Kecak Dance

Oberoi Hotel, Bali

The Kecak Dance (pronounced "Keh'-chahk", the "Monkey Dance") is modern choreography: it was created by Walter Spies, an expatriate German artist and musician, in 1931. Kecak is well-known in the West, being frequently performed by visiting troupes from Indonesia.

Kecak narrates the story of the Ramayana. It is performed by an a cappella troupe (vocal only, no instruments) who narrate the tale with chika-chika-chika monkey-like sounds. They represent Hanuman's army, clothed in honorific cloth.