In Reply to: aly- whats kecak dancing? posted by henkster on Tuesday, 24. February 2009 at 19:44 Bali Time:
Just quietly, it was invented for the tourists believe it or not.
Anyway, if my rusty crusty brain serves me, it is the story of a couple ( royal I think) who were exiled from the kingdom. They were in the forest and the BADDIE fancied the wife. ( shock horror). Someone ( this is the rusty bit) turned into a deer to lure the BADDIE away. Then the GOODIES aka monkeys, help rescue her. The white monkey is the boss I think. As in all good stories, good reins over evil.
Anyway, there is no music. The priest comes out and starts a fire in the middle and makes a blessing.
Then, 70 blokes wander out and form a circle around the fire, about 3 or 4 deep and thru the whole thing, they chant. I mean, this about a 2 hour thing. They never stop. It really is mesmerising. Its also my ringtone on the mobile. (Sick I know) The scenes are played out inside the circle of guys chanting and around the fire.
As I understand it, its quite a big deal for a chap to be in the chanting. When we were in Matahari years back, the check out boy was practising the chant as he was working!
The dancers and costumes are amazing. Garuda is there also. Near or at the end, someone ( rusty bit again)dances in the fire and kicks it around.
We choose to watch this at Ulawatu because it has ALL the men, not a tape player, everyone can see because you sit in a semi circle on like a grandstand thing. This all takes place in the forest with the sun setting over Java off to the side. Then the fire takes a whole new look in the total darkness. Sublime really.
The best 50 000 we ever spent.
P.S. Go to the toilet before you go.