The performance depicts a battle of the Ramayana, in which the monkey-like Vanaras, led by Hanuman, help Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravana.

He adapted it as a drama based on the Hindu Ramayana and including dance, intended for performance before Western tourist audiences.

Walter Spies worked with Indonesian dancer Wayan Limbak, who popularized the dance by arranging internationally touring performances by Balinese groups.

[5] I Wayan Dibia, a performer, choreographer and scholar, suggests, by contrast, that the Balinese were already developing this form when Spies arrived on the island.

"Spies liked this innovation," and he suggested that Limbak "devise a spectacle based on the Ramayana," accompanied by cak chorus rather than gamelan, as would have been usual.

[3] The kecak dance [7] is typically performed by about fifty to one hundred men wearing only loincloths; their upper bodies are left bare.

There are also dance stages used exclusively for kecak performances in Ubud, Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Batu Bulan, Pandawa beach and other places in Bali.

Another man serves as the leader of the chorus, instructing them to stop or start the chanting by yelling command vocals such as "Diih!

Here, the dancer playing Hanuman is blessed by a priest and enters a trance state for the fire kicking dance which follows.