The modern fireknife dance stemmed from the Samoan ailao, a warrior's knife dance, performed with the nifo oti, or tooth of death. This dance was displayed before battle to frighten the enemy and afterward to celebrate victory. Today, the art of fireknife dancing has become one of the most intense, skillful and beautiful of Samoan traditions. The modern dance consists of twirling a sharp knife, with both ends on fire, at high speeds and requires acute precision and acrobatic finesse. The fire is very real, and dancers often make contact with the flames, sometimes intentionally.

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