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The flute begins an eerie tune, and faraway voices chant a strange song that flows from a loud melody to a nearly inaudible high pitch. Two girl singers appear wearing splendid, floral crowns with multi-coiored spikes. They advance, allowing another pair to enter, until twelve girls have filed on stage.
Slowly they kneel opposite each other, cocking their heads and darting their eyes to accent the rhythm of the orchestra. As the chanting continues, young men silently repeat the girls' entrance. In contrast to feminine delicacy, their movements are deliberate and strong. All wear painted moustaches.
Suddenly, the male formation breaks into frenzied activity of twists, jerks and lunges. Instantly, the shock wave ceases, the men freeze in their positions, and the lonely flute carries the dance back to the soft sways and chanting of the girls.
A folk dance introduced to the island in the thirties, the origin is in the Sanghyang trance ceremony in which the women chant the Sanghyang song and the men alternate with the gruff sounds of the Kecak.
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