Bali Kecak dance which is often called "The Monkey Dance" for the tourists in the form of dance drama is relatively new but has become a very popular show / famous and has become a must watch show for both domestic and overseas tourists.
Kecak dance scenes have been promoted in several poscard, tourist guide and others.
Kecak is the name is a name that is directly taken after the vote "smack, smack" in saying that constantly throughout the show. There are some who explain that the word or sound "cak" actually has a meaning that is very important and significant in the show.
Development of Bali Kecak Dance
Kecak Dance in Bali has continued to experience the changes and developments since the 1970s. Developments can be seen is in terms of story and staging. In terms of story for the gig is not only based at one part of the Ramayana, but also other parts of the story from the Ramayana.
Then in terms of staging are also beginning to experience the development of not only found in one place like the village of Bona, Gianyar but also other villages in Bali started to develop dance across Bali kecak thus there are tens kecak group whose members are usually the members of the group. Activities Kecak dance events such as festivals are often held in Bali either by government or by the school of art in Bali. And the majority of dancers who have performed in dance kecak recorded in 1979 which involved 500 men dancers. At that time kecak performed by taking the story from the Mahabharata. But this record is broken by the Government which organizes kecak Tabanan colossal with 5000 dancers on September 29, 2006, at Tanah Lot, Tabanan, Bali.
Origin kecak dance
Bali Kecak Dance is the creation of a famous dancer in Bali, I Wayan Limbak, and a German painter, Walter Spies, the 1930s. Initially, the two artists were fascinated by the ritual dance that the dancers danced Sanghyang in spirit conceded conditions (trance). Sanghyang ritual itself is a Balinese ritual originating from the pre-Hindu traditions in order to resist the plague. This ritual was later adopted by I Wayan Limbak and Walter Spies became a performing arts to the public for display in various countries in Europe under the Kecak Dance.
Bali Kecak Dance is played by a number of dancers (mostly men), between 50 to 150 people, with a duration between 45-60 minutes. This dance the dancers compose vocal instrument (a Cappella) with a resounding "cak, cak, cak ..." as he raised both arms to accompany the epic story Ramayana, which became the main story in this dance. Therefore the spoken chorus dancers are considered similar to a monkey sound, then the foreign tourists often call this dance as "Monkey Dance".
Fragment of the Ramayana epic, the source of the story is the story of the abduction of Sinta Dewi (Rama's wife) by King Ravana from the land of Lanka. In this dance described how Rama fought to free her lover, Dewi Sinta, who was kidnapped and taken blurred by Ravana. This story is getting exciting because of the struggle of the Rama assisted by Hanuman (the White Apes) and Sugriva. In addition to enacting the epic story Ramayana, the Kecak Dance Dance Sanghyang also display Dedari and Sanghyang Jaran as closing the show.
Feature
Unlike other types of performing arts in Bali, Kecak Dance is unique because it does not rely on musical instrument to accompany the dance, but a chorus of dancers. The rhythm of sound "cak, cak, cak ..." arranged in such a manner, resulting in a very harmonious chorus, interspersed with a few accents and other utterances. The dancers who rang the sound "cak, cak, cak ..." are usually bare-chested and wearing only a plaid cloth, such as chess boards around their waists. While the figures of Rama, Sinta, Ravana, Hanuman, as well as general wear Sugriwa on ketoprak play.
In this dance, the rhythm of the sounds uttered by the dancers enough for spectators to bring a mystical aura. Especially after the Ramayana story in this dance is complete staged, joined by dance performances and Sanghyang Dedari Jaran conceded believed that the spirits of the dancers, so numb when dancing on the fire.
The dance is a dance Sanghyang Dedari to expel evil spirits, which was staged by two girls who were virgins. While Sanghyang Jaran is a dance performed by men who possessed pranced like a horse's behavior and dancing on the fire. Because the hallmark of this Jaran Sanghyang Dance, Bali Kecak Dance is also known as the Kecak and Fire Dance (Kecak and Fire Dance). This final performance bonuses that could invite a kind of click amazed the audience. After the show, spectators are also welcome to take pictures with the dancers.
