KECAK DANCE

Authors:

Komang Budi Mudita

(155120400111022)

SanitaAyuSeptaningrum

(155120401111035)

Gabriel Caesar Ranti

(155120407111045)

M. NurisHisyam R.

(155120401111044)

Tania Harjono

(155120401111043)

FAKULTAS ILMU SOSIAL DAN ILMU POLITIK

UNIVERSITAS BRAWIJAYA
2015

KECAK DANCE
Kecak dance is one of dances in Balinese dance category kecak dance is balibalihan dance or in English balih-balihan dance means entertaining dance. Usually kecak
dance performed by 100 people or less even theres no special exception for the number of
dancer, kecak dance is more beautiful if at the stage have a lot dancer. Kecak dance usually
took puppetry stories or from some stories from Vedas. Not like other dance, kecak dance use
mouth for the music its make this dance special and attractive for the audiences.
The creator of Balinese dances is difficult to find but according to literature and
historical dance book at the small temple house (studio/sanggar) give us information about
Bali dance. According to our interview with Mr. Made Astawa, a teacher for Dwi Mekar
studio, kecak dance create at 1929-1930 by Wayan limbak. At the development of this dance
kecak dance not so popular like this time it became popular and global because Wayan
Limbak collaborate with art specialist from German Mr. Walter Spies. Made Astawa also
explain us from after that time kecak dance have a special world tour with Wayan Limbak to
a cross the world and introduce the world what kecak dance is.
To perform kecak dance we need 3 steps, first one is the preparation second one is
stabilization and the last one is perform. At the preparation stage we must choose the dance
who is the core dancer, cak dancer and narrator, preparation stage usually take a lot of time
because at this stage we set the choreography, songs and a harmonization between dancer and
narrator. The core dancer dancing is not too dynamic because they dance with the
harmonization between condition and the conversation like drama Also the songs tempo need
to balance between high or low. Next the stabilization at this stage we choose the practice
time at usually we practice many times but in this stage we just practice once before the
perform day.
After all preparations are completed and GR's session is done, the next session is
performing in the stage. The show usually starts by praying together before all crew's
performing. In Bali, dance related with term "Taksu". This term actually doesnt have a
proper equivalent word in Indonesian, but when Taksu's term being defined by itself meaning,
it contains meaning of magical power that makes the success of all aspects of the works.
Someone is said has Taksu when he dances as if there are other souls who also participated in
the show. This is the purpose of the praying session before the show. In simpler language, the

prayers aim to show the role of Rama or Sinta with the souls of Rama and Sinta themselves,
as well as in other roles. After praying session's done, the dance will begin by cak's dancers in
amounts of tens enter the stage area. After every cak's dancer sit on the front stage, then
someone who brings "Canang" and "Tirta" will join to enter the stage, sprinkling "Tirta" to all
dancers. The purpose of this part besides to call and bring Taksu to the stage is to send some
silence and religious atmosphere to the stage that the show now can begin. The show begins
when the "Dalang" starts telling the story and all Cak's dancers will starts singing while the
main dancers entering the stage. So that's how Kecak Dance being performed.
There are several techniques in demonstrating Kecak Dance. Techniques what the
"Dalang" should do is, adjust the plot of the show to avoid incoherence with the original
story, then when in the show, if there is only one person perform as Dalang, the Dalang
should change his voice in telling the story according to which gender of role he tells.
Techniques to be performed by the main dancers are the dancers should do is adjust the
gesture of hands and their facial expressions in the dance, in order to avoid
miscommunication between the audience and the dancers. Excessive or disconformed motion
will confuse the audience in knowing which figure is speaking at the time, so usually in the
preparation's session there will be a lot of re-adjustment and revision to the dance motion.
The most important technique is the voice technique which the cak's dancer should capable
of. They should use the belly when pulling out their voices, not from the esophagus. This is to
avoid them losing voice or get disturbance in vocal cords after the show. The way cak's
dancers raise their hands upward with upright body also required in correct position, in
anatomy it aims to pull out voice well. When the cak's dancers hand lifted to the top and the
body's being upright, the volume of their chest cavity will enlarge, which has the goal to
produce more and bigger voice. So that in some situation that required higher, bigger, and
faster tempo of voice, this position should be performed by the dancers correctly.
Furthermore, there is a break session for the cak's dancers, when their body swing into the
rhythm of the song, the point of this movement is that the cak's dancers can stretch their
muscles.
The plot in Kecak Dance usually takes Ramayana story and other stories such as tales
about Subali-Sugriwa, and Ruci God. Ramayana story itself contains 7 sections or better
known as "Sapta Kanda." The sections include Balakanda, Ayodhyakanda, Aranyakanda,
Kiskindhakanda, Sundarakanda, Yuddhakanda, Uttarakanda. These stories are actually related
to another, that they are continuation of previous story.

The most important thing in whole Kecak Dance is actually that Kecak dance is a
traditional art dance which still exist and alive today and still be able to survive in the midst
of globalization era. This is because Kecak Dance is still able to maintain the religious
elements and also its strength of the story which is unique and interesting. This is what causes
Kecak Dance become a traditional art dance which many people love. Kecak Dance is
frequently shown in many areas in Bali such as Uluwatu, Kuta and many others.