Dance

             The Ainu hold dance as an integral part of their culture and spirituality. Traditional Ainu dances, often performed at ceremonies, cultural festivals, and in daily life, reflect their deep connection to nature and religion. Typically, these dances form a large circle, with some accompanied solely by the singing of onlookers. While some dances mimic the behavior of animals or insects, others like the sword and bow dances have ritualistic significance. Certain dances are improvisational or purely for entertainment. With a strong belief in deities present in their environment, the Ainu use dance as a form of worship and gratitude towards nature. An essential ceremony, the Iyomante, involves dancers emulating a living bear's movements to honor and send the deity embodied in a bear they have eaten back to heaven. Overall, dance not only strengthens the Ainu's bond with the natural and spiritual realms but also links them to other Arctic cultures in Russia and North America.