No Azure AD for cloud applications

Hi,

is it possible for cloud applications to redirect their form based authentication to a on-premises ADFS server without the existence of a AD in the cloud. The application can be configure to work directly with the ADFS accordingly to the metadata? No VPN.

Understand that users will key in their credentials and communicate to the ADFS proxy. Will the application communicate with the ADFS or ADFS proxy? 

Thanks.