(Updated on 8/7/2018)

Meet Ayananana. She dances as an odorite, following a performance genre that has blossomed in the past ten years. Fans of mostly Vocaloid or J-pop upload dance videos to popular video sharing sites like NicoNico Douga and YouTube.

Here she is performing "Onegai Daarin" (Please, Darling) by ONE:

Ayananana was already interested in dance since she was 13, although she didn't perform for the public. However, she later faced a life-changing event which cast a shadow over her aspirations. She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nerves, causing numbness in limbs and other parts of the body. With her legs weakened, she needed a wheelchair during her treatment and ongoing rehabilitation.

Although debilitating, most people recover from GBS and Ayananana seems to be on that path. That's why she made a decision earlier this summer. Instead of abandoning her passion for dance because of her disability, she would embrace it and become an odorite instead!

After posting her first video in June, an interpretation of the original Hatsune Miku song "Calc.", she was encouraged by the positive comments and felt inspired to expand her activities.

In a later tweet, she explained how she dances both to lift up her own spirits and inspire others:

"At first, I wondered why this disease happened to me. But then, I decided I would live my life with a positive attitude and find something to do. I began posting videos not only because I love dancing but also because I want many people to see me dance (...) Some people have even commented that they want to take on new challenges now, so I want to continue posting videos for them to see."

Ayananana enjoys performing for live audiences too. For example, she explains in a Tweet that on July 2, 2017, she performed at an event called "No Odottemita No Life" in Shibuya. She was overjoyed to meet her idol, the famous odorite Aikawa Kozue, who even helped her onto the stage. She also has a TwiCasting account where she regularly streams live.

In an interview with our staff, Ayananana explained that she wants to continue dancing for the foreseeable future. For her next challenge, she wants to try creating original choreography.

Her video for Calc. has already passed 31,000 views on NicoNico Douga.

With her winning smile, her expressive performance and the positive vibe that shines through every video she posts, it's no wonder that her fanbase is growing day by day. We hope she'll continue to perform and be a source of inspiration for new fans all over the world!

Be sure to check out her other videos on her YouTube Channel.

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Upcoming Performance

Ayananana will be appearing on stage at NicoNico Douga's live event for odorite performers, Odorisuta Vol. 2 on Aug. 25, 2018 at NicoNico Douga's headquarters in Ikebukuro, starting at 12:30 PM JST. If you're in Japan, you can attend in person, or view the live broadcast. Details are available here (in Japanese).