Kecak (pronunciation: / 'ke.tʃak /, roughly "Keh-chahk", alternate spelling: Ketjak, Ketjack, and armpit), is a typical Balinese performing arts was created in the 1930s and was played mainly by men. This dance is performed by many (tens or more) male dancers who sit in a circle and lined with a specific rhythm called "smack" and raised both arms, depicting the Ramayana, when Rama's line of apes help fight Ravana. However, Kecak sanghyang ritual comes from, namely the tradition of dance that the dancers will be in a condition not realized, to communicate with God or the spirits of the ancestors and then convey to the public expectations.
The dancers in the circle is wearing a plaid cloth, such as chess boards around their waists. Besides the dancers, there are also other dancers who portray the characters of Ramayana as Rama, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman, and Sugriva.
Kecak dance songs taken from the ritual dances sanghyang. Also, do not use musical instruments. Only used kincringan imposed on the foot of the dancer who portrayed the characters of Ramayana.
Around the 1930s Wayan Limbak cooperate with German painter Walter Spies to create dances based on traditional Kecak Sanghyang and parts of the Ramayana story. Wayan Limbak popularizing this dance while traveling the world with his troupe of Balinese dancers.
http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kecak
