Kecak Dance The Junjungan Village Performance
By Krama Desa Adat Junjungan
The dance is based on ancient sanghyang trance rituals, combine with the story line from the Ramayana epic. Kecak gets its name from the sound of the performer chanting 'cak-cak-cak' which is reminiscent of chattering monkeys. This chanting fills the role of an orchestra, simulating the staccato rhythms of the gamelan. The gist of the story is the opposition of Prince Rama's Kingdom (Ayodya) to the kingdom of Alengka, ruled by the wicked giant, Rahwana.
Storyline
Scene One
Prince Rama and his wife, Sita are going separately into exile in a forest, a trial they must endure for the good of the Kingdom of Ayodya: Before parting they exchange intimate words. Then Sita is enchanted by a golden deer, which is actually Marica, the henchman of their enemy, Rahwana, in disguise. He has taken the form of a deer to lure Rama away from Sita.
Scene Two
Rama asks his step-brother Laksmana to guard Sita, while he hunts the golden deer. Rama brings down the deer with an arrow, but the deer is too far away. It returns to its real form Marica (the evil henchman of Rahwana), who proceeds with a devious trick and imitates Rama's voice calling for help to lure Sita.
Scene Three
Sita and Laksamana hear the cries for help that sound like Rama. Laksamana senses is a trick, but Sita thinks her husband has been hurt in his struggle with the deer, and orders Laksamana to go help. Laksamana refuses, and Sita derides him harshly, accusing him of lusting after her, and wanting Rama to die so he can take her for himself. Finally, Laksamana goes off angrily to find Rama, leaving Sita alone in the forest, after putting a magic protective circle around her.
Scene Four
Rahwana, the wicked king of Alengka, is delighted to find Sita alone in the woods, and wants to snatch her away as his own bride. But he must break the magic circle first. He succeeds in kidnapping Sita and talking her to Alengka, where he celebrates with his army of giants.
Scene Five
Sita is miserable in Alengka, and refuses to marry Rahwana. She is befriended by Rahwana's niece, a lady-giant named Trijata. Sita cries day and night, finally decides to take her own life, but Trijata stops her.
Scene Six
Hanoman, a heroic monkey-man with white fur, appears in front of Sita and Trijata. Sita is suspicious, but Hanoman proves that he is messenger from Rama, by giving her a ring from Rama, which sent as a love token. Sita sends Hanoman back to Rama with her hair pin as a reply. After this meeting, Hanoman cannot contain his fury for their enemies and demolishes the land of Alengka, tearing up trees and hurling them everywhere.
Scene Seven
Twalen (a servant of Rama) enters, and with Laksamana and Rama, they go in search of Sita. At the boundary of Alengka, they encounter the giant Meganada, a prince of Alengka. Rama is stricken by one of Meganada's deadly arrows, which turns into a serpent that binds him in its coils. Meganada rushes off to the palace to report his victory over Rama, and orders a servant called Delem to check on Rama's state. Delem mocks Rama.
Scene Eight
In the hour of his greatest need, Rama is aided by garuda, the great bird which is the vehicle of the god Visnu, who releases him from Meganada's serpent.
Scene Nine
Twalen (Rama's servant) sings a song about Rama's longing for his beloved Sita. Sugriwa, a monkey-prince with red hair appears. In the past he was aided by Rama, so he is determined to help smash Rama's enemies in Alengka. He calls the armies of monkey to help in the battle.
Scene Ten
The monkeys fight Meganda and his army of giants in a terrific battle. The giants of Alengka are defeated and their king, Rahwana meets his doom: Symbolically, the power of love, loyalty and righteousness has triumphed over wickednees, greed and lust.
Scene Eleven
Kumbakarna is attacked by monkey army and is Killed by Rama.