Kecak Dance

Bali Personal Drivers - Kecak Dance or also called "Cak" Dance or Fire Dance is the only one outdoor show with a charming sunset view. Kecak dance is a mass dance performance that staged for entertainment and features a combination among drama and dance.

Introduction

Kecak Dance is the most popular dance performances in Bali and is always full of spectators. As a dance for entertainment, Kecak Dance is not specifically used in hindu religious rituals such as cult, odalan or other ceremonies. However, Kecak Dance is not separated from the sacred elements. These forms of "sacred" in the Kecak Dance is usually showed for "kerauhan" or "masolah" that is unseen in immunity so it's not burned by the fire.
It is not known for certain where the Kecak Dance is derived, and where it was first developed. But there is a kind of agreement on the Balinese that Kecak Dance first time evolved into the art of performance, in the village of Bona, Gianyar. In addition Kecak Dance was originally a song or music resulting from the combination of sounds that make up a melody that is usually used to accompany the sacred Sanghyang Dance that can only be performed in the temple. Then in the early 1930s the artists from the village of Bona, trying to develop the Kecak Dance by inserting the part of the Ramayana story in lieu of the sacred Sanghyang Dance, so that could eventually be performed in public as a performance art. The part of the Ramayana story that taken first is where the Goddess Sita was kidnapped by the King Ravana.
Meanwhile, according to wikipedia, the history of Kecak Dance began around the 1930 's when I Wayan Limbak, the leader of a dance group originated from Bedulu village, in collaboration with the Germany painter, Walter Spies created the Kecak Dance based on the tradition of the sacred Sanghyang Dance and the parts of the story of Ramayana. I Wayan Limbak then popularized the dance whiles he touring the world with his Balinese groups dancers.
Next the Kecak Dance is increasingly evolving and undergoing changes. Modification of Kecak dance is mostly made, one of them by I Wayan Dibia, born in Singapadu, Bali. He created a modification of Kecak dance, such as Kecak Sugriwa and Subali (1976) and Kecak Dewa Ruci (1982).

Watch a Kecak Dance

Kecak Dance at Uluwatu is the most interesting to watch. The stage show was standing on solid rock with a height of 80 ft above the sea level of the vast Indian Ocean. Its design so beautiful with the Indian Ocean as a backdrop, and of course, with a very charming sunset view.

Kecak Dance is a typical Balinese dance performances. This dance is performed by dozens of male dancers in a sitting position and lined up neatly in a circle. The men raised their hands while shouting the word "cak ... cak ... cak ...". The men dancers who sit in a circle wearing a plaid cloth like a chessboard that binds their waist. Meanwhile, in the circle of other dancers who plays the characters of Ramayana as Rama, Shinta, Rahwana, Hanuman, and Sugriva was in action.

Kecak dance is played by about 50 to 70 men in a sitting position and line up neatly in a circle. Those dancers who sit in a circle wearing a checkered clothe likes a chessboard that binds their loins. Meanwhile, inside the circle, other dancers who play the characters of Ramayana as Rama, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman and Sugriva in action. They play the Ramayana story that tells about the struggle of Rama who helped by the troops of monkeys, trying to rescue Shinta from the evil hand of Ravana.

The unique of this dance is not used entirely musical instruments. The music purely out of "cak ... cak ... cak ..." screams and sounds of "kincringan" was tied to the feet of the dancers cast figures Ramayana. The men raise their hands while shouting the word "cak ... cak ... cak ..." continually with a certain rhythm to produce complex sounds. A man will act as the leader who gave the initial tone, and the another man is in charge of delivering high or low notes pressure. There is also a man who acted as a chanter solo songs, and the other man will act as narrator who escorted the storyline.

Now, the Kecak Dance performances become a major attraction for tourists both foreign and domestic, and sometimes they are also involved in this dance. The largest number of dancers who had performed in the Kecak Dance recorded in 1979 which involves 500 dancers. At the time it was performed for the Kecak Dance by taking the story from Mahabharata. But this record has broken by the Tabanan Government, which organizes the Kecak Dance Colossal with 5000 dancers on 29 September 2006, at Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali.

Reference : commons.wikimedia.org
Photo : commons.wikimedia.org, flickr.com