Photo and caption by Laura Grier

I went to see the traditional Kecak Dance in Ubud, Bali and was fascinated by the young girls that had the discipline to perform this difficult, yet eerily beautiful dance. I later learned that you had to be a young, virgin girl to dance this part, very similar to a musical play where there is a theatrical performance involved in this dance. In this scene, the men surrounding her, all chanting "Cak-ke-cak-ke-cak-ke-cak" (giving the dance it's name), represent a huge serpent surrounding the young girl who is almost in a trance.

Location: Ubud, Bali, indonesia