Based in Jakarta, the “TFS Indonesia” ensemble perpetuates the traditions of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia and a maritime stop on the Silk Road.

The young women perform the dance from the province of Aceh called “Ratoh Jaroe,” a counterpart to the men’s dance “Saman,” which was inscribed by UNESCO in 2011 on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. Nicknamed “the dance of a thousand hands,” it is widespread throughout Indonesia. It is performed in a line, kneeling, and is characterized by rapid and synchronized movements.