Kecak Dance

The Kecak dance is one of the most famous of Balinese dances. 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 "Cak-cak-cak", then it gave the dance its name Kecak.

What makes the Kecak such a fascinating dance to watch are the fifty or so men in the checkered pants. They are both the choir and the props, providing the music for the story in a series of constant vocal chants that change with the mood of the actors. They don't sit still, either, they wave their arms to simulate fire, and reposition themselves around the stage to represent wind and fire, prison cells, and unseen hand of protection from the gods.

The dance is played in five acts and lasts roughly 45 minutes. It taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka, Rahwana and somehow with the help of the white monkey army, Rama rescues his wife and defeats the evil Rahwana.

Attending a Kecak recital is a must for any visitor to Bali. It is a wondrous experience, and a window into the musical and artistic culture that make the Balinese a special people.
www.my-indonesia.info

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The Barong Dance

The fabled Barong is a mythical figure who protects the Balinesse from evil spirits.

This is a story telling dance, relating a classic tale of the fight between good and evil represented by Barong and Rangda. Barong represents the good spirit and Rangda is the evil one.

The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the king of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. Resentment causes the mad widow to summon all the evil spirit, demon, and to come after Erlangga. Erlangga asks for help from Barong, a creature with a curved tail (representing the affirmative), the protector of mankind, and the spirit associated with white magic. When Barong intervenes, Rangda casts a spell that make Erlangga's soldiers try to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned "Keris" into their own chests and stomachs. Barong also casts a spell - turning the soldier's bodies resistant to the sharp Keris.

In the end, neither side wins. They fight to a draw, because there is no good without evil. Both are needed in the Balinese Universe for balance.

The masks of Barong and Rangda are considered sacred items, and before they are brought out, a priest must be present to offer blessings by sprinkling them with holy water taken from Mount Agung, and offerings must be presented.
barong is problably the most well known dance. It is also another story telling dance, narating the fight between good and evil. This dance is the classic example of Balinese way of acting out mythology, resulting in myth and history being blended into one reality

In the end neither side wins. They fight to a draw, because there is no good without evil. Both are needed in the Balinese Universe, for balance.

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