“I invented it”: the boy behind the viral dance “Aura Farming” who mimic athletes and celebrities

Rayyan arkan dikha en un ungemento de su video viral — Photo foot, Rayyan Arkan Dikha's dance in a boat race has made him a sensation on the Internet.

- Author, Fan Wang, Astudestra Ajengrastri Y Johanes Hutabarat
- Author's title, BBC News
7 hours

It is a dance, a viral meme and now a trend among elite athletes.

In recent weeks, social networks around the world have flooded videos of a young man from Indonesia who wear sunglasses and sail on the tip of a long boat, dancing with spectacular movements.

This is the maximum representation of the “Aura Farming”, a term coined on the Internet that refers to the act of being cool and create an “aura” (word used in the sense of charisma or attractive).

The movements, full of style and easy to follow, have been imitated worldwide, and great sport names such as the American football player Travis Kelce, the Formula 1 driver Alex Albon and players of the Paris Saint-Germain football team have joined the trend.

And behind all this is Rayyan Arkan Dikha, 11, who told the BBC that viral movements occurred to him spontaneously.

“I invented the dance myself,” Indonesia told BBC. “It was something spontaneous.”

This fifth year student, from a town in the regency of Kuantan Singingi, in the center of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was debuting in the national regatta Pacu Jalur when he made the viral video dance.

“Pacu” means “Carrera” and “Jalur” refers to the long boats similar to canoes that compete in the regatta.

Dikha is the Togak Luan, the dancer located in the bow of the boat whose function is to encourage the crew.

Rayyan Arkan Dikha, dressed in a traditional black Malay suit and sunglasses, climbs to a chair and dances in front of a camera. — Photo foot, The 11 -year -old has been very busy this week, attending events in the capital, Yakarta, and appearing on national television.

Internet sensation

In the video, which has been widely shared, wears a traditional suit known as Teluk Belanga with a Malay scarf Riau in the head.

Standing in the bow of the fast racing vessel, which is remote by at least 11 adults, throw kisses to the left and right before rhythmically move the arms, all without much facial expression.

In a dance sequence, extend a hand forward at chest height while the other passes underneath and then turns both fists like a wheel while passing from left to right. In another sequence, stretch one arm forward and the other back, adopting a balanced posture.

The videos with several backs under hashtags or labels on “Aura Farming” have accumulated millions of visits on Tiktok since the end of June.

In sport, they have also participated. On July 1, the Paris Saint-Germain club uploaded a video on Tiktok who played attempt to imitate the dance: “His aura has arrived to Paris,” said the video that has been seen more than 7 million times in just 10 days.

The next day, Travis Kelce, American football player of the US NFL and boyfriend of Pop Star Taylor Swift, published his own version, which has since obtained more than 14 million visits.

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“It's not easy”

The 11 -year -old has been very busy this week, attending events in the capital, Yakarta, and appearing on national television.

“Dancing at the Punta de la Barca is not easy,” said Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon, to journalists at an event held on Wednesday in honor of Dikha.

“Maintaining balance as a dancer that motivates the Remo Pacu Jalur team is not easy. Maybe that's why children are chosen instead of adults, because they find it easier to maintain balance.”

The risk is real, according to Dikha's mother, Rani Ridawati, to the BBC Indonesia.

“The main concern is that you can fall,” he said, but added that he was a good swimmer. “Sometimes, if it accidentally falls or suddenly, I am worried that it can be beaten by the oars.”

“But if it falls, there is already a rescue team. The rescue team is prepared,” he said.

Boats in a Kuantan Singingi river — Photo foot, Boats are an important part of local life in Kuantan Singingi.

Although Dikha does not recognize any of the celebrities who have copied his dance, he is quickly becoming a celebrity, especially in his native country.

Last week, he was appointed cultural ambassador to the governor of Riau, his province. This week, he and his mother were invited to the capital, Yakarta, to meet with the Ministers of Culture and Tourism of the country and appear on national television.

He says he is happy that his dance is calling attention worldwide.

“Every time my friends see me, they tell me: 'You are viral,'” he has a shy smile.

Although his dream is to become a policeman, he has a advice for anyone who wants to follow his steps: “Keep healthy, friends, so that they can become like me.”