Bali Kecak Dance

Kecak dance is a dance art originating from Bali. The art of this Kecak dance is performed by dozens of male dancers sitting in a line in a circular pattern and with a certain rhythm calling "cak, cak, cak" and raising both arms.

In the book by Resi Septiana Dewi, entitled "The Diversity of Nusantara Dance", in dancing the Kecak dance the dancers sit in a circle and wear Balinese cloth with a checkered pattern like a chessboard that is placed on the waist. Some dancers also play characters such as Rama, Shinta, Ravana to Hanoman.

In the 1930s, Balinese artist Wayan Limbak and German painter Walter Spies created the Kecak dance. This dance is inspired by the traditional rituals performed by the Balinese people which were later adapted in the Ramayana story in Hindu belief to be displayed as an art show when tourists come to Bali.

The Kecak dance is usually performed by tens of shirtless men wearing plaid cloth from the waist to above the knees.
Generally, the Kecak dance is played by 50 male dancers. All of the dancers will make a "cak" sound to form a cappella music. One person will act as a leader who provides the initial tone, another person acts as a suppressor who is in charge of providing high or low tone pressure and another person acts as a puppeteer who delivers the storyline.

The movements of the kecak dancers do not have to follow the dance standards accompanied by gamelan. So that in this Kecak dance, the dancer's body movements are more relaxed and what is prioritized is the storyline and the mix of sounds.

The Kecak dance is also known as the Sanghyang ritual. In this dance, there are several visible properties, namely embers, frangipani flowers, rattan bracelets, black and white scarves, masks and places of offerings that make the Kecak dance seem more sacred and mystical.