Flare Dancer

The Flare Dancer is a mini-boss that appears twice in the Fire Temple in. Link's first encounter with a Flare Dancer activates a volcanic lift which leads to a new area of the Fire Temple, one where the Megaton Hammer is enshrined. The second encounter leads to a room where one of the imprisoned Gorons and the Boss Key are found.

Strategy
Link will sustain damage if he is hit directly by a Flare Dancer while it is ignited, or if he treads on the fire trail that is left as the mini-boss circles the room. A Flare Dancer is defeated by removing the core from its 'body' composed of fire which can be done with the Hookshot, Megaton Hammer, or by throwing Bombs. Once the core is exposed it will attempt to avoid Link by running around the room; when blocked by Link, it will quickly skid to a halt, and begin to run in the opposite direction. At this time the core may be damaged by any sword strike, though jump attacks are difficult to land due to the agility and mobility of the core.

After Link damages the core it will jump back into the flaming platform to restore its flaming body, each time changing color from yellow/orange to blue/purple then finally to two shades of green. When a Flare Dancer is defeated, the core rapidly expands and explodes, dropping bombs.

As revealed by an imprisoned Goron, Flare Dancers are invulnerable to arrows while they are aflame but are vulnerable to the Goron's Special Crop (bombs).

Ocarina of Time Manga
Flare Dancers also make an appearance in the bonus story "Rouru of the Watarara" of the. Two twin Flare Dancers create a destructive tornado on Lake Hylia. With the help of Navi, Link flies into the tornado and defeats the two Flare Dancers. The tornado dissipates and Link, stuck in midair, begins to fall. When Navi and Rouru's attempt to rescue Link fails, his mother, Elrora, intervenes and helps Rouru fly Link to safety.

Trivia

 * Because of their posture, Flare Dancers resemble scarecrows on fire.