Indonesian stars in face-changing art at US Haidilao outlet

Texas Dressed in vibrant traditional Sichuan opera attire, a dancer gracefully wields a fan, his movements synchronised with rhythmic melodies. With a flick of the fan, his masks, with their intricate designs, swiftly transform to captivate onlookers.

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This festive ambience is set in a bustling Haidilao hotpot restaurant in Dallas, Texas, in the United States, where 25-year-old Indonesian entertainer Indra Kriswana Putra commands the spotlight.

While he is not a traditional performer, Mr Indra's recent invitation to a cultural event in May at a local school by a loyal patron of the restaurant left the audiences spellbound.

As his fan flicked and masks swiftly changed, the room erupted in applause and cheers from the teachers and students.

When he first joined the restaurant chain five years ago, Mr Indra did not know he would become an unexpected ambassador for Sichuan opera''s mesmerising facechanging art in the heart of the US.

His Douyin videos, showcasing this ancient tradition, have garnered over 2.2 million likes. His profile proudly declares him as a young lIndonesian "passionate about Sichuan opera face-changing, an intangible cultural heritage".

At Haidilao, many of the restaurant's face-changing performers were first introduced to this opera art through their work.