Page 23 - Bali through my Lens

Audience waiting for the Kecak Dance to begin. Kecak Dance also known

as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, the piece, performed by a circle of per-

formers wearing checked cloth around their waists, percussively chanting

“cak” and moving their hands and arms, depicts a battle from the Ramaya-

na. The monkey-like Vanara led by Hanuman helped Prince Rama fight the

evil King Ravana. Kecak has roots in sanghyang, a trance-inducing exor-

cism dance.