese gamelan music. This dance depicts a group of horsemen going to war. Thin woven bamboo sheets are shaped like horses and ridden by a performer during the attraction. In addition, the Jaran Kepang dance has a magical element where the dancers are in a trance state. East Java Province is one of the provinces that has Jaran Kepang art. Banyuwangi is one of the regions that still actively carries out this art. Efforts to preserve traditional culture are one of the important issues in traditional cultural activities in a region. This research was conducted with the aim of describing the Jaran Kepang traditional dance art in Banyuwangi and Malang regencies, East Java province, Indonesia. The research was conducted using an interview model using the snowball method to gather information. The interviewees were selected as five people who were generally artists or leaders of art organizations. Those selected have at least 10 years of experience in the art of Jaran Kepang. Interview materials covered dance, art properties, and aspects of cultural, philosophical, and religious values. The research results show that Jaran Kepang Banyuwangi possesses cultural, philosophical, and religious values. The artistic elements, including the performers' costumes, art equipment, offerings, and dances, have their own meaning.