The book’s backmatter includes an author’s note describing the inspiration behind the story, (the real-life meeting and collaboration of Bharatanatyam dancer Rukmini Devi and ballerina Anna Pavlova), a DIY ghungroo (ankle bell) activity, and a pronunciation and etymology guide. Paro can’t be both.can she? Anu Chouhan’s vibrant, energetic illustrations emphasize themes of creative flexibility and navigating the intersections of different cultural identities.
But what if she can’t dance like the other kids in her class? Ballerinas move like fairies, while Bharatanatyam dancers seem like queens. At home, she dances Bharatanatyam with her mom, and now she’s excited to learn ballet.
This is a heart-breaking, inspiring autobiography by a teenager who shows us that, beyond everything, there is always hope for a better future.“A necessary tool for helping children understand and develop cultural competency and compassion early on.” -School Library JournalĪ girl explores her love of dancing and her cultural identity in a lively picture book with echoes of the real-life collaboration between Bharatanatyam icon Rukmini Devi Arundale and ballerina Anna Pavlova. Today, Michaela DePrince is an international ballet star, dancing for The Dutch National Ballet at the age of nineteen. The world of ballet is a racist one, and Michaela has to fight for a place amongst the ballet elite, hearing the words ‘America’s not ready for a black girl ballerina.’Īnd yet. Unfortunately, tragedy can find its way to Michaela in America, too, and her past can feel like it’s haunting her. But life in the States isn’t without difficulties. Then Michaela and her best friend are adopted by an American couple, and Michaela begins to take dance lessons. Sent to an orphanage, Michaela was mistreated and saw the brutal murder of her favourite teacher. Her father was killed by rebels and her mother died of famine. Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnessed atrocities that no child ever should. Hope in a Ballet Shoe tells the story of Michaela DePrince.
0 kommentar(er)
