A young girl learns the Hora at her cousin's wedding, then brings
her new moves to dance class. Chloe is our step-dance star. Tap-tap
go her toes. Up go her knees, reaching almost as high as her chin.
When Chloe finished her routine last week, I felt Madame's eyes on
me. "Isadora, would you like a turn? she asked. More than anything,
I wanted to say yes, but I had nothing to share. If only I could
shine like Lucy, Mateo, and Chloe. On the way home, Grandma could
see I needed some cheering up. "Why such a sad face? she asked.
"Everyone in class has a special dance," I said. "Everyone except
me!" " I have a feeling you may have one very soon," Grandma said,
"maybe even this weekend." I knew she was thinking about the
wedding. On Sunday, Cousin Rachel was getting married to Adam.
Excerpts from Deborah Kalb's Interview with Gloria Koster: DK: What
inspired you to write Dance the Hora, Isadora!, and how did you
create your character Isadora? GK: I wanted to write a wedding
story in which the lens is focused on a child. While Isadora
experiences the joy of the traditional dance and is able to teach
it to her friends, she isn't happy throughout the story. It was
important for me to imagine a real girl who initially experiences
disappointment and who gains confidence with the support of a
loving adult. DK: What do you think the book says about dancing,
and the hora specifically, in Jewish tradition? GK: Though I have
two left feet myself, I adore dancing. It's a way to clear my head,
and I think Isadora's cares also melt away when she dances. The
hora is new to her and also to her dance teacher and classmates,
but everyone embraces the hora--typically, though not always, a
Jewish dance--as happily as all the dances that reflect a variety
of cultures (Latin dancing, step dancing, hip-hop, etc.) DK: What
do you hope kids take away from the book? GK: I want kids to feel a
kinship with Isadora, who is in a bit of a funk at first but feels
like a superstar at the end. An the fact that she shares her
traditional dance in a more secular setting will hopefully
encourage all kids to proudly share things from their own cultures
or religions.
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