Kecak Dance - History, Meaning of Movements, Floor Patterns, and Its Uniqueness

The culture of the archipelago is indeed very diverse, and its diversity has become well-known internationally. One of the most valuable cultural heritages of the Motherland is the Kecak Dance. 

This culture, originating from Bali, is beyond doubt. Thanks to its uniqueness, many foreigners are interested in learning it. 

History of Kecak Dance

According to the story, this traditional dance was created by a Balinese artist named Wayan Limbak in the 1930s. He introduced this dance not alone, but with the help of a famous painter from Germany named Walter Spies. 

This unique dance was created because Walter Spies was very interested in traditional rituals while living in Bali.

It is derived from the Sanghyang tradition and several parts of the Ramayana story. Meanwhile, the origin of the name of this dance comes from the shout of the dancers who yell "cak cak cak" while dancing. 

As mentioned, the Kecak Dance comes from the province of Bali, whose name is influenced by the sound of the jingling ornaments worn by the dancers on their ankles.

The music accompanying this dance comes from the sound of those jingles. That distinctive sound is what makes it particularly appealing. 

Wayan and Walter discussed creating a dance that was as interesting and beautiful as possible, then popularized it to the international stage. It is not uncommon for the local community to perform the Kecak Dance when welcoming distinguished guests.

Initially, this dance was only performed in a few villages, one of which is Bona Village, Gianyar. 

Over time, its performances have developed throughout Bali and have always been a mainstay display during major events, such as festivals often held by both government and private sectors.

Meaning and Philosophy of Kecak Dance

This dance from Bali is not just a mere body movement, but there is a story behind it that is quite meaningful. When the dancers portraying Rama and Shinta enter the stage, the story begins. 

It is then followed by Shinta being kidnapped by Rahwana. Eventually, Rahwana fights with Jatayu and Hanoman saves Shinta. In the process of rescue, Hanoman destroys Shinta's captivity by burning it down. 

However, Hanoman is surrounded by Rahwana's soldiers and almost gets burned. Initially, Rama does experience defeat. However, this does not diminish his determination to save his queen, Shinta.

King Rama prays earnestly and tries again to bring back his queen. Finally, Rama succeeds in rescuing Shinta safely. 

From this story, there is a profound meaning in the Kecak Dance. It reflects a belief in the power of God, which is mirrored in Rama's actions when he asks for help from the Deity.

This kind of thing teaches that this dance is believed to be a ritual to summon the goddess who can ward off all dangers, whether they are diseases or disasters that befall the people. 

Meanwhile, its moral message reflects Rama's behavior towards his beloved queen, Shinta. And the Garuda bird that is willing to sacrifice its wings for Shinta.

Although the Kecak Dance is not accompanied by music or gamelan, its movements still appear very compact and energetic. Where every movement performed by the dancers is very harmonious and has high artistic value. 

This dance is not only intended for Hindu followers, as non-Hindus can also enjoy it well.

Read also: 4 Characteristics of Balinese Dance That Must Be Known

Purpose of Kecak Dance

As explained earlier, this dance originates from the Sanghyang tradition. So what is the Sanghyang tradition? This tradition is known as a religious ceremony often performed by the Hindu community in Bali to worship Hyang Widhi, conducted at the temple. 

This tradition is used as a means of warding off calamities or to drive away diseases that may attack. This dance is not only used as a ceremonial medium but also serves as a hallmark of Bali. 

Moreover, the Kecak Dance from Bali has attracted the attention of many people, including foreigners. So it is not surprising that this dance is often performed as a characteristic art of Bali that can be enjoyed by the general public. 

This dance also serves as entertainment for local residents and domestic or foreign tourists when visiting Bali. Not only that, as this dance is a heritage, its movements represent the preservation of culture.

Uniqueness of Kecak Dance

This dance is actually performed by dozens of male dancers who do not wear shirts, or are bare-chested and only wear checkered cloth like a chessboard wrapped around their waists down to their knees. 

The dancers participating in this dance portray characters from the Ramayana, namely Rama, Shinta, Rahwana, Hanoman, and others.

The movements of the Kecak Dance are divided into four scenes. The first is the movement that tells when Shinta is kidnapped by Rahwana without Rama's knowledge because he is hunting in the forest. 

Next, the second scene tells about the Garuda bird trying to help Shinta but fails because its wings are shot by Rahwana.

The third scene of the Kecak Dance tells the story of Rama and Lakshmana who get lost in the forest and ask Hanoman for help to save Shinta from Rahwana. 

Then the last scene is when Hanoman burns the Alengka Pura kingdom and informs Shinta to remain calm and wait for help from Rama.

When all these scenes are combined, they create a very interesting storyline of the Ramayana. The next uniqueness of the Kecak Dance lies in its accompaniment. 

Which is not accompanied by any musical accompaniment. During the dance, each movement is accompanied by the shouts of "cak-cak-cak" from the dancers in unison and compactly.

Usually, the Kecak Dance is performed in groups, consisting of about 50 to 70 people. So it is not surprising that the sound produced is very loud and resounding. In addition, the ornaments used by the dancers on their feet also produce quite a unique sound. 

It is the sound of the jingling that makes this dance seem to be accompanied by music naturally.

Moreover, the floor pattern of the Kecak Dance is quite simple, which is a curved line forming a circle. The dancers will sit in a circle, surrounding a bonfire in the middle. 

This floor pattern has a unique meaning behind it, which reflects the unity, togetherness, and harmony of the local community. And it contains religious rituals.

During the performance, there is someone who has the task of being a leader. The leader here has the task of giving the initial tone. 

Then, there is also someone who is responsible for emphasizing low and high tones. Finally, there is a person who acts as a puppeteer to guide the storyline during the Kecak Dance performance.

It is indeed common knowledge that this traditional dance from Bali has gained worldwide recognition due to its uniqueness. 

Not only performed on the island, but this dance has also occasionally been performed abroad. Even more impressively, this dance once broke the MURI record, which was performed by hundreds of people.

Read also: The Meaning Behind Pendet Dance, A Traditional Balinese Culture That Has Gone Global