MUSIC OF THE BELLS

While preparing for ballet class, Neela spies her Indian dance clothes. She loves ballet and the new friends she’s made since moving from India, but she misses the jingle of her ankle bells. They remind her of the raga her grandmother sang and the bansuri flute her uncle played—and of Kathak, an Indian classical dance. At her dance studio’s annual showcase, she chooses to perform a Kathak dance. It’s been a long time since she danced Kathak, and she fumbles while practicing, but slowly the tinkling of her ankle bells centers her. On the day of the showcase, the rhythm of the bells fills her with music, and she’s flooded with memories of picking fresh mangoes, making garlands with aunties, and drawing rangolis with loved ones in India. Neela then incorporates ballet moves into her performance as she creates a dance fusion that celebrates both her homes. Rao-Robinson’s affirming, sensory-rich text flows evocatively, while Prabhat’s vibrant illustrations make vivid use of shadow and gesture to capture the energy of the dance and create joyous movement.