A TIME TO DANCE

Padma Venkatraman narrates her novel-in-verse depicting a young dancer's struggle and resilience after a devastating accident. Sitar music and Venkatraman's lilting accent orient listeners to the exotic Indian setting. Veda passionately studies the classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam, until a car accident leaves her a below-the-knee amputee. Listeners hear Veda's anguish gradually turn to mature, spiritual acceptance as she overcomes her challenges and learns to dance again with a prosthetic limb. Venkatraman's breathy voice and slow pacing capture the rhythm of the lyrical verse and reflect the meditative, sacred space that Veda inhabits when she dances. S.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]