Drum beats and flute melodies wafted from Palito Nyalo studio in Pauh, an area of Padang, West Sumatra. Two male dancers were rehearsing on the yard. At a glance, their movements resembled those of silat, the Indonesian martial art, but seemed more graceful. The men bent their legs alternately, then squared off as if readying to hit an opponent, and jumped forward. This was the rantak kudo posturethe trampling horse. Upon finishing, the dancers,