KECAK DANCE

On Tuesday, my family and I went to the Uluwatu Temple in Bali, where we were all very excited to see the traditional Balinese Kecak dance. We walked along the cliffside to the stunning amphitheater that overlooks the Indian Ocean.

We took our seats, and soon thereafter, several bare-chested men paraded onto the center stage, while chanting “chak-achak-achak,” which they would continue to do for the next hour. 

This intricate theatrical performance tells the story of a tyrannical king who kidnaps the wife of his stepson, who is the legitimate heir to the throne. With the help of a troupe of apes, the prince rescues his wife and kills the evil king. 

My favorite character was – by far – the White Ape. We were introduced to him when he jumped down from a pillar and scurried up the railing of the amphitheater. He proceeded to entertain us with his monkey business. His antics included stealing hats off the heads of innocent audience members, picking and eating nits out of their hair, and posing for selfies wearing the sunglasses he stole off strangers’ faces. Yet the most memorable part of his performance was when he was trapped in a ring of fire, but escaped by punting the burning piles of coconut husks over the cliffside with his bare feet.

This play was unlike any others I have ever seen, with crazy, dangerous stunts performed live! It almost makes Broadway seem boring (a statement that makes my mother gasp and hiss, “How dare you!?”).