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''Kecak'' (pronounced ("kechak"), alternate spellings: ''kechak'' and ''ketjak''), known in Indonesian as ''tari kecakilolahhe'', is a form of Balinese Hindu dance and music drama that was developed in the 1930s in Bali,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Gui ...
. Since its creation, it has been performed primarily by men, with the first women's ''kecak'' group having started in 2006. The dance is based on the story of the ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages ...
'' and is traditionally performed in temples and villages across Bali. Also known as the Ramayana monkey chant, the dance is performed by a circle of as many as 150 performers wearing checked cloths around their waists, percussively chanting "''chak''" and moving their hands and arms. The performance depicts a battle from the ''Ramayana'', in which the
monkey Monkey is a common name that may refer to most mammals of the infraorder Simiiformes, also known as the simians. Traditionally, all animals in the group now known as simians are counted as monkeys except the apes, which constitutes an incomple ...
-like Vanaras, led by
Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
, help Prince
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...
fight the evil King
Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic '' Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ...
. ''Kecak'' has roots in ''
sanghyang ( ban, ᬲᬂᬳ᭄ᬬᬂ​) is a traditional sacred Balinese dance originated from the Indonesian island of Bali, it is based on the premise that an unseen force enters the body of an entranced performer. The force, identified as ''hyang'' ...
,'' a trance-inducing exorcism dance.


History

''Kecak'' was originally a
trance Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
ritual accompanied by a male chorus. In the 1930s,
Walter Spies Walter Spies (15 September 1895 – 19 January 1942) was a Russian-born Germany, German primitivist Painting, painter, composer, musicologist, and curator. In 1923 he moved to Java, Indonesia. He lived in Yogyakarta (city), Yogyakarta and then ...
, a
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
painter and musician, became deeply interested in the ritual while living in Bali. He adapted it as a drama based on the Hindu ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages ...
'' and including dance, intended for performance before Western tourist audiences. Walter Spies worked with Indonesian dancer Wayan Limbak, who popularized the dance by arranging internationally touring performances by Balinese groups. These tours helped make the ''kecak'' internationally known. This is an example of what James Clifford 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". I Wayan Dibia, a performer, choreographer and scholar, suggests, by contrast, that the Balinese were already developing this form when Spies arrived on the island.David W. Hughes, "Review: ''Kecak: The Vocal Chant of Bali,'' by I Wayan Dibia", ''British Journal of Ethnomusicology,'' Vol. 6, (1997), pp. 195–195. British Forum for Ethnomusicology. For example, during the 1920s, Limbak had incorporated '' baris'' movements into the ''cak'' leader role. "Spies liked this innovation," and he suggested that Limbak "devise a spectacle based on the ''Ramayana''," accompanied by ''cak'' chorus rather than gamelan, as would have been usual.


Performance

The ''kecak'' dance is typically performed by about fifty to one hundred men wearing only loincloths; their upper bodies are left bare. They form concentric circles, in the middle of which is a traditional Balinese coconut oil lamp. First they move their bodies rhythmically to the left and to the right, chanting the words "''chak ke-chak ke-chak ke-chak''" continuously in coordinated harmony and beat, in slow rhythm. Gradually the rhythm speeds up and by turns they lift their hands, trembling, into the air. The ''kecak'' sound can be classified as a "musical" performance with the use of the human voice purely with no musical instruments. The dance is performed for dance-dramas and the story presented is taken from the ''
Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages ...
'' Hindu epic. The bare-chested male ''kecak'' chanters play the role of
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...
's troops of Vanaras (apes) and
Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic '' Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ...
's troops of
Rakshasa Rakshasas ( sa, राक्षस, IAST: : Pali: ''rakkhaso'') lit. 'preservers' are a race of usually malevolent demigods prominently featured in Hindu mythology. According to the Brahmanda Purana, the rakshasas were created by Brahma when ...
s (Demons). The duration of the performance is around an hour. The story of the ''Ramayana'' is depicted, beginning with
Sita Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
and
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...
's exile in the jungle of
Dandaka Dandakaranya is a historical region in India, mentioned in the Ramayana. It is identified with a territory roughly equivalent to the Bastar division in the Chhattisgarh state in the central-east part of India. It covers about of land, which inc ...
. The performance reenacts the appearance of the Golden Deer, the abduction of Sita by
Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic '' Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ...
, the battle between Ravana and Jatayu, the search for Sita by
Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
, and ends with the battle between Rama and Ravana. The ''kecak'' chanters chant and sing in accordance with the mood and milieu of the story. ''Kecak'' dance performances in Bali usually take place daily in the evening (6 pm, Bali time) at Balinese Hindu temples such as
Uluwatu Temple Uluwatu Temple ( ban, Pura (Luhur) Uluwatu) is a Balinese Hindu sea temple (''Pura Segara'') located in Uluwatu (South Kuta, Badung). The temple is regarded as one of the '' sad kahyangan'' and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in his manif ...
and Tanah Lot. There are also dance stages used exclusively for ''kecak'' performances in
Ubud Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali in Ubud District, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. Promoted as an arts and culture centre, it has developed a large tourism industry ...
, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Batu Bulan, Pandawa beach and other places in Bali. ''Kecak'' performances also take place on other occasions, such as for cultural and entertainment displays. Dancers usually come from local villagers of the surrounding area of the performance; they usually have a main job other than dancing which they finish before performing the ''kecak'' dance. The dancers' income from the dance usually comes from tickets sold to the spectators. The most popular destination for ''kechak'' dance performances is
Uluwatu Temple Uluwatu Temple ( ban, Pura (Luhur) Uluwatu) is a Balinese Hindu sea temple (''Pura Segara'') located in Uluwatu (South Kuta, Badung). The temple is regarded as one of the '' sad kahyangan'' and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in his manif ...
.


Dancers

The dancers consist of two types: the ''kecak'' male-chanters and the main ''Ramayana'' dancers who play the roles of Sita, Rama,
Lakshmana Lakshmana ( sa, लक्ष्मण, lit=the fortunate one, translit=Lakṣmaṇa), also spelled as Laxmana, is the younger brother of Rama and his loyalist in the Hindu epic '' Ramayana''. He bears the epithets of Saumitra () and Ramanuja ( ...
, Ravana, Hanuman, Jatayu, etc. Some of the ''kecak'' male-chanters who chant ''chak-chak-chak'' have their own tasks during the performance. One individual is responsible for maintaining the beat of the chant by chanting "''po-po-po-po''". Another man serves as the leader of the chorus, instructing them to stop or start the chanting by yelling command vocals such as "''Diih!''", "''Chiaaat!''", etc. There is also a man whose job is to sing during the chanting; he sings in a melodious or rhythmic tone according to the situation of the dance with vocalizations such as "''Shiiir-yang-ngger-yang-nggur-yang-nggeer''". Another man, known as the ''dalang'', narrates the story during the dance, usually in Balinese and
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural diffusion ...
. The men chosen for these tasks are usually the senior male dancers. The remaining chanters chant "''chak-chak-chak''" continuously and simultaneously with harmony. The dancers who represent the core ''Ramayana'' characters are considered an essential part of the dance. Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and the Golden Deer, whose movements are gentle and smooth, are sometimes played by female dancers who are trained in such styles of movement. Men play muscular characters such as Ravan,
Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
, Sugriv, etc.


Trance

Trance rituals often accompany certain sections of the ''kecak'' dance, such as during the portrayal of the burning of Hanuman. Here, the dancer playing Hanuman is blessed by a priest and enters a
trance Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
state for the fire kicking dance which follows. The dancer does not feel any pain from the fire because he is in a state of trance.


In popular culture

Excerpts of ''kecak'' can be heard on the soundtracks of the following movies: * '' Edipo Re'' by
Pier Paolo Pasolini Pier Paolo Pasolini (; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian poet, filmmaker, writer and intellectual who also distinguished himself as a journalist, novelist, translator, playwright, visual artist and actor. He is considered one of ...
(1967) * '' Fellini Satyricon'' (1969) * '' Incontro d'amore'' (1970) * The 1971 version of Kenneth Anger's '' Rabbit's Moon'' * '' I Never Promised You a Rose Garden'' (1977) * The 1982 Japanese Metal Hero Series '' Space Sheriff Gavan'' episode 6: "The Geniuses of the Makuu School" * The soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' 1984 debut film '' Blood Simple'' includes a track entitled "Monkey Chant" which is based on ''kecak''. * '' Dagger of Kamui'' (''Kamui no Ken'') (1985) * '' Akira'' (1988), which also features the Indonesian gamelan. * In the 2010 documentary SAS: The Search for Warriors Part 1, a recording of the ''kecak'' was used to wake up the recruits. Scenes including ''kecak'' dance may be glimpsed in: * David Attenborough's 1969 BBC documentary '' The Miracle of Bali,'' (episodes 1 and 3) * The Italian movie '' Incontro d'amore'' (1970) * The Indonesian movie ''Mama'' (1972) * An extended ''kecak'' chant scene is featured at the end of '' Emmanuelle 2'' (1975). * The Indonesian movie ''Noesa Penida'' (1988) * Ron Fricke's film ''
Baraka Baraka or Barakah may refer to: * Berakhah or Baraka, in Judaism, a blessing usually recited during a ceremony * Barakah or Baraka, in Islam, the beneficent force from God that flows through the physical and spiritual spheres * Baraka, full ''ḥa ...
'' (1992) * Tarsem Singh's film '' The Fall'' (2006) * The Indonesian television station
Bali TV Bali TV is a privately owned Indonesian television station belongs to Bali Post Media Group covering the island of Bali. The station became well known for regularly broadcasting in the Balinese language. Some examples include the broadcast of ...
uses audio of ''kecak'' chanting with the visuals of Rangda and Topeng Tua mask dances in their program's opening theme sequence since 2011. ''Kecak'' is featured in several video games: * Sounds of gamelan and ''kecak'' chants were incorporated into the soundtrack of the 1993 video game ''Secret of Mana'' / ''Seiken Densetsu II'', in a track titled "The Oracle". * A sample of ''kecak'' chanting mixed with Balinese gamelan can be heard in the SNK Neo Geo arcade video game ''
The King of Fighters '97 ''(KOF '97)'' is a fighting game produced by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home console in 1997. It is the fourth game in ''The King of Fighters'' series. It was ported to the Neo-Geo CD, as well as the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn in Japan ...
'', when the gameplay shows a Bali arena scene. The arena also includes background animation of ''kecak'' chanters on the right side, Barong dance in the center, and gamelan performers with a crowded audience on the left side. * A visual representation of the dance can be seen in the Ritual Passion level of '' Tetris Effect'', beating in time to the player's actions. * In Dota 2, ''kecak'' sounds make up sound effect for ultimate ability of Monkey King. ...and in popular music: * 1974: A sample of ''kecak'' chanting is featured in the song "Money Chant" by Jade Warrior on their album '' Floating World''. * 1978: A sample of ''kecak'' chanting can be heard in the song " Jocko Homo" by Devo from the album '' Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!'' * 1981: The Tokyo electronic trio
Yellow Magic Orchestra Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO for short) is a Japanese electronic music band formed in Tokyo in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono (bass, keyboards, vocals), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums, lead vocals) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards, vocals). The group is cons ...
incorporated samples of ''kecak'' chanting on the song "Neue Tanz" from their album ''
Technodelic ''Technodelic'' is the fifth studio album by Yellow Magic Orchestra, released in 1981. The album is notable for its experimental approach and heavy use of digital samplers which were not commonly used until the mid-to-late 1980s, resulting in a m ...
''. This was achieved through the use of the custom-made
Toshiba , commonly known as Toshiba and stylized as TOSHIBA, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure systems, ...
LMD-649, one of the first digital samplers. * 1982: A sample of ''kecak'' chanting can be heard in the Nurse With Wound track "I Cannot Feel You as the Dogs Are Laughing and I Am Blind" from the album '' Homotopy to Marie.'' * 1983: A sample of ''kecak'' chanting can be heard in the song "Soldier of Fortune" from Manhattan Transfer's album ''
Bodies and Souls ''Bodies and Souls'' was released in September 1983 by The Manhattan Transfer on the Atlantic Records label. This album took the Manhattan Transfer in a different direction from their previous releases, offering a new, revised style of their mus ...
.'' * 1985: Todd Rundgren used an E-mu Emulator to sample his voice into a ''kecak'' chant on the song "Blue Orpheus" from his album ''
A Cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...
''. * 1987: A sample of ''kecak'' chanting is in "The Wind Chimes", from Mike Oldfield's album '' Islands''. * 1987: The Indonesian song "Kembalikan Baliku", written by
Guruh Sukarnoputra Muhammad Guruh Irianto Sukarnoputra (born 13 January 1953) is a member of Indonesia's People's Representative Council and an artist. He is the youngest son of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno with his third wife, Fatmawati, and the brother t ...
and performed by
Yopie Latul Yopie Latul (7 September 1953 – 9 September 2020) was an Indonesian singer. Career Yopie was born in Ambon. He started his singing career in 1982, becoming known to the public after releasing his single titled "Ayun Langkahmu" by Elfa Seci ...
for the World Popular Song Festival 1987 in Tokyo, Japan, incorporates ''kecak'' chanting in the interlude performed by backing vocals. The song received the Kawakami Audience Selection Award (ASA). * 1991: The San Francisco art rock band Oxbow's songs "Daughter" and "Daughter Bent & Floating" from their album '' King of the Jews'' incorporates ''kecak''-inspired polyrhythmic chanting and clapping. * 1992: A sample is prominently featured on "Magical Wave" from Kitarō's album Dream. * 1995: The German electronic band RMB used ''kecak'' chanting in their song "Chakka Chakka" on the album ''This World Is Yours''. * 1999: Mike Patton performs a ''kecak''-like chant in the song "Goodbye Sober Day" on the
Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle is an American experimental rock band formed in Eureka, California in 1985. Having gone through many incarnations throughout their career, the band is best known for music created during their most experimental era. During this time, ...
album ''
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
''. The sound of ''kecak'' has inspired other artists: *John Adams' opera, ''A Flowering Tree'' (2006), features Kumudha and the beggar minstrels in Act II, which are based on the ''kecak''. *''Ketjak'' is a book-length poem by Ron Silliman published in 1978 and reprinted in ''The Age of Huts'' (2007), in which the author gives the title "Ketjak" to a vast ongoing cycle of works which includes ''Tjanting'' (1980) and ''The Alphabet'' (2008). *Devaraalan aattam, a song composed by
A. R. Rahman Allah Rakha Rahman (; born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in Indian cinema; predominantly in Tamil and Hindi films, with occasional forays in int ...
for Ponniyin Selvan 1, a 2022
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, na ...
film directed by
Mani Ratnam Gopala Ratnam Subramaniam (born 2 June 1956), known professionally as Mani Ratnam, is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who predominantly works in Tamil cinema and few Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. Ratnam has won six ...
.


See also

* Pendet * Legong *
Balinese dance Balinese dance ( id, Tarian Bali; ban, ᬇᬕᬾᬮᬦ᭄​ᬩᬮᬶ) is an ancient dance tradition that is part of the religious and artistic expression among the Balinese people of Bali island, Indonesia. Balinese dance is dynamic, angu ...
* Dance of Indonesia


Bibliography

*''Kecak from Bali''. Produced by David Lewiston, 1990. One compact disc (duration 44:53) with notes and libretto by Fred B. Eiseman and David Lewiston.Review: ntitled Author(s): David Harnish. Reviewed work(s): Kecak from Bali by David Lewiston.''Ethnomusicology,'' Vol. 35, No. 2, (Spring – Summer, 1991), pp. 302–304. Published by: University of Illinois Press on behalf of Society for Ethnomusicology *I Wayan Dibia, ''Kecak: the vocal chant of Bali''. Denpasar: Hartanto Art Books, 1996. vi + 83pp. .


Sources


External links


Kecak dance in David Attenborough's 1969 BBC documentary, ''The Miracle of Bali''Kecak dance being performed in Uluwatu templeKecak dance


Cornell University

photo gallery
WalterSpies.com
– Describes Walter Spies' house in Bali and his Pita Maha artists' cooperative

{{Indonesian drama and theatre Indonesian culture Balinese culture Dances of Bali Theatre in Indonesia Traditional drama and theatre of Indonesia Music of Bali Works based on the Ramayana Hindu traditions Hindu art Bali Tourist attractions in Bali