The Naka no mai (moderate-tempo dance), beginning with the poem 'Although I leave you and go to Inaba Province, I will return immediately if I hear you wait for me like the pines growing at the peak of Mt. Inaba (play on word – wait and pine are both pronounced "matsu"' (ARIWARA no Yukihira), eventually turns into the Ha no mai (very high-tempo dance) as the sisters become more passionate.
やがて、「立ち別れ　いなばの山の　峰に生ふる　待つとし聞かば　いま帰り来ん」（在原行平）の歌に始まる中ノ舞から心が激して破ノ舞となる。