In the vibrant attire of traditional Sichuan Opera, a dancer gracefully wields a fan, his movements synchronized with rhythmic melodies. With a flick of the fan, his masks, with their intricate designs, swiftly transform to captivate onlookers.

The 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 not a traditional performer, Putra'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.

Unbeknown to him five years ago when he first joined the restaurant chain, Putra has become an unexpected ambassador for Sichuan Opera's mesmerizing face-changing 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 "an Indonesian youth 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. This unique performance service began around 2013 as part of a business innovation, merging the Sichuan face-changing art with hotpot dining experiences. Since then, face-changing has become a hallmark of Haidilao's entertainment offerings.

This captivating tradition has also found its way into some of Haidilao's international locations where employees are attracted to learn and showcase the art.

With Haidilao's expanding overseas footprints — 119 branches in 13 countries and regions, face-changing art is not only delighting Chinese patrons yearning for a taste of home but also introducing this cherished tradition to audiences worldwide.

Putra's journey began shortly after he joined Haidilao's Indonesian branch in December 2019. Initially introduced to the art through training arranged by his manager, his learning was abruptly interrupted less than a month later by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing him to turn to online resources like YouTube and TikTok for self-study.

Recalling those pivotal moments, Putra expresses how watching countless online videos of face-changing performances, each synchronized with music, captivated him with its intricate techniques.

"I was not interested in studying, but after I had the opportunity to learn it, I fell in love with this art," he says. "The thing I like most is not only the way of face-changing but also the dance."

After dedicated practice, Putra clinched the title of Indonesia's face-changing champion in Haidilao's 2023 overseas star competition.

His performance at the finals caught the eye of Wang Ke, a veteran face-changing artist from Haidilao's Singaporean branch. "He executed the plans flawlessly, sometimes even better than us," Wang says.

Although Putra didn't secure a podium spot in the finals, his performance earned praise from Haidilao's US regional manager. Early this year, he successfully applied to become a face-changing performer at Haidilao's US locations through an internal recruitment drive.

Upon arriving at Haidilao's US store, Putra quickly caught the attention of local diners.

Putra observed significant differences in performing face-changing between the US and Indonesia due to cultural nuances. US audiences, less accustomed to such performances, respond enthusiastically, offering praise and encouragement during the shows, he says.

Currently, Putra performs face-changing two to three times daily as part of his job. Beyond this, he has also embarked on mastering noodle-pulling, another traditional Chinese folk skill.

Despite not having visited China yet, Putra says he has several friends there whom he often chats with online. He eagerly anticipates the opportunity to travel to China and meet his Chinese friends.

[email protected]