Kecak, Trance, and Fire Dance

Kecak

The Kecak (pronounced Ketjack) is one of the newer Balinese dances, originating in the 1930s. It's also called the Ramayana Monkey Chant. It is a story that depicts a battle from the Ramayana whr th monkey-like Varana helped Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana and win back his stolen love, Sita. Originally it was done in trance. It is one of the few dances that is accompanied by a chanting chorus of men, rather than the usual gamelan.

Sita being stolen by the evil king after Rama and his brother were tricked to leave her.

Monkey King

The only way to appreciate this is by seeing and hearing it.

The Sanghyang Dedari Dance

(Sang=divine spirit, Dedari=angels, describing the trance)

This dance is essential to maintain religious health and well-being of the community. It drives evil spirits away and stops sickness and death. Two virgins dance this with eyes closed in a trance version of the Legong. At the end of the trance they go to the ground and a pmangku awakes them with holy water.

Small clip of the Dance.

Waking up.

Sanghyang Jaran Dance

(Sang = divine spirit, Jarun = horse)

In this dance, an entranced guy dances like a horse. He dances around the coconut husk bonfire and then smashes through and around the fire. 2 guys kept raking the coconuts back to the center thankfully, as the dancers eyes were closed and he was walking on them and kicking them everywhere! At the end he is woken in the same way.

Sanghyang Jaren