Picture this: a bunch of Balinese men dancing around a ceremonial fire, wearing checkered cloths in monotone around their waist, chanting “cak” and dancing to the music produced by unanimous voices chanting along with them.
The popular Kecak dance, alternately spelled as Ketjak or Ketjack, is a ritual dance form created and popularized in the 1930s on the picturesque Bali Island. Although lore attributes the dance form to a German, the action, depicting a battle scene for the epic Ramayana, might suggest otherwise.
The drama unfolds on a circular ground, in a separate area intended especially for Kecak fire dance within Pura Tanah Lot, wherein the group of dancers give their performance. It starts post sunset (typically 6:30 PM) and comes across as a dramatic depiction as if you are watching a television series.
A hypnotic atmosphere almost always blankets onlookers, while the performers spark the dance with their energy and skill. A cappella chorus of dozens of men in their chequered sarongs stands in concentric circles, chanting cak-cak-cak in high and low tones (representing monkey troops).
Dozens of men sit in concentric circles
Traditional Kecak Dance
Prince Rama and his wife Sita get banished from their kingdom following which they start living in the forest of Dandaka, along with brother Lakshamana. But soon Ravana, the king of Lanka kidnaps Sita using his wicked trick, which leads to a battle. The best moment however is when Hanuman (Rama’s envoy) comes to meet Sita but the demon catches him and orders to put his tail on fire. In turn Hanuman burns his Lanka (empire). The fireworks certainly change the mood of the atmosphere.
You can notice the sky going black with the sunset and its amazing to catch the changes in lighting while enjoying the narration. What makes the play unique is that it’s done without any background music, with just the male performers chanting in polyrhythmic choir.
We quite liked the expressions and drama with which the Balinese dancers were performing and the conviction in their storytelling made the performance par excellence. Everyone visiting Bali should book their tickets for Kecak Dance Uluwatu Temple or Pura Tanah lot for sure!
During the play – central characters enacting with gestures
Rama and Sinta performing
Sky changes million colors during the sunset
There are two venues perfect for watching the kecak dance: Pura Uluwatu and Pura Tanah Lot. We got a chance to watch the performance at any of the two the venues so we chose to see it at the Tanah Lot since it wasn’t heavily crowded on the day we visited.
There are other venues as well, where you can head for seeing the dance: Gianyar regency, GWK Cultural Park, and Batubalan. It is definitely going to become a highlight of your trip to Bali too, just like it became ours!
As the play ended, Harsh got a bit too excited and got a picture with his favorite character (Hanuman) 😉
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Thank you for sharing this experience with us. It was nice that you included the background story, instead of just showing a bunch of pictures. It gives more life and realism to the article.
This looks like an incredible festival! It’s awesome to see stories told through dance. Hope I can see it one day!
What a really unique experience to witness, it really looks so interesting and full of culture. Great history to it as well thanks for sharing
Those dancers outfits are so colorful, watching these must have been so romantic for you guys. You caught the moves well on camera!
I had no idea there’s something like this… wish I’d see it myself one day… It will never stop impress me how different but beautiful cultures are 🙂
This is such a gorgeous post. The colours, the back story, it just looks incredible. There is something so hypnotic about traditional dance in traditional dress, thank you so much for sharing.
Fascinating! I always wonder whether we can call something “traditional” when it’s only been around for less than 100 years. But I guess who’s to say what makes a tradition? I’ll be sure to check a Kecak dance out when I go to Bali.
Thank you & happy continued travels!
C
I love this dance and thoroughly enjoyed your video! it is wonderful for a cultural dance to have been going on since the 1930’s with continued performances. I would love to get to Bali someday. It is on the list and I would love to see this dance in person.
Hey there, I’ve been to the Tanah Lot temple a few months ago. It’s really beautiful, but for me it was a bit too mass-touristy! How is it for the kecak fire dance performance? Are there loads of people? Locals or tourists? Anyway, I enjoyed reading the narrative behind the ceremony 😉
I spent six months in Bali, but never actually saw the fire dance. Instead, I enjoyed some other local dance performances. I love the clothing for women and how they dance like goddesses.