Dancing with memories of home

Accompanied by the soft melody of a flute and the rhythmic pulse of drums, the dancers' vibrant costumes, adorned with red, yellow, and green tassels, swayed gracefully.

With fluid movements, they extended their arms as though gathering stalks of rice, before transitioning into swift, precise motions, wielding sickles to slice through the imaginary crops. As the rice falls, they bend low, gathering the harvested grains into waiting bamboo baskets.

This captivating performance is tari manen padi, a traditional Indonesian dance from Java Island that celebrates the harvest season. The dancers are part of the Jackson Dancer, a group of nine Indonesian domestic workers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

"Padi means rice in Indonesian," says Arya Jackson, the group's leader. "When we dance, we use handmade straw props, integrating them into the movements to symbolize the harvesting of rice. We also incorporate tools like arit (sickles) and tenggok (bamboo baskets), which are common in Indonesian agriculture."

The Jackson Dancer is one of the oldest Indonesian dance groups in Hong Kong that blends modern elements with traditional Indonesian dance, according to Jackson.

Indonesians are the second-largest ethnic group in Hong Kong, with over 140,000 domestic helpers, according to the 2021 population census in Hong Kong. Despite their numbers, Jackson says there are few dance groups offering a distinctive voice in their cultural expression.

"We like to choreograph our own dances," she explains. "Many other groups perform the same traditional Indonesian dances. We prefer to try something different, incorporating modern elements into our routines."

Angelina Ucix, 40, vice-leader and chief choreographer of Jackson Dancer, is the creative force behind most of the group's traditional performances.

"I research the history of different dances from Indonesian islands on YouTube," Ucix says. "I look at the core movements of each dance and maintain those historical elements, but I also add new, creative touches to make it fresh."

One of their most popular dances is tari ondel-ondel, a traditional art form originating in Jakarta. The dance features giant puppets, known as ondel-ondel, which represent a male and female figure.

The male puppet wears a red mask, symbolizing courage, while the female puppet's white mask stands for purity and kindness.

Often performed at weddings or special celebrations, this dance has brought the Jackson Dancer team to prestigious venues like Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Indonesian Consulate General, and Victoria Park in Hong Kong.

"The Indonesian Consulate has helped us prepare the large red and white puppets for our performances — they stand at about two and a half meters tall," Jackson says.

"We love performing this dance. It makes us so happy," says Ucix. "After every show, people always ask when we'll perform again."

The dancers' costumes, decorated with vibrant yellow and blue vine patterns, are the work of Ucix herself. These intricate designs are inspired by Dayak patterns from Kalimantan, a region in Indonesia known for its geometric motifs drawn from nature — flowers, animals and flowing water.

"I found that costumes available in stores weren't unique or attractive. If I bought them, they would all look the same," Ucix explains. "So I decided to design and make them myself."

A passion for fashion and design runs deep for Ucix. "I buy fabric from local markets, design the outfits, and sew them by hand," she says.

It takes about two weeks to create each costume. To date, Ucix has designed and made seven distinct performance outfits for the Jackson Dancer group.

Sense of belonging

Jackson arrived in Hong Kong 18 years ago, but back then, she struggled to make new friends.

"I felt really lonely and lost," Jackson recalls. "The language barrier was a big challenge. I could only say 'hello' and 'good morning' in Cantonese, and there were no groups for Indonesians to dance or perform."

For many members of the Jackson Dancer group, however, it has become more than just a dance team; it's like a second home.

"For us, the Jackson Dancer is like our family," says Sri Handayani, 35, who joined the group a year ago. "I don't have my parents here in Hong Kong, but Jackson and Ucix are like our parents in this group."

Sri says that Ucix, the team's choreographer, is known for being strict during rehearsals. "Ucix pushes us to be better, and that's my motivation to improve," she says. "When I'm feeling down, Jackson and Ucix always notice and check in on me. When I face difficulties, I share them here, and it's a safe place."

Before coming to Hong Kong, Jackson had no formal dance training, but an unexpected opportunity changed her life. "My first dance performance was at an Indonesian karaoke bar. My friends were singing, and they were amazed by my dancing. They encouraged me to enter a dance competition in Hong Kong, where I won the third place," Jackson says.

That victory marked the beginning of her journey. She formed a small dance group in Hong Kong, and as more people joined, the group grew, opening doors to new friendship.

Jackson designed the Jackson Dancer logo herself: a yellow star outlined in blue stitching.

"I want every member of Jackson Dancer to feel like a star — someone who shines brightly and spreads warmth to those around them," she says.

"Dance has given me health, joy, and a sense of belonging. When I dance, all my worries disappear. But more importantly, it has connected me to a group of friends who have become like family.

"Although we are Indonesian, dance has created a bridge that connects us to the people of Hong Kong and beyond. It fills our hearts with happiness."

Hu Xinyue contributed to this story.