Hanuman being burned in Lanka, a Ramayana episode in Kecak dance performance

Kecak is a form of Balliness Dance and Music Drama that developed in the 1930s in Bali. It is
performed primarily by men, although as of 2006, a few women's kecak groups exist.
Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of 150 or more
performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting "cak" and throwing
up their arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana. The Monkey like Vanara helped Prince Rama
fight the evil King Ravana. Kecak has roots in Sanghyang, a trance-inducing dance.

History
Kecak was originally a Trance ritual accompanied by male Choir. In the 1930s, Walter Spies, a
German people painter and musician, became deeply interested in the ritual while living in Bali.
He adapted it as a drama, based on the Hindu Ramayana and including dance, intended for
performance before Western tourist audiences.
This is an example of what James Clifford (historian) describes as part of the "modern art-culture
system in which, "the West or the central power adopts, transforms, and consumes non-Western
or peripheral cultural elements, while making 'art,' which was once embedded in the culture as a
whole, into a separate entity. Spies worked with Wayan Limbak, who popularized the dance by
arranging for performances by Balinese groups touring internationally. These tours have helped
make the Kecak internationally known.
The Kecak is an unusual Balinese dance for a couple of reasons. It is unusual because it has no
musical accompaniment like many other Indonesian dances do, the rhythm of the dance is

produced by the chanting monkey chorus. Instead, a troupe of over 150 bare-chested men serve
as the chorus, making a wondrous cacophony of synchronized chak-achak-achak clicking
sounds while swaying their bodies and waving their hands .From that chanting noise of Cakcak-cak, then it gave the dance its name Kecak. Most of Kecak dance take Ramayana Epic as
the theme of their dance, especially the episode of Prince Rama and his wife Princess Shinta and
his brother Laksamana as the legal heirs of the throne were exiling themselves to the forest to
give his brother Bharata to sit on the throne. This exile has brought the situation become fatal for
them when Princess Shinta was abducted by the king of Demon of Alengka Pura. The abduction
of Princess Shinta is the start of the big war called Bharata Yudha between Prince Rama assisted
by the fleet of monkeys soldiers and the demon fleet of Rahwana of Alengka Pura. This is to
teach people that everything of big or small conflict can be started by a woman that a man
overprotects even to leave the throne and pampering life, and for a woman this is a learning that
loyalty will win in whatever condition. The theme of the epic which is presented with Balinese
spirit is very suitable for any age of Balinese, that is why actually Kecak dance has been reaching
so much popularity compared to any dances that Bali has so far. Although the theme is taken
from Indian epic, but in physical appearance and spirit are real Balinese. There is no indication
of India or even a flicker of indication of India. This is the correct adoption of a culture which
leave the original tradition incorporates the foreign aspect and used it to enrich their tradition, not
changed into foreign culture so will abolish their personality. Even some think that it was
happened Balinization of all foreign aspects, as it will be very difficult for Indian to identify
weather the dance is given Indian aspect unless they read the story first, and watch the dance
many times, but not for Balinese, as they will soon understand what the dance is meant. At one
point this dance has shown to the people that how big the role of the patriotism in the life of the
people, and the role of woman on the side of a man as life partner is the key of the success in the
hard struggle of war even to face such a strong power like Alengka Pura with much more soldier
in number. The appeal of Princess Shinta has arising such a great power of Prince Rama to
subdue a great kingdom of Alengka Pura and the dance ended with a happy unity of both.
Since 1970s, the Kecak Dance continued to experience some changes, especially in terms of
story and staging techniques. Today, Kecak Dance can not only be encountered at one place, like
at Bona Village , Gianyar, but also at other villages in Bali . Almost every single village in Bali
has Kecak Dance troupe whose members comprise the local villagers. Kecak Dance Festival is

also often organized in Bali whether by government or art school in Bali Apart from the
Ramayana epic, there is also Kecak Dance today taking the sequel of Mahabrata epic.
That's why Kecak Dance is always played at the night. It was said, Kecak Dance is categorized
into the oldest dance. Why? At that time, it has not been found any gambelan instrument made of
metal. Probably, the Kecak Dance was still called the Sanghyang Dance then. Therefore, the
Kecak Dance was only accompanied by music taking advantage of the voice pf the players.
When in Bali you simply must view three of the most famous dances in the country. Sanghyang
(Trance) Dance, Kecak (Monkey Dance) and the Fire Dance are three performances that will
truly make your visit to Bali more special. Taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the Kecak
dance is perhaps the most dramatic. There are dozens of different dances - all part of the
fascinating Balinese cultures. This tour takes you to the village of Batabulan to see three dances.
Fire Dance - Where the dancer becomes entranced and is able to dance on hot coals without
feeling pain. Saghyang (Trance) Dance - Traditional performed as an exorcism to promote peace
and health within the village. After the dance performances your guide will be happy to drop you
at a local restaurant of your choice, close to your hotel, or back to your hotel.
The dance is played in five acts and lasts roughly 45 minutes. Weekly (in some places daily)
performances of the Kecak abound around the island, but the most well-known Kecak theater is
in the town of Batubulan just north of the Balinese capital of Denpasar. The dance company
provides transportation for a nominal fee to and from the resort.

A Kecak dance being performed at Uluwatu, in Bali

Kecak Dance
We provide the Kecak Dance ticket with or without transport service.
No

Service Options

Price (USD)

Price per

Tickets + Return Transport ( Denpasar )

20.00 person

Ticket Only ( Denpasar )

8.00

Ticket Only ( Uluwatu )

10.00 person

Tickets + Return Transport ( Uluwatu )

36.00 person

person

Bali Kecak Dance

Location
The number of regular Kecak dance stage is not as much as Barong dance stages, yet the number
of association or villages have a group of Kecak dance are many. Some regular show of Kecak
dance can be found at Kesiman, just 1 km on the left side of Ngurah Rai street entering the street
known as Waribang. The dance is started at 6.00 pm in a well prepared stage special for the show
of Kecak dance. The entrance ticket is Rp 50.000 per person. Second regular show is at the
village meeting hall of Banjar Buni Sari Kuta, the border between Tuban and Central Kuta. Yet
after the writer checking with the guardian of the meeting hall it seems that the dance is not
regularly continuous anymore, there are some intermittent day. The third stage is at Bona village,
Kecamatan Sukawati, Gianyar. Bona is the small town known for it's bamboo furniture.

Sanghyang Jaran fire dancers