INUVIK, N.W.T. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has posed for countless pictures and given several speeches across the north this week.

But on Wednesday night he literally took his campaign to promote sovereignty in the Arctic a step ahead -- he danced.

Around 300 people packed into a stuffy recreation centre in Inuvik, NWT on Wednesday night, waiting for a glimpse of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

While he was having private meetings, the Inuvik Drummers and Dancers entertained the crowd, warming up for their turn in front of the PM.

Restless children entertained themselves with video games, while some fanned paper plates to stir up some fresh air.

Finally, Harper arrived, shaking hands with elders and children alike, before making his way to the front of the room.

For a few minutes he gamely watched the dancers perform, until Lillian Elias issued an invitation.

"Our tradition is that we invite everybody to join us when it is time for us to have a dance, a freestyle dance," said Elias, 67, who has been dancing about 10 years.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq was first to her feet, joining a growing crowd preparing to the gentle beat of a drum.

Seconds later, Harper rose.

He accepted a pair of traditional cowhide and beaver fur gloves, and as the drumbeats picked up he shyly swayed and bounced.

But as the community closed in and their shouts grew louder, Harper grew bolder.

He crouched and shimmied, adding his voice to the chorus.

At the end, wild applause and a high five from one of the dancers.

"He did very well," said Elias.

In his speech, Harper thanked Nellie Cournoyea, the former premier of the Northwest Territories for putting together the event.

"Nellie told me come on out and we'll have some entertainment for you," he said.

"She didn't tell me I would be the entertainment."

After his speech, he was mobbed by children and dancers, and for a few minutes banged gently on a traditional drum.

Harper's stop in Inuvik was the best attended public event yet of his northern tour.

He has been criticized by the opposition Liberals for the institutionalized nature of his annual summer tour, filled with careful photo ops and announcements, but little real interaction with actual people.

The spontaneous dance was a stark contrast to the morning of carefully staged and crafted photo opportunities with soldiers participating in Operation Nanook in Resolute, Nunavut.

Harper's five-day tour through the north is about promoting Canadian sovereignty, be it through military might or economic development.

He has also repeatedly stresses that the people in the north have a major role to play in those goals.

"We also support your efforts on sovereignty," said Michael Miltenberger, deputy premier of the Northwest Territories.

"To us, the bedrock of sovereignty are the people of the Northwest Territories, in our communities, on the land, our rangers, gatherings like this that demonstrate that the north is fully inhabited and we are fully part of Canada."

Harper was to leave Inuvik early Thursday morning to travel to Tuktoyaktuk.