Kecak Dancing - The Ramayana Monkey Chant

Photographer

Robin Yong

Category

Black & White Photography - Travel

Company

The Art of Travel Medicine

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2022

Country / Region:

Australia

Kecak, known in Indonesian as tari kecak, is a form of Balinese Hindu dance and music drama that was developed in the 1930s in Bali, Indonesia. Since its creation, it has been performed primarily by men. The dance is based on the story of the Ramayana and is traditionally performed in temples and villages across Bali. Also known as the Ramayana monkey chant, the dance is performed by a circle of as many as 150 performers wearing checked cloths around their waists, percussively chanting "chak" and moving their hands and arms. The performance depicts a battle from the Ramayana, in which the monkey-like Vanaras, led by Hanuman, help Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana. Kecak has roots in sanghyang, a trance-inducing exorcism dance. Kecak Dancing is a much sought after theme by travel photographers...this is my rendition of it and I chose a monochrome theme so that it will fit well as a fine art photographic print suitable for different interior decors.

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