Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Kecak Dance was one of the destinations in Uluwatu that tourists never missed. The enthusiasm of tourists to watch it is so great that making tourists wait in long queues and even not getting tickets is a common thing.

Who can resist? Watching Kecak dance live as the sun begins to set is indeed an exciting experience in itself.

About Kecak Dance

Kecak dance is a traditional dance originating from Bali. This dance looks magnificent and dashing because it is performed by dozens of male dancers, usually 50 people. The male dancers are all shirtless and wear a Balinese checkered cloth around their waists.

In Kecak dance, one dancer acts as a leader who gives the initial sound, another dancer acts as a suppressor who gives high or low sound pressure, and another dancer acts as a puppeteer who brings the story. In the performance, there are also some dancers who play the role of characters such as Rama, Shinta, Hanoman and also Rahwana.

When dancing Kecak Uluwatu, the dancers sit in a circle and call out together the words "cak, cak, cak" in a certain rhythm like a cappella while raising both arms. The dancers' movements are quite relaxed because they prioritize the combination of sound and action. In addition, there are several objects that must be used, such as frangipani flowers, rattles, black and white scarves, masks, coal, and offerings that make the performance more mystical and sacred.

The Meaning of Kecak Dance

When tourists buy tickets for the Uluwatu Kecak Dance, they are usually given a brief script so that they know the meaning of the Kecak Dance. Kecak dance is also called Sanghyang ritual, which is a Balinese Hindu tradition of rejecting bad luck adapted into the Ramayana story. This is none other than so that this dance has artistic value that can be performed for tourists who come to visit the island of the gods, Bali.

The story told in the Kecak dance is about the search for Sinta by Rama who is assisted by Hanoman. Shinta is kidnapped and held captive by Rahwana. Hanoman tried to destroy the place where Shinta was being held by setting it on fire, but Hanoman was surrounded by Rahwana in the flames and nearly burned to death.

Rama, though exhausted, was still determined to save his beloved Queen Shinta. Rama prayed and tried hard until he was finally able to rescue Shinta. The meaning of this Uluwatu Kecak dance is that a sincere love story will win with the accompaniment of prayer and sincerity.

Recommendations for Kecak Dance Venues

In the beginning, Kecak dance was only performed in a few villages. Over time, this dance art continues to grow and has always been one of the performances to fill activities such as festivals in some of the best tourist spots in Bali.

For tourists who want to watch the Kecak dance performance in Uluwatu Bali, they should look for information about the best time and place to watch this spectacular performance. One of the best recommendations is in Uluwatu, Bali.

On the Uluwatu stage, the Kecak dance performances are often interspersed with the ignorant and agile Hanoman character. Occasionally, Hanoman interacts with the audience, reenacting the pranks to make them laugh at his behavior.

The atmosphere of the show is so epic because it takes place before sunset. The story is brought to life with a natural backdrop that changes from evening to night. Therefore, when Hanoman makes the fire flare up, the tense atmosphere and the heat of the conditions due to being trapped in the fire seem very real. The flames become like a light in the atmosphere of the night that is beginning to get dark. That is why the Kecak Uluwatu dance is one of the things that should not be missed for tourists who are on vacation enjoying Tour Uluwatu.

Kecak Uluwatu Dance in the New Normal Era

In the new normal era, Kecak Uluwatu dance performances are now held with a number of adjustments and, of course, the implementation of health protocols. Adjustments that are applied include:

• The number of dancers is reduced, especially for dancers who do not wear masks, requiring the use of masks or face shields.
• Choreographed dances are arranged in a way that supports the conditioning of maintaining distance between one dancer and another.
• Every tourist or visitor must follow health protocols, starting with wearing a mask, washing hands, and maintaining distance at all times.
• Cashless payment of Uluwatu kecak dance tickets using Quick Response (QR) Code has been introduced to reduce direct contact.

If you don't want to miss the opportunity to see the Uluwatu kecak dance, especially because of the restrictions in the new normal era like now, tourists must be willing to come early to queue for tickets. As for travelers who follow travel agencies, they can relax more because tickets are usually included in the Bali tour package.