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Kecak

What is Kecak?

Kecak is a Balinese dance and music drama that was developed in the 1930s in Bali, Indonesia. Since its creation, it has been performed primarily by men, with the very first women's kecak group starting in 2006.

Also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of at least 150 performers wearing checked cloth around their waists, chanting "cak" and moving their hands and arms, depicts a battle from the Ramayana.

What is the Ramayana?

The Kecak dance takes a small section of the well known Hindu Epic story “Ramayana”, which is played throughout all Indonesian in many forms. Such as Wayang Kulit (Shadow Puppet), dance, painting, carving, film etc.

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A snap shot of the story

Prince Rama, heir to the throne of the kingdom of Ayodya, and his wife Sita have been banished from the kingdom of Ayodya by King Dasarata as a result of trickery by Rama’s stepmother.

An evil king spies Sita, falls in love with her, and sends a golden deer to lure Rama away. Sita is captured, and Rama rounds up his armies to defeat those of the evil king and rescue her.

Rama

Sita

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