Tag Archives: bali
Chilling Out and Enjoying Seminyak Nightlife
Seminyak is a picturesque coastal area in South Bali that is known for its pristine beach. However, after the sun goes down the area also offers a variety of nightlife venues where one can enjoy good food, good music and good company. Ku De Ta Bali is famous for its refined beachside setting, while Obsession World Music Bar, the Bahiana salsa bar and Hypnotique Cocktail Bar and Lounge are among the other trendy night time hangout spots here. One can find a wide range of Bali hotels in Indonesia that cater to the varying needs and budgets of travellers. Those in search of a beachside Bali hotel that offers luxury accommodation can stay at Anantara Seminyak, Bali.
Kecak Dance – A Soulful Performance Narrating a Legendary Story
A type of Balinese music drama and dance, Kecak Dance began in the 1930s. The soul of Balinese is reflected by woodcarving, painting and dancing. One of the most famous Balinese dances, the uniqueness of this dance is the use of no musical accompaniment. A chanting ‘monkey’ chorus produces the rhythm of the dance.
Performed mainly by men, this dance is also referred to as the Ramayana Monkey Chant. The dance involves a circle of over 100 performers dressed in checked cloth, throwing their arms up and chanting “cak”, as a depiction of a battle from the Ramayana.
Ramayana is an Indian story revolving around Rama, a warrior and a rightful heir to the throne of Ayodya. He and his wife Sita are exiled to a faraway desert, where an evil king falls in love with Sita and sends a golden deer to lure away Rama. Once Sita is captured, Rama has to round up his armies to defeat the evil king and his armies, in order to rescue Sita. Kecak Dance performs this story quite impressively.
Having roots in an exorcism dance called Sanghyang, these traditional dances are performed on Hindu holidays in particular. The performers dressed in checked clothes are both the choir and suppliers of music for the story. The series of their continuous vocal chants change according to the mood of the actors. These men in the circle actively add to the performance’s allure by waving their arms to replicate fire and relocate themselves encircling the stage to symbolize wind as the story develops. The voices of the storytellers can be heard distinctly amongst the swaying masses.
However it was Walter Spies, a German musician and painter living in Bali, who became very interested in this dance and managed to recreate it into a drama. It was his idea to base it on the story of Ramayana.
Anantara Bali Uluwatu presents the ideal choice for travellers in search of ideally located Uluwatu hotels. A haven of modern design and rugged natural beauty, the luxurious Bali villas offered by this exceptional resort are set amidst breathtaking vistas.