Kecak Ubud 2014 plus 4K video Photo Gallery by hellmut issels at pbase.com

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Kecak Ubud 2014 plus 4K video

Watch a 4K video of the whole performance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyQDiagPVSY

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hellmut issels		17-Feb-2015 10:24
KECAK FIRE DANCE Story Dewi Sinta, queen to King Rama of Ayodya, was kidnapped by Rahwana and trapped in Alengka. Dewi Sinta felt helpless and contemplated suicide; however the niece of Rahwana, Dewi Trijata, intervened. Fortunately Dewi Trijata convinced Dewi Sinta not to take her life, because soon afterwards, Hanoman, a white King of monkey force, arrived with news from King Rama. Initially, Dewi Sinta was reluctant to believe Hanoman, however after he showed her a ring from Rama, she realized that he was trustworthy. In return, Dewi Sinta offered him a chignon as a symbol of her loyalty to Rama. Hanoman and Sugriwa led the monkey force in Ayodya for fighting practice, in order to prepare for the attack on Rahwana at Ayodya and plan for Dewi Sinta’s rescue. Thousands of monkey force troops led by Hanoman and Sugriwa, attackted Alengka. They killed many of Alengka’s army and burnt the city down. Rahwana was clearly shocked and sought the help of his younger brother Kumbakama. Kumbakama an affectionate giant by nature, would do anything to avoid fighting a war. However, due to certain obligations he found himself on the front line. Initially Kumbakama managed to force Hanoman, Sugriwa and their monkey troops back, and actually looked like defeating them at one stage, however the resistance from the monkey troops proved too intense and Kumbakarna was killed. He died as a hero. Background In the 1930s, two western residents, a painter Walter Spies and an author Kotharano Mershon, felt that the “Oak” chorus of the ritual Sanghyang trance dance taken out of its ritual context and could be added to the storyline and would be a hit among their friends and other visitors. Working with Limbak and his troops in the village of Bedulu, they incorporated Baris movement into the role of cak leader. Eventually the story of the Ramayana was added, although it was not until the 1960s that elaborated costumes were used. The Kecak Dance, as it is now called, involves a chorus of at least 50 men. They sit in concentric circles around an oil lamp and begin to chant. The sound they make is “cak-cak-cak-cak”, up to seven different rhythmical combinations of the chant are interwoven, creating a tapestry of vocal sounds as the musical accompaniment to the dance. A juru tandak or narrator sings the tale of the Ramayana as the dance drama progresses. The Kecak Dance is often called the “Monkey Dance” because at the end of the play, the men become monkey army sent to rescue Sita. The “Cak” sound also resembles the chattering of monkeys. “This choreography is a development of the Kecak described above. While, there are many similarities with the more “traditional” Kecak. There are also some major innovations. It was created in 1974 by the renowned Javanese dancer and choreographer Samono W Kusumo”. It is rarely performed, except at special commissioned events.

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