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Post by questa on Jul 27, 2014 14:25:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 17:26:28 GMT
Oh, that is really fascinating and the photos of the embers are magnificently abstract artworks unto themselves.
I confess that I was kind of hoping that the "horse fronds" would catch on fire.
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Post by questa on Jul 28, 2014 22:29:45 GMT
Kerouac, I've taken guests to this dance (Which is the closing dance of an evening program)at various venues and never seen the fronds singe. I wonder if they are wet down first... mmm...haven't seen steam either.
The tourist dances are rather tedious, I agree. but I took a group of people to my friend's rural village where no tourists go, to see the Calonerang performed. This is more like opera and is the story of good v evil in the magic era.
The climax has the good guys attacking the witch with genuinely sharp knives which she turns onto them with her magic power. All the dancers are in genuine trance and the even the young men just watching fell into trance and joined in as the performers and villagers spilled from the dance area to the common ground. Close up, sitting with a lad who let out a cry and rushed into the melee, I could see this was real. My guests were very quiet and subdued on the way back to Ubud. I have photos on film...might scan and post if anyone is interested
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2014 17:27:01 GMT
I'm trying to remember if I ever saw a fire dance when I was in Bali. I don't think so, because I'm pretty sure that I would remember it. The bare feet must suffer just tiny bit from time to time. I know that their callouses are built up to withstand just about anything, but they must feel something when they step directly on a big burning ember.
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Post by mossie on Jul 29, 2014 20:02:30 GMT
Mad, but different. Thanks Questa for showing us dullards here something exotic.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 29, 2014 20:52:05 GMT
Incredibly interesting, Questa and brilliant photos. I was particularly intrigued by your story of seeing the Calonerang. It made me think that this must have been what the audience for story-telling was at the dawn of time, before everyone became so sophisticated and always looking for the trick or reality behind everything.
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Post by questa on Jul 30, 2014 2:16:53 GMT
K2, this fire dance always follows the performance of the men's "chuck-chuck" dance where about 40-60 men dressed as the men in fire dance chant in various rhythms. They sit in a series of concentric circle around a many tiered flame holder and with their movements, multi-layered chant and some dancers, tell a story from the past. Also called the Monkey Dance as that is what they are imitating.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 19:51:43 GMT
Well, in any case, at least a couple of these photos should be reposted in the "fire" thread of the Image Bank.
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Post by questa on Jul 30, 2014 23:34:51 GMT
I am honoured, K2. Can I leave the selection of pics and reposting to you, please? I am interested in what other people like as well.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 4, 2014 19:18:22 GMT
Wow, this is fascinating! The photos with the shadowy figure are indeed very spooky. Well done.
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Post by anshjain97 on Aug 5, 2014 2:58:00 GMT
Really amazing- I wouldn't have minded being taken to see this dance in Bali.
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