Kecak, Balinese Dramatic Dance

Kecak, a form of Balinese music drama, is one of the most famous of many Balinese Dances. It is unusual because Kecak dance is performed primarily by men and doesn’t use gamelan or other musical accompaniment like many other Balinese dances do. The rhythm of the dance is produced by chanting ‘choirs’ of men ” Cak .. Cak .. acak .. acak .. cak ” noise, by Kecak dancer itself. A troupe of over 100 bare-chested men serve as the chorus, making a wondrous cacophony of synchronized "cak .. acak .. acak" clicking sounds while swaying their bodies and waving their hands .From that chanting noise of ” Cak .. Cak .. acak .. acak .. cak ”. Then it gave the dance its name Kecak.

What makes the Kecak such a fascinating dance to watch are the troupe of men who are bare chested, and just wearing sarong around their waists. They are both the choir and the props, providing the music for the story in a series of constant vocal chants that change with the mood of the actors. They don't sit still, either, they wave their arms to simulate fire, and reposition themselves around the stage to represent wind and fire, prison cells, and unseen hand of protection from the gods. The Kecak Dance chanting is superbly synchronized with raise their hands in unison, flutter their finger and lean left and right, all with exciting coordination.

The Kecak dance is played in five acts and lasts roughly 45 minutes. It depicts a battle from Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of the monkey-like Vanara helped Prince Rama to fight and defeat the evil King of Lanka, Ravana, who has kidnapped his wife, Princess Sita.

Kecak Dance was originally part of Shanghyang Trance Dance, a trance ritual accompanied by male chorus. Then in 1930s, Modern Kecak Dance, developed in Gianyar Regency exactly in Bona Village. A Modern Kecak dance was accompanied the Hindu’s Ramayana tale.

Location of Destination
Daily or weekly performances of the Kecak abound around the island especially at Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Pecatu Village, in Badung Regency), Hanoman road (in Gianyar Regency), and in town of Batubulan (in Gianyar Regency).
But the most well-known Kecak theater is in the town of Batubulan, about 10 km north of the Balinese capital of Denpasar.

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 1 hours and 50 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta) to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali Island). Or by international direct flight to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali Island).
Then by car about 30 minutes from Denpasar City to the town of Batubulan.

Best Time to Visit
Every day visitors can attend at Kecak theater in the town of Batubulan at the time about 19.00 PM. It’s about the same time with Kecak theater at Pura Luhur Uluwatu.

Accommodation for Traveller
To attend at the show in the town of Batubulan, tourists usually stay in some hotels in Denpasar.
Aria Luxury Villas & Spa, Oranjje Denpasar, Hotel Puri Ayu Denpasar, Grand Santhi

Others
Various hotels in Bali hold Kecak dance performances. Tickets to the performance are offered at the main hotels in Bali. It’s better to ask the hotel for further information.

If interested in the short course of Kecak dance, tourists can take a course in the Bali Classic Arts Center, in the Village of Nyuh Kuning, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali. The course takes one hour more, consists of training and practice Kecak Dance with the trainers who have expertise. The participants usually consist of domestic and overseas tourists. The Participants of the course are not limited to men only but also for women.

Mount Bromo : A Peak of Spectacular Tengger Caldera

Mount Bromo is the most famous mountain on Java Island. It is an active volcano and part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Mount Bromo is only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it's easily recognizable as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. Mount Bromo is about 2,382 meters above sea level. It is a vast mountain. An eruption of massive proportions blew off its top leaving a huge caldera in which two peaks are located. One is the active volcano of Mount Bromo and the other is the non-active of Mount Batok. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.

As time goes by the caldera has been filled with grey sand and this expanse is known as the Sand Sea. It is about 10 km. Across the Sand Sea is Mount Batok with its almost perfect cone. To the south, Mount Semeru, the highest mountain in Java provides a fining backdrop for this unearthly scene. While crossing the Sand Sea, low-lying fog which often envelop the caldera's floor, adds to the mystery of the surroundings. As the temperature drops several degrees, the combination of cold air and the strange echoing of horse's hoofs create a fantastic sensation of walking across a huge frozen lake. Temperatures at the top of Mount Bromo range about 5 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Something make the area unique is that it is a volcano inside a volcano. The base of the mountain actually rises from an old volcanic crater of the bigger Mount Tengger. Another unique feature about Mount Bromo is a reminiscent of a moonscape rather than anything related to the earth offers such breathtaking experiences, like observing sunrises and gazing into the volcano's crater. Even the journey to the crater is an exciting experience in itself. Before arriving at the Mount Bromo visitor needs to get across the Sea of Sands (Lautan Pasir), another unique landmark of the national park. Mount Bromo is also well known for spectacular sunrises.

Mount Bromo was traditionally visited by the Buddhist Tenggerese to celebrate ceremony of Kasodo. The offering ceremony of Kasodo is held each year by Tenggerese on the 14th day of full moon Kasodo (Tenggerese Calendar). Inhabitants of Tengger Mountain gather at the rim of Mount Bromo's active crater to present annual offerings of rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers, livestock, and other local products to the God of the mountain. As adherents of religion combining elements of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism, they ask for blessing from the supreme God Hyang Widi Wasa. According to legend, this practice started as the King Joko Seger and Queen Roro Anteng prayed for children, and in return, promised to sacrifice the last child. The Queen had 25 children, but refused at first to sacrifice the last child. When threatened by the gods with fire and brimstone, the queen finally did perform the sacrifice. As the child was being thrown into the crater, the voice of the child was heard ordering an annual ceremony to be performed at the volcano.

A Hindu temple is situated at the foot of the mountain, from which 250 steps lead to the edge of the crater.

Location of Destination
Mount Bromo is situated within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, about 145 km south of Surabaya, capital of East Java Province, Republic of Indonesia

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 70 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to Juanda Airport (Surabaya).
Then by bus or train for 2 -3 hours from Surabaya to Probolinggo.
Then by minibus about 1 hour from Probolinggo to Ngadisari.
Then it will take about 2 hours on foot, or about an hour and a half on horse back, from Ngadisari to Cemorolawang and Mount Bromo.

Best Time to Visit
May to October, on dry seasons

Accommodation for Traveller
Bromo Cottages, Java Banana Bromo, Lava View Lodge, Cemoro Indah

Barong and Rangda Dance of Bali Culture

Barong dance is probably the most well known dance on Bali. It is another story telling dance, narrating a classic tale of the fight between good and evil spirits. Barong represents the good spirit and Rangda represents the evil spirit. Barong dance represent the omission of culture of Pre Hindu using extant doll of ancient human being or quadruped having the power of magical.

Barong, a mystical creature with a long way back and curved tail, represents the protector of mankind, and the favorable spirits associated with the right and white magic. The widow witch Rangda, the Barong’s antagonist, rules the evil spirits and witches who haunt the graveyards late at night. Her habitat is darkness and her specialties lie with the practice of black magic, the destructive force of the left. Both figures are of the same earthly substance, possessing strong magical prowess. In a mythical past, the Barong was won over to the side of humanity, and, in the play, fights on behalf of the people against the intruding evil force of Rangda.

The Barong dance describe that Rangda, the mother of the King in the tenth century, Erlangga, was condemned by her husband because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers. The fight ensued. At one point in the fight, Erlangga’s soldiers rush to the Barong's assistance by violently attacking Rangda. Rangda casted a spell that reverses their fury back into themselves, and they begin to plunge the blades of their keris inward against their own bodies. It made all Erlangga’s soldiers wanted to kill themselves and pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.

In this phenomenal self-stab, no matter how forcefully they plunge the daggers against their chests, the tips of the blades do not puncture the skin. At the end of the play, the keris dancers, that represents the Erlangga’s soldiers, are revived by the ‘Pemangku’, who sprinkles them with holy water which has been dipped in the beard of the Barong.

The most holy mask and the one often used in the play is that of the Barong Keket, "The Sovereign Lord of the Forest", a beast representing no known animal. In the extreme coordination of the lively Barong, one forgets the fantastic creature isn't acting on its own accord, as it mischievously side steps and whirls around, snapping its jaws at the gamelan, and swishing flies with its tail. After the Barong's dance, everyone falls silent. The Barong Keket dance accompanied by gamelan called Semar Pagulingan

The masks of Barong and Rangda are made of a wood which is taken away from a ghostlike place like grave. That's why Barong and Rangda represent the very sanctified sacred thing by Hindu's society in Bali. Before they are brought out, a priest must be present to offer blessings by sprinkling them with holy water taken from Mount Agung.

Location of Destination
The show of Barong dance can be found especially at Pura Dalem Ubud Temple in Gianyar regency. It also can be found in Batubulan village about 10 km north Denpasar, capital of Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia.

Route to Get Destination
By plane to Sukarno-Hata Airport (Jakarta). Then by domestic flight about 1 hours and 50 minutes from Sukarno-Hatta Airport (Jakarta) to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali Island). Or by international direct flight to I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport (Bali Island).
Then by car about 20 minutes from Denpasar to Batubulan village.

Best Time to Visit
May to October, on the dry seasons.
The show usually begins at the time 19.30 PM.

Accommodation for Traveller
To attend at the show of Barong dance in Batubulan village, tourists usually stay in some hotels in Denpasar.
Aria Luxury Villas & Spa, Oranjje Denpasar, Hotel Puri Ayu Denpasar, Grand Santhi

Others
It’s available brochures about the Barong dance show printed in English, French, Italian, Indonesian, Japan, and Mandarin on the location.