Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes, words by Mahak Jain and pictures by Anu Chouhan. Annick Press, 2022. $22.5 ages 4 and up

 

"Madame taught them how to lift their arms. 

Dana mimicked Madame easily, and Marco  
was a pro. But when Paro tried, she moved 
like a Bharatanatyam dancer, drawn to the 
ground. 

"What's wrong?" Madame asked. 

Paro stared at the floor. 
How could she explain?"

Paro wants to attend dance class, but she is unsure of her ability at ballet. Her mother reminds her that she comes from a family that loves to dance. Ballet is different, Paro worries. Looking in on the class doesn't help. She is very nervous. As she listens to the others talk about their dance experiences which are not all ballet-related, Paro becomes a bit more confident. She steps out like the Bharatanatyam dancer she is. The others think she is merely walking. 

Dana and Marco follow Paro's lead and enjoy this new dance movement. Marco mentions that Anna Pavlova is his favorite dancer. Paro mentions Rukmini Devi, her favorite. The others do not know that name. They know nothing of Bharatanatyam dancers. Paro is concerned that she has much to learn about ballet. As Madame tries to teach new moves, Paro falls back on her previous dance training. It is hard to explain what is happening when her dance teacher asks. Her friends try to help. She tells her mother she must only practice ballet. 

"She saw how different Bharatanatyam and ballet were.
 Bharatanatyam turned Paro's mother into a queen,
but a ballet dancer needed to be like a fairy. 

And Paro couldn't be both. Not ever." 

Paro's mother does not stay for the next class. Instead, she has a surprise for her daughter. She dances for the class, showing them the beauty of her own dancing. Madame happily joins in. First, they dance Bharatanatyam together; then, her mother does a pirouette. All the dancers are excited to be part of this new kind of dancing. Paro gives aid where needed and learns that she can do both! She is not one or the other. 

"Paro Janaki Shankar was a fairy queen!" 

Anu Chouhan’s artwork is expressive, colorful, and full of energy. Readers will enjoy seeing the dance moves, the children's attempts at new learning, and the success felt as the story ends.  

An author's note tells that she was inspired by the story of the meeting of Anna Pavlova and Rukmini Davi, and their love for each other's dancing. Both trained to learn a new dance form, reaching from one culture to another for inspiration. Further information is provided, as well as instructions for making the anklets (ghungroo) that Paro's mother wears while she is dancing.