also: まいうど · まいにん
noun
dancer; bugaku dancer
Primarily refers to a performer of bugaku (traditional court dance and music). Can also be used more broadly for a dancer in classical or ceremonial contexts.
雅楽の演奏に合わせて、舞人が優雅に舞った。
The bugaku dancer danced gracefully to the gagaku music.
この絵巻には、色鮮やかな衣装をまとった舞人が描かれて
In this picture scroll, a dancer in colorful costume is depicted.
Historical reading; rarely used in modern Japanese.
踊り手 is a general term for a dancer in any style, while 舞人 is specifically a traditional court dancer, especially in bugaku.
Compound of 舞 (mai, 'dance') and 人 (hito, 'person'), with rendaku voicing of 人 to びと. The alternative readings まいうど and まいにん are historical variants.