Greetings from Bali, where a kecak dance shows the triumph of good over evil
The kecak dance in Bali is a captivating performance that illustrates the battle between good and evil. This unique dance, performed without instruments, features a chorus of men chanting in rhythm, creating an immersive soundscape. The climax involves a dramatic display of fire, symbolizing the chaos of the narrative, ultimately leading to a resolution where good triumphs over evil.
- ▪The kecak dance is a 20th-century adaptation of Hindu ceremonies in Bali.
- ▪It features about three dozen men chanting in syncopated rhythm without any instruments.
- ▪The performance culminates in a dramatic eruption of fire, symbolizing chaos before the resolution of the story.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Greetings from Bali, where a kecak dance shows the triumph of good over evil May 20, 202612:55 PM ET Emily Feng Loading... Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world. The kecak dance is a 20th century adaptation of the trance-inducing Hindu ceremonies performed in Bali and a retelling of one of the stories in the Ramayana, the Hindu epic poem. It uses no instruments; instead, about three dozen men chant in syncopated rhythm, the rise and fall of their intertwining voices creating the soundscape for the drama. At the story's climax, there is a sudden eruption of fire as the chanters light up tufts of dried coconut husks. The orderliness of their rhythms disappears.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at NPR Topics: News.
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