GANDRUNG TAK HANYA MENARI: IDENTITAS PEREMPUAN DAN PERLAWANAN DALAM BUDAYA BANYUWANGI

Gandrung Banyuwangi is not merely a form of entertainment but also a political and social medium that conveys elements of female identity (Arisandi et al., 2023). Gandrung dancers are often subjected to negative stigma as mere "entertainers" (Arisandi et al., 2023); however, they have successfully utilized the stage as a space for cultural resistance and gender negotiation. This research employs descriptive qualitative and ethnographic methods to explore how these paradigms are embodied in the Gandrung Sewu dance and the 2022 beach performance, reinforcing a sense of local identity (Flaurenza, 2023). In addition, a study on the philosophical values of Gandrung among the millennial generation in Kemiren (Kusmaryono et al., 2022) reveals that the dance contains symbols of social struggle and efforts toward cultural regeneration in the digital era. The findings conclude that Gandrung dance is not solely about aesthetics; it is a cultural battlefield where Banyuwangi women actively construct new identity narratives through their bodies and performances.