Who is 'Aura Farming' boat kid? Why celebrities are grooving to 11-year-old's dance
The short clip (circulated on social media with a trending audio), which originated from the Pacu Jalur boat racing festival in Riau, Indonesia, shows 11-year-old Rayyan in traditional attire, swaying to the rhythm with simple, composed hand gestures, his gaze steady and expression unreadable. Pure vibe, as the internet would call it. Recommended For You
But before we dig deeper, what is 'Aura Farming'?
Aura Farming is a term born from gamer culture, where "farming" means collecting resources. In social media terms, it's about projecting a vibe so strong, it earns you admiration, likes, reposts, and 'aura points'.
And if your vibe is opposite, you may lose your 'aura points.'
Rayyan didn't invent aura farming. But his dance? It's the definitive example. Who is Rayyan Arkan Dikha?
Rayyan hails from Riau Province, Indonesia, and was participating in the traditional Pacu Jalur boat racing festival, a centuries-old cultural celebration. His role was to perform a morale-boosting dance on the front of a narrow racing boat while rowers paddled in unison.
This Indonesian Kid "Aura Farmer" went viral by dancing in front of a boat in a boat race ð¥ð
#aura #boatrace #explore #aurafarming #dance #indonesia #fact #tiktok pic.twitter.com/cZ88E1MZ29 — ð ð ð ð ð ¨ ð ð ð ¡ð â¤ï¸â¨ (@im_saraahh) July 10, 2025
With effortless moves, a serious gaze, and striking composure, Rayyan's boat-top dance was captured in a now-viral video that has garnered millions of views across platforms, sparked thousands of recreations, and captivated the internet with one question: "Who is this kid, and how is he so cool?". Why celebrities and influencers are copying him
Rayyan's dance has become a template for cool. Everyone from TikTokers to major stars has tried to recreate his slow, stylised hand movements and boat-top stance.
NFL star and Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce, rapper Wiz Khalifa, F1 driver Alex Albon, and the Paris Saint-Germain football team are among the big names who've jumped on the trend, in addition to global fashion and lifestyle influencers. Even luxury fashion creators are using his dance style in branded content.
Watch videos from Travis, Wiz, Alex and the PSG team below:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) Tradition meets TikTok
What makes this moment even more powerful is that Rayyan was dancing as part of a sacred, local tradition, not a scripted content shoot.
The Pacu Jalur race is a point of pride in Indonesian culture, and Rayyan's boat crew entrusted him with the role of 'Togak Luan', the symbolic dancer who channels energy and spirit into the race. His smooth moves were improvised, and Rayyan told BBC Indonesia that he came up with the dance moves himself.
Now, he's not just viral, he's been appointed Tourism Ambassador of Riau, the province he comes from, and has already made appearances on national television.
Husain Rizvi is a Senior Features Writer who covers entertainment and lifestyle stories and has a profound interest in tech (games) and sports. When he's not working, you can find him at the gym, or finishing a boss fight in a video game. husain@khaleejtimes.com
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