Maybe you have often watched the action of the Kecak Dance while on holiday to Bali. However, do you know about the history and origin of the dance? Apparently, Kecak Dance has a deep meaning related to beauty, religious values, and moral messages, you know.
Sacral Dance
Kecak dance is commonly called Cak dance or fire dance. This dance is a mass entertainment performance dance that illustrates the role of art and is not accompanied by musical instruments or gamelan. However, only accompanied by a choir a group of male dancers numbering about 70 people who lined up in a circle wearing cloth cover boxes shaped chessboard. This dance is very sacred, visible from the dancers who were on fire, but experienced immunity and not burning.
The Kecak Dance is also often called the Sanghyang Dance which is performed at any time for religious ceremonies. Dancers are usually possessed by spirits and can communicate with sanctified gods or ancestors. The dancer is used as a medium to express his word. When possessed, they will also take unexpected actions, such as making dangerous movements or making sounds that they have never made before.
Wayan Limbak is the person who created the Kecak Dance. In 1930, Limbak had popularized this dance abroad and was assisted by Walter Spies, a German painter. The male dancers who dance to the kecak will shout the word 'cak cak cak'. From there the name Kecak was created. In addition to these screams, the music of the Kecak Dance also comes from the rattling sound that is tied to the feet of the dancers of the figures of Ramayana.
In the circle, the other dancers act. They play a dance taken from the episode of the Ramayana story that tries to save Shinta from the evil hands of Ravana. Not infrequently, Kecak Dance also involves visitors who are watching the dance action.
Have A lot Of Functions And Moral Messages
1. Containts High Art Value
Although not accompanied by music or gamelan, Kecak Dance still looks beautiful and compact. The movements made by the dancers can stay in tune! That is what makes it of high artistic value and is loved by tourists. Even though tourists who watch Kecak Dance are not Hindu, they still enjoy watching Kecak Dance. It feels like something is missing if you go to Bali and don't watch Kecak Dance!
2. Learn To Rely On Power Of God
In Kecak Dance, there is a scene where Rama asks God for help. That proves that Rama believed in the power of God to help him. The Kecak dance is also believed to be one of the rituals to summon goddesses who can ward off disease and protect citizens and evil forces. The goddess usually called for in the ritual is Dewi Suprabha or Tilotama.
3. Moral Message
The Kecak dance has an in-depth story and conveys a moral message to its audience. Like, Shinta's loyalty to her husband Rama. Also Garuda bird is willing to sacrifice its wings in order to save Shinta from the clutches of Ravana. From that story, we are also taught not to have bad qualities like Ravana who is greedy and likes to take the property of others by force.
Tags:
Culture and Art