From South Philly to Indonesia: how Gapura connects youth to their cultural roots

Co-founded by dance artist Sinta Penyami Storms, Gapura Philadelphia is preserving Indonesian heritage through performance, music, and a new cultural exchange trip.

By Tiffany Rivera. On June 23, 2026. Edited by Jensen Toussaint.

Pamuda Gapura educates and performs traditional Indonesian dances. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media) 

Philadelphia, a city immersed in culture and history, has a growing Indonesian population deeply rooted in South Philadelphia.

Co-founded by Sinta Penyami Storms, an Indonesian dance artist and community leader in South Philadelphia, Gapura Philadelphia is an initiative dedicated to highlighting Indonesian culture and providing a community to its citizens.

The organization has made a large impact in the city by creating programs, workshops, and services helping immigrants and residents.

Indonesian wedding dances were part of the performance. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

On Sunday, May 17, Gapura performed at The Fleisher Art Memorial in South Philadelphia. The demonstration conducted Indonesian wedding dances, specifically from the regions of West Java, Sunda, and Central Sulawesi, where Sinta is originally from.

Although the actual wedding was not real, the purpose of the performance is to educate and give the audience an experience.

The ceremony is an example of a traditional Indonesian wedding dance, along with a dance performance. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

The dance group was created by Gapura Youth. The group is called Pamuda Gapura, and they created a fundraiser for their cultural trip to Indonesia.

“The group is raising a little bit of money, but also showcasing our traditional culture,” said Storms. “We are here to just support. We didn't plan anything; they planned everything, and we just said, ‘Alright, here is our knowledge and wisdom that we can give you to support you.’”

The colorful outfits the dancers adorn and the gold accessories they wear, tell a story. The performance is more than just a form of expression.

Sinta Penyami Storms is the Co-Founder of Gapura. The organization was created with the hopes of educating people on Indonesian culture.  (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

“I just want the audience to experience Pamuda Gapura and then experience, if they don't know about Indonesia, the culture, because there's going to be food, there's dancing, music, and this traditional ceremony. I just want people to be aware of how beautiful Indonesian culture is,” Storms said.

Pamuda has been planning the performance for about three months and has been rehearsing for about a month. The group consists of about 10 members. Storms says the dancers do not have to be from Indonesia to join.

“We do have some members who are Indonesian adjacent, they are also from other parts of Philadelphia, everyone is welcome,” she said.

The performance is intricate and shows the audience the importance of learning about other cultures, especially. It also shows the value of preserving culture for future generations.

“We are a part of the Philadelphia cultural fabric, so the immigrant community is a part of this big Philadelphia community, so for us it's important that we introduce our culture and for people to also get to know us,” Storms said.

Jimmy Onofrio is a member of Gapura and has been involved since 2023. Although he isn't Indonesian, Onofrio says the group has “a lot of passion.”

“I like being in places where people want to make other people's lives better, and everyone who's involved with Gapura is like that. It comes from the heart, it feels like home,” he said.

Onofrio is Italian American and says he sees a lot of qualities within his culture and Indonesian culture.

“The role of family and community and things like that,” he said. “It helps you to realize you're part of something a lot bigger than yourself.”

Hite, seen performing, says the organization helped her get in touch with her Indonesian heritage. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

Graci Hite, a member of Pemuda Gapura Youth Group Committee and the daughter of Storms, says the initiative helped her familiarize herself with her Indonesian culture by taking traditional Indonesian dance classes, volunteering in festivals, and taking gamelan classes. 

“I started practicing the gamelan, and I fell in love with it,” she said. "A lot of second-generation children of immigrants don't get the opportunity to connect with their identity and culture that is deep.”  

The gamelan is a traditional Indonesian percussion set consisting of gongs and metal xylophones of different sizes, and drums. This instrument dates back as early as the 9th century and is viewed as an art form.

Hite says the feeling of togetherness the group has given her sparks her interest in getting to know other cultures and traditions.

“Even though I'm Indonesian, I am definitely interested in what other types of cultures are in my neighborhood? What food can I try? What can I learn about the world? I think it's really important that we learn about each other to build more empathy and community,” she said.

Gapura recently spearheaded a new program, Jejak Budaya Cultural Exploration. Team members will have the opportunity to go to Indonesia for a month. This is the first year the program is being offered, and the event is a fundraiser to support this effort.

Dancers adorn colorful dresses, which symbolizes prosperity, joy, and elegance. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

Four members of Gapura, including Storms, will be attending. The trip will consist of going to Indonesia and learning about their culture and traditions through the lens of students and community members.

Participants will travel to different parts of the country, including East Jakarta, to visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a park showcasing the culture of Jakarta. Members will also learn the Ratoh Jaroe dance, involving graceful movements and intricate hand gestures.

The performers are seen wearing traditional Indonesian clothing to highlight the ceremony. (Photo by Burkett Photography for Inti Media)

The trip will also include a visit to Bali, West Java, and Central Sulawesi, where they will learn the cultural traditions of the Pamona people who live in Sulawesi.

Organizers at Gapura hope to create more events in the future. So far, they have another event set up for Saturday, August 29, at The Fleisher Art Memorial.

The event will begin at 11 am with an Indonesian flag rising and a gong opening ceremony. The Philadelphia’s Folklore Projects Gamelan Gita Santi will be performing. There will also be games and even a karaoke contest and dance contest. Everyone is welcome.