Ratoeh Doek dance is dance that originated from Aceh. This dance was born around 1849, was created by an old scholar of Arabic origin who drifted at sea and washed up in Pulo Aceh. This dance was held after planting or after harvest of paddy rice, usually performances take place at night even if the dances are competed to run all night until morning. The dance is played by sitting cross-legged position, berbanjar, or hand in hand.
A major player called Syekh in the middle of the player. Two drummers rapa'i are behind or on either side of the player, while the only functioning movements are of the upper body, hands and head sideways left or right, up, and circle from front to back, with initially slow to fast tempo.
