Maya deer dance is a fun and entertaining way to bring a community together. Maya traditions are very deep rooted with a strong sense of communal life. No one is very sure as to the symbolism of the dance, but most believe that the dance symbolizes the respect Maya people have for their surroundings and the relationship they develop with their animals. The dance is performed by about 24 men of all ages dressed in brightly colored costumes. Players include a jaguar, a joker, a man dressed as an older woman and another dressed as a maiden, a hunter, a pair of dogs, a few soldiers and about six sacred deer. As the act is played out, the jaguar kidnaps the maiden, the hunter pursues the jaguar and the dogs chase the deer while the joker pokes fun at everyone.