Rhythm and Ritual: Twilight at Uluwatu's Kecak Fire Dance
"Uluwatu hosts a Kecak Trance & Fire Dance every day."
"An orchestra of about 70 men supports the main performers of leading characters such as the wise prince Ayodra, the heir to his throne, Rama, his father Dasarata and mother Sita, and the demon king Rahwana in this Balinese dance called Kecak."
"This cultural performance traces its roots to the old ritual dance of "Sanghyang""
"where the dancer dances as if in a trance with the deities or ancestors of a community."
"The crowd in this small amphitheater overlooking the cliffs, sunset, and sea must have numbered a thousand."
"They hold performances twice a day, which remind me of other tourist-attracting cultural shows in our neighboring ASEAN countries, such as the water puppet show in Hanoi."
"I find myself questioning why we don't host a daily cultural show that attracts hundreds of tourists,"
"given that the revenue from such events could significantly contribute to the support of local theater groups and the funding of a living tradition school."
"We only host cultural shows during specially arranged VIP tours."
