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Dancing in the Dark
North American debut of the Australian award-winning drama. Ditty Cohen is passionate about ballet--she loves how it feels to stand en pointe, to rise and spin across the room. But her Orthodox Jewish parents want Ditty to focus on the teachings of the Torah and to marry at a young age according to their religious tradition. Although her parents forbid her to take dance lessons, Ditty secretly signs up for ballet and becomes entangled in a web of deceit. As one lie leads to another and another, Ditty knows she must stop dancing, but she can't abandon the one thing that gives her freedom. She begins to question her faith and everything her parents have taught her, realizing just how much is at stake as her two worlds collide.
300 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
12 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Bavati
6 books37 followersRobyn Bavati lives in Melbourne, Australia. She is married and has three grown-up children and a cat called Fudgie. She loves visiting schools.
Robyn's favourite children's book is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. She doesn't have a single favourite book for adults. Her answer will change depending on when you happen to ask her.
Robyn's favourite children's book is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. She doesn't have a single favourite book for adults. Her answer will change depending on when you happen to ask her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 26, 2017
This is the story of an Ultraorthodox Jewish girl who discovers ballet and spends the next five years lying to her parents so that she can take ballet classes. As she spends more and more time taking ballet and more and more time around goyim, she starts to question her beliefs (initially, the rules of her Ultraorthodox movement but eventually her faith as a whole).
I had...mixed feelings about this book. I loved the idea of this 12 year old girl being so taken with ballet that she does whatever it takes to learn. I liked seeing the friendships that Ditty made over the course of the book. I liked that she started to think critically about the world as a whole and her place in it.
But.
The religious side of things was not particularly well handled. Robyn Bavati is Jewish, and was apparently raised in a Modern Orthodox family. But Modern Orthodox is a long way from Ultraorthodox, and it feels like her personal beliefs very much coloured the story she's trying to tell. It basically ends up feeling like the Ultraorthodox movement is a cult in which nobody questions anything they're told and that people are willingly living in a state of ignorance that Ditty can only see through because of the time she's spent around goyim.
And, like, I have zero religious beliefs at all (despite eight years at Anglican schools. Nice try, Mum!). But I'm not about to argue that people who have religious beliefs are ignorant lunatics who follow along blindly without thinking about or questioning their faith at any point. So...yeah. That side of things made me kind of uncomfortable.
Add in the fact that the writing is often very juvenile, and by the end of the book, Ditty still feels like a 12 year old, rather than the 17 year old she's supposed to be and I was pretty much on the meh train. That said, I liked the ballet side of the story and the ending was pretty satisfying. So it balanced out to "this was decent, but it had issues".
I had...mixed feelings about this book. I loved the idea of this 12 year old girl being so taken with ballet that she does whatever it takes to learn. I liked seeing the friendships that Ditty made over the course of the book. I liked that she started to think critically about the world as a whole and her place in it.
But.
The religious side of things was not particularly well handled. Robyn Bavati is Jewish, and was apparently raised in a Modern Orthodox family. But Modern Orthodox is a long way from Ultraorthodox, and it feels like her personal beliefs very much coloured the story she's trying to tell. It basically ends up feeling like the Ultraorthodox movement is a cult in which nobody questions anything they're told and that people are willingly living in a state of ignorance that Ditty can only see through because of the time she's spent around goyim.
And, like, I have zero religious beliefs at all (despite eight years at Anglican schools. Nice try, Mum!). But I'm not about to argue that people who have religious beliefs are ignorant lunatics who follow along blindly without thinking about or questioning their faith at any point. So...yeah. That side of things made me kind of uncomfortable.
Add in the fact that the writing is often very juvenile, and by the end of the book, Ditty still feels like a 12 year old, rather than the 17 year old she's supposed to be and I was pretty much on the meh train. That said, I liked the ballet side of the story and the ending was pretty satisfying. So it balanced out to "this was decent, but it had issues".
April 5, 2010
Ditty wants to start ballet lessons - but her strictly religious Jewish parents forbid it. So she begins dancing in secret, creating elaborate lies so her parents don't find out what she's doing - if she's caught, she'll be in huge trouble. Ditty soon finds herself questioning the beliefs her parents have raised her with. For Ditty, following her dreams of being a ballet dancer may cost her her family.
What really surprised me about this book was the fact that it was set in the present - until mobile phones were mentioned, I thought it was occuring twenty years ago! The strictness of Ditty and her family's religion was really startling since it was set in such a familiar location (in and around Melbourne) and set in the present day - a lifestyle like that Ditty had to live (involving not mixing with people of other religions, not being allowed to watch television or access the internet, having to wear clothes that totally cover your body at all times, not being allowed to have hobbies, being married off at seventeen and so on...) is one that I can hardly imagine a teenage girl living anywhere near where I live. And yet people do.
Ditty was a wonderful character, and I think everyone in the novel (Ditty's family, friends, people at the ballet school) were depicted very realistically. I think I expected for there to be a lot of competitiveness at Ditty's ballet school, but that wasn't really an element of this novel.
I think the sheer scope of the novel made it feel a bit rushed at times - it covered five years of Ditty's life, from twelve to seventeen, and there were a couple of intances where a year passed in a blink.
This is a really wonderful story - while it serves as a fantastic insight into the life of someone who's very religious, the religious aspect won't alienate readers - I think all teenage girls will really empathise with Ditty, and her need to be independent and follow her dreams is something almost everyone will be able to relate to. I strongly recommend it to girls 12 and older who are looking for a contemporary YA from a unique perspective.
What really surprised me about this book was the fact that it was set in the present - until mobile phones were mentioned, I thought it was occuring twenty years ago! The strictness of Ditty and her family's religion was really startling since it was set in such a familiar location (in and around Melbourne) and set in the present day - a lifestyle like that Ditty had to live (involving not mixing with people of other religions, not being allowed to watch television or access the internet, having to wear clothes that totally cover your body at all times, not being allowed to have hobbies, being married off at seventeen and so on...) is one that I can hardly imagine a teenage girl living anywhere near where I live. And yet people do.
Ditty was a wonderful character, and I think everyone in the novel (Ditty's family, friends, people at the ballet school) were depicted very realistically. I think I expected for there to be a lot of competitiveness at Ditty's ballet school, but that wasn't really an element of this novel.
I think the sheer scope of the novel made it feel a bit rushed at times - it covered five years of Ditty's life, from twelve to seventeen, and there were a couple of intances where a year passed in a blink.
This is a really wonderful story - while it serves as a fantastic insight into the life of someone who's very religious, the religious aspect won't alienate readers - I think all teenage girls will really empathise with Ditty, and her need to be independent and follow her dreams is something almost everyone will be able to relate to. I strongly recommend it to girls 12 and older who are looking for a contemporary YA from a unique perspective.
March 12, 2013
Initial reaction: "Dancing in the Dark" was, indubitibly, a beautifully told story of a young woman's coming of age and quest to pursue a dream of dancing. However, in the spectrum of faith and abiding by her family's strict rules, she has to pursue her dreams in secret, and begins to question the foundations she's been taught for much of her life. I really enjoyed the novel in so many ways, from the smooth, easy prose, to the intimacy of Ditty's experiences, but I was left with a few conflicting feelings about the novel in the aftermath. I hope to expound upon those in the full review, but I still consider this story, collectively speaking, as a favorite.
Full review:
"Dancing in the Dark," in many ways, was an eye-opening read for me as an overarching coming of age story. While it was a look into the life of a young woman ambitiously striving for a love she discovered in dance and the relationships she built in that spectrum, it was also an interesting examination of the nature of faith and internal/external conflictions that may come with that, particularly in a restrictive sense of faith.
Speaking from personal experiences, I grew up in an environment with an open acceptance of and willingness to understand many different religions. Though I personally have my own beliefs and moralities in my respective faith and hold fast to those, I try to see the world in different perspectives and gain a sense of understanding of other interpretations, other values, other cultures, among other aspects. But I think a few questions that this particular book brings to light in certain measures - what if your faith conflicts with the dreams and aspirations you seek in life? What if those restrictions limit your ability to grow, change, and contribute in your society and you have to lie to yourself and others in order to do the things you set out to do? How do you explain your faith to others who don't understand what it is? How do you find the balance between your beliefs, your adherence to your faith, and defining those in your sense of self?
I really learned much about the young woman at the forefront of "Dancing in the Dark" (Ditty), identifying not only as Jewish, but a particular division of that with its own sets of rules and limitations. When we first meet Ditty, she's a twelve year old girl who's spending time at her friend's house and who happens to get into something that her faith won't allow (they're restrictive of TVs, DVDs, restrictions in literature, etc.) Ditty happens to turn on the TV and watches a showing of "The Nutcracker" with her friend that completely turns her world upside down - making her want to pursue the art of dance. However, her parents aren't supportive of her aspirations and forbid her from pursuing it. Thus, Ditty makes the difficult decision to transcend her parents' restrictions in order to pursue her interest, which lends into years of living a lie that not only surrounds multiple dimensions of her external life, but takes a toll on her from within. This is a narrative that follows Ditty over the course of five years, and granted, considering her respective faith - she starts out as a young woman with a certain naivete that some might think is - in due measure - representative of her sheltered lifestyle from the outside world. As the book progresses, it's more of a coming to terms that she realizes the particular restrictions that she resides within and that she hates being untruthful about what she wants to do and her dedication to her faith. It's easy to palpate her fears, anger, confusion, questionings, among other emotional mounds that arise in the course of the novel. I actually thought the way the story was told was brilliant, and I really felt for Ditty alongside her journey amid some heartbreaking turns.
At the same time, I think its important to say that this story isn't entirely for everyone. I think if you're from a background with a very rooted sense of faith and follow Ditty's journey, you may not like the way she come to terms with her conflictions and the resulting measure from which she departs and comes to terms with her life in the overarching story. Ditty's experience is by no means one size fits all, nor is it a measure to say that every person who lives in the kind of environment that Ditty does for some time experiences a break in the way that she does. Still, when following this story on an overarching note as a coming of age/coming to terms story - the questions and issues it brings across are very valuable, I think, for any reader who may peruse it. You may not agree with Ditty's perspective, the actions/reactions she takes in turns, and how she rationalizes events, but I think the author did a fantastic job of bringing many issues to the forefront at least to think about and question. I definitely appreciated reading Ditty's individual story and about the different people in her life in the narrative. I certainly liked Ditty's dance teacher - she was a wonderful character and you could tell she really cared for the girl and wanted to look out for her best interests, as well as encourage her.
In the end, I was rooting for Ditty to find the path she wanted to take and I really appreciated the questions, the emotional resonance, and the overarching story this had to offer. It's beautifully told and certainly one I would recommend at the least to try.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Flux.
Full review:
"Dancing in the Dark," in many ways, was an eye-opening read for me as an overarching coming of age story. While it was a look into the life of a young woman ambitiously striving for a love she discovered in dance and the relationships she built in that spectrum, it was also an interesting examination of the nature of faith and internal/external conflictions that may come with that, particularly in a restrictive sense of faith.
Speaking from personal experiences, I grew up in an environment with an open acceptance of and willingness to understand many different religions. Though I personally have my own beliefs and moralities in my respective faith and hold fast to those, I try to see the world in different perspectives and gain a sense of understanding of other interpretations, other values, other cultures, among other aspects. But I think a few questions that this particular book brings to light in certain measures - what if your faith conflicts with the dreams and aspirations you seek in life? What if those restrictions limit your ability to grow, change, and contribute in your society and you have to lie to yourself and others in order to do the things you set out to do? How do you explain your faith to others who don't understand what it is? How do you find the balance between your beliefs, your adherence to your faith, and defining those in your sense of self?
I really learned much about the young woman at the forefront of "Dancing in the Dark" (Ditty), identifying not only as Jewish, but a particular division of that with its own sets of rules and limitations. When we first meet Ditty, she's a twelve year old girl who's spending time at her friend's house and who happens to get into something that her faith won't allow (they're restrictive of TVs, DVDs, restrictions in literature, etc.) Ditty happens to turn on the TV and watches a showing of "The Nutcracker" with her friend that completely turns her world upside down - making her want to pursue the art of dance. However, her parents aren't supportive of her aspirations and forbid her from pursuing it. Thus, Ditty makes the difficult decision to transcend her parents' restrictions in order to pursue her interest, which lends into years of living a lie that not only surrounds multiple dimensions of her external life, but takes a toll on her from within. This is a narrative that follows Ditty over the course of five years, and granted, considering her respective faith - she starts out as a young woman with a certain naivete that some might think is - in due measure - representative of her sheltered lifestyle from the outside world. As the book progresses, it's more of a coming to terms that she realizes the particular restrictions that she resides within and that she hates being untruthful about what she wants to do and her dedication to her faith. It's easy to palpate her fears, anger, confusion, questionings, among other emotional mounds that arise in the course of the novel. I actually thought the way the story was told was brilliant, and I really felt for Ditty alongside her journey amid some heartbreaking turns.
At the same time, I think its important to say that this story isn't entirely for everyone. I think if you're from a background with a very rooted sense of faith and follow Ditty's journey, you may not like the way she come to terms with her conflictions and the resulting measure from which she departs and comes to terms with her life in the overarching story. Ditty's experience is by no means one size fits all, nor is it a measure to say that every person who lives in the kind of environment that Ditty does for some time experiences a break in the way that she does. Still, when following this story on an overarching note as a coming of age/coming to terms story - the questions and issues it brings across are very valuable, I think, for any reader who may peruse it. You may not agree with Ditty's perspective, the actions/reactions she takes in turns, and how she rationalizes events, but I think the author did a fantastic job of bringing many issues to the forefront at least to think about and question. I definitely appreciated reading Ditty's individual story and about the different people in her life in the narrative. I certainly liked Ditty's dance teacher - she was a wonderful character and you could tell she really cared for the girl and wanted to look out for her best interests, as well as encourage her.
In the end, I was rooting for Ditty to find the path she wanted to take and I really appreciated the questions, the emotional resonance, and the overarching story this had to offer. It's beautifully told and certainly one I would recommend at the least to try.
Overall score: 3.5/5
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Flux.
February 13, 2013
2.5/5 stars
Dancing in the Dark wasn't terrible. But considering it has two of my favorite things, dancing stories and religious doubt, and I still couldn't like it, that's not a good sign for the book.
The biggest problem with this book is that it feels to juvenile. Yes I understand Ditty lives with an overprotective orthodox Jewish family so she's expected to be naive. But naiveté alone does not make a story juvenile. This story has the great opportunity to show those who are kept away from the world are not somehow less. It should have great conversations about faith, doubt and family.
Instead it's tedious, having a few really good moments (the beginning I liked) then dragging again. The pacing is just terrible. There was a point when the story briefly got exciting and I thought "okay let's turn this thing around," then Ditty slept for 2 straight weeks. Stories need to move and this one just didn't.
Sometimes the book did not use appropriate language, for example when 17-year-old Ditty says, "The butterflies in my tummy are still beating their wings..." I cringed because that's just terrible writing and even worse editing. I don't care how protected Ditty is, using the word tummy over stomach in any context just doesn't work.
There is nothing horribly offensive or terrible about this book, nor is there anything to highly recommend it. It has it's moments. I enjoy seeing into a different faith than my own, but Ditty is never developed enough to carry the conversations that this book needs to be great.
Dancing in the Dark wasn't terrible. But considering it has two of my favorite things, dancing stories and religious doubt, and I still couldn't like it, that's not a good sign for the book.
The biggest problem with this book is that it feels to juvenile. Yes I understand Ditty lives with an overprotective orthodox Jewish family so she's expected to be naive. But naiveté alone does not make a story juvenile. This story has the great opportunity to show those who are kept away from the world are not somehow less. It should have great conversations about faith, doubt and family.
Instead it's tedious, having a few really good moments (the beginning I liked) then dragging again. The pacing is just terrible. There was a point when the story briefly got exciting and I thought "okay let's turn this thing around," then Ditty slept for 2 straight weeks. Stories need to move and this one just didn't.
Sometimes the book did not use appropriate language, for example when 17-year-old Ditty says, "The butterflies in my tummy are still beating their wings..." I cringed because that's just terrible writing and even worse editing. I don't care how protected Ditty is, using the word tummy over stomach in any context just doesn't work.
There is nothing horribly offensive or terrible about this book, nor is there anything to highly recommend it. It has it's moments. I enjoy seeing into a different faith than my own, but Ditty is never developed enough to carry the conversations that this book needs to be great.
November 28, 2012
Ditty is a Haredi Jew, the most conservative branch of Orthodox Judaism (sometimes referred to as ultra-Orthodox). When she and her friend Sarah sneak watching some TV, Ditty discovers the world of dance and is transfixed. She wants to take ballet lesson more than anything, but dancing is something her family will not allow. Against her father's and her community's wishes, Ditty secretly begins taking dance lessons. Can Ditty dance and keep her family? Or will she need to give one of them up?
This book made me feel uncomfortable. Allow me to explain why. Before the story begins, Robyn Bavati notes that she grew up in a Modern Orthodox family, not Haredi, as the community in the book is. In fact, Ditty's cousin who is Modern Orthodox is portrayed as being liberal and wild. Bavati also notes that "...the community portrayed in this story is not representative of the broader Jewish community..." OK, so, I wonder about her choice to set her story in the Haredi community. Because she felt it would a better, more dramatic story? Why did she pick a community she didn't actually grow up in? Why not tell her own story?
The view that Bavati shows of the Haredi community is a very harsh one. People are portrayed as brainwashed zealots, who blindly follow their religious convictions. Only Ditty fights against religion, finally breaking free. I am not saying that there aren't conflicts like this in religious communities. It is no doubt a common story. My issue was the incredibly one-sided picture we got of that community.
I think of the incredible book Hush, by Eishes Chayil, which was about sexual abuse in the Chasidic community. Despite the serious nature of the book, and the realness of the problem, Eishes Chayil was still able to show, in many different ways, the positive aspects of such a community. The people were not represented as flat, one-dimensional characters. They were full, complex people.
That was not the case with Dancing in the Dark. Religion is brainwashing, and Ditty must break free of it in order to become a dancer. She doesn't try to modify her religious beliefs to make her Judaism and dancing fit together. Once her secret comes out and she leaves her community, she leaves her religion as well, because her mind has been opened and she sees how religion doesn't actually make any sense.
So it makes me uncomfortable, knowing what an incredibly narrow view of the Jewish community this is, and how it will seem to someone who knows very little of the Jewish community.
As a story, it was fine. Girl following her dream against the wishes of her family. Nothing new there.
Dancing in the Dark comes out February 8, 2012.
This book made me feel uncomfortable. Allow me to explain why. Before the story begins, Robyn Bavati notes that she grew up in a Modern Orthodox family, not Haredi, as the community in the book is. In fact, Ditty's cousin who is Modern Orthodox is portrayed as being liberal and wild. Bavati also notes that "...the community portrayed in this story is not representative of the broader Jewish community..." OK, so, I wonder about her choice to set her story in the Haredi community. Because she felt it would a better, more dramatic story? Why did she pick a community she didn't actually grow up in? Why not tell her own story?
The view that Bavati shows of the Haredi community is a very harsh one. People are portrayed as brainwashed zealots, who blindly follow their religious convictions. Only Ditty fights against religion, finally breaking free. I am not saying that there aren't conflicts like this in religious communities. It is no doubt a common story. My issue was the incredibly one-sided picture we got of that community.
I think of the incredible book Hush, by Eishes Chayil, which was about sexual abuse in the Chasidic community. Despite the serious nature of the book, and the realness of the problem, Eishes Chayil was still able to show, in many different ways, the positive aspects of such a community. The people were not represented as flat, one-dimensional characters. They were full, complex people.
That was not the case with Dancing in the Dark. Religion is brainwashing, and Ditty must break free of it in order to become a dancer. She doesn't try to modify her religious beliefs to make her Judaism and dancing fit together. Once her secret comes out and she leaves her community, she leaves her religion as well, because her mind has been opened and she sees how religion doesn't actually make any sense.
So it makes me uncomfortable, knowing what an incredibly narrow view of the Jewish community this is, and how it will seem to someone who knows very little of the Jewish community.
As a story, it was fine. Girl following her dream against the wishes of her family. Nothing new there.
Dancing in the Dark comes out February 8, 2012.
February 13, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
Dancing in the Dark was previously published in Australia in 2010, and has finally hit the American market. Robyn Bavati has written a touching contemporary tale of a girl learning what she must do to be happy. The prose was beautiful and the interactions between the characters were both joyful and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the main character. Even though I know next to nothing about ballet and the Haredi culture, I was spent up in this story and could not put it down!
Yehudit “Ditty” Cohen is a member of the ultra-conservative Haredi Jewish community. They have very specific rules that the follow both in worship and in their everyday lives. They eschew the secular world and separate themselves from goyim or non-Jewish people. Having grown up in this community, Ditty doesn’t really know any other way of life until the day her best friend Sarah finds a forbidden TV set hidden in her mother’s closet. Through the TV shows, Ditty is exposed to the world of ballet and soon realizes that becoming a dancer is her true passion in life.
Ditty’s parents are against her learning ballet because they believe performing on-stage is inappropriate and the clothing is also indecent. They don’t know they Ditty has already taken a few free lessons and has fallen completely in love with the art. She decides to continue dancing, but keeps it a secret from her family for over five years. Throughout this time, Ditty learns more and more about ballet, but she also learns about herself and what it will take for her to be happy.
I absolutely loved Ditty; even when I thought she was being a bit selfish or grumpy, I still understood where she was coming from. She knew what she was doing wrong, and even though she regretted hurting the people around her, she never regretted continuing to dance. She didn’t let herself believe that her actions were okay, but she owned up to the guilt that she constantly felt. She didn’t want to hurt her family, but she felt she had to become more independent and seize the chance to follow her dreams. When Ditty danced, her happiness and joy shined through the pages. You could feel how important to her it was and how it made her feel alive like nothing else. So many times I wished her family could be there to see her dance, for surely they would realize how much it meant to her if they could just see her in action.
The supporting characters around Ditty also had a big influence on her life. I loved her best friend Sara; she stood by Ditty through thick and thin and supported her even when she didn’t believe in Ditty’s actions. She didn’t let Ditty or her mother influence her beliefs, but she did love them both no matter what. Ditty’s cousin Linda was also very interesting. As much as Ditty changes throughout the novel, so does Linda and she ends up serving as a mirror for Ditty. Ms. Mitchell, Ditty’s ballet teacher, was so wonderfully supportive and true gem in this novel. I wish every child had a teacher like her in real life.
As members of the Haredi community, Ditty’s family was portrayed as very conservative and pious. Though Ms. Bavati does state upfront that she is Jewish, but not Haredi, I cannot say how much of their portrayal is correct. I do know that the family she created in this novel loves in their own way and are very humble, but they can also be harsh and stubborn. After they forbid her to dance, Ditty is constantly lying to everyone around her in order to keep her ballet world safe. She ends up alienating herself from those closest to her because she cannot tell them about her actual life. As she is exposed to more of the secular world, she begins to feel more and more disconnected from her family and her community’s beliefs and practices. Her mother sees her slipping away, but doesn’t know what is going on in Ditty’s world. When the truth finally comes out, the consequences are heartbreaking but I was very proud of Ditty for sticking to her guns. Though the situation looks very bleak, the end of the novel gives readers a little bit of hope for Ditty and her family and quite nearly made me cry.
I really enjoyed learning about the Haredi culture, their beliefs, and the way that they live their lives. Ms. Bavati used traditional Jewish words and phrases throughout the novel and, even though there was a glossary at the end, I never felt lost or confused. Everything was easily deciphered using context. I liked that Ms. Bavati didn’t have Ditty just suddenly turn from her Haredi roots. She had lived twelve years in that community before she was exposed to dance and it wouldn’t make sense for her to completely ignore everything she had been taught. She started questioning small things about her faith and, by the end, had figured out what being Jewish meant to her.
I think one of the most fascinating things about this book is that it can really be taken in different ways depending on the reader. For example, as someone raised in the modern, secular world, I tended to sympathize with Ditty and saw her decisions as brave though heartbreaking. On the other hand, I think that someone who lives in a more conservative, religious environment might see Ditty’s actions as selfish and sympathize more with her family. Dancing in the Dark could certainly be looked at from many different angles with everyone coming to different conclusions. I find that a mark of a great book. Ms. Bavati has written just a wonderfully compelling tale and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future. I recommend this book for readers of all kinds, but especially those who enjoy contemporary YA fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing an ARC copy of this book!
Dancing in the Dark was previously published in Australia in 2010, and has finally hit the American market. Robyn Bavati has written a touching contemporary tale of a girl learning what she must do to be happy. The prose was beautiful and the interactions between the characters were both joyful and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved the main character. Even though I know next to nothing about ballet and the Haredi culture, I was spent up in this story and could not put it down!
Yehudit “Ditty” Cohen is a member of the ultra-conservative Haredi Jewish community. They have very specific rules that the follow both in worship and in their everyday lives. They eschew the secular world and separate themselves from goyim or non-Jewish people. Having grown up in this community, Ditty doesn’t really know any other way of life until the day her best friend Sarah finds a forbidden TV set hidden in her mother’s closet. Through the TV shows, Ditty is exposed to the world of ballet and soon realizes that becoming a dancer is her true passion in life.
Ditty’s parents are against her learning ballet because they believe performing on-stage is inappropriate and the clothing is also indecent. They don’t know they Ditty has already taken a few free lessons and has fallen completely in love with the art. She decides to continue dancing, but keeps it a secret from her family for over five years. Throughout this time, Ditty learns more and more about ballet, but she also learns about herself and what it will take for her to be happy.
I absolutely loved Ditty; even when I thought she was being a bit selfish or grumpy, I still understood where she was coming from. She knew what she was doing wrong, and even though she regretted hurting the people around her, she never regretted continuing to dance. She didn’t let herself believe that her actions were okay, but she owned up to the guilt that she constantly felt. She didn’t want to hurt her family, but she felt she had to become more independent and seize the chance to follow her dreams. When Ditty danced, her happiness and joy shined through the pages. You could feel how important to her it was and how it made her feel alive like nothing else. So many times I wished her family could be there to see her dance, for surely they would realize how much it meant to her if they could just see her in action.
The supporting characters around Ditty also had a big influence on her life. I loved her best friend Sara; she stood by Ditty through thick and thin and supported her even when she didn’t believe in Ditty’s actions. She didn’t let Ditty or her mother influence her beliefs, but she did love them both no matter what. Ditty’s cousin Linda was also very interesting. As much as Ditty changes throughout the novel, so does Linda and she ends up serving as a mirror for Ditty. Ms. Mitchell, Ditty’s ballet teacher, was so wonderfully supportive and true gem in this novel. I wish every child had a teacher like her in real life.
As members of the Haredi community, Ditty’s family was portrayed as very conservative and pious. Though Ms. Bavati does state upfront that she is Jewish, but not Haredi, I cannot say how much of their portrayal is correct. I do know that the family she created in this novel loves in their own way and are very humble, but they can also be harsh and stubborn. After they forbid her to dance, Ditty is constantly lying to everyone around her in order to keep her ballet world safe. She ends up alienating herself from those closest to her because she cannot tell them about her actual life. As she is exposed to more of the secular world, she begins to feel more and more disconnected from her family and her community’s beliefs and practices. Her mother sees her slipping away, but doesn’t know what is going on in Ditty’s world. When the truth finally comes out, the consequences are heartbreaking but I was very proud of Ditty for sticking to her guns. Though the situation looks very bleak, the end of the novel gives readers a little bit of hope for Ditty and her family and quite nearly made me cry.
I really enjoyed learning about the Haredi culture, their beliefs, and the way that they live their lives. Ms. Bavati used traditional Jewish words and phrases throughout the novel and, even though there was a glossary at the end, I never felt lost or confused. Everything was easily deciphered using context. I liked that Ms. Bavati didn’t have Ditty just suddenly turn from her Haredi roots. She had lived twelve years in that community before she was exposed to dance and it wouldn’t make sense for her to completely ignore everything she had been taught. She started questioning small things about her faith and, by the end, had figured out what being Jewish meant to her.
I think one of the most fascinating things about this book is that it can really be taken in different ways depending on the reader. For example, as someone raised in the modern, secular world, I tended to sympathize with Ditty and saw her decisions as brave though heartbreaking. On the other hand, I think that someone who lives in a more conservative, religious environment might see Ditty’s actions as selfish and sympathize more with her family. Dancing in the Dark could certainly be looked at from many different angles with everyone coming to different conclusions. I find that a mark of a great book. Ms. Bavati has written just a wonderfully compelling tale and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for the future. I recommend this book for readers of all kinds, but especially those who enjoy contemporary YA fiction.
Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing an ARC copy of this book!
February 21, 2013
If you know me at all, you know that I have no dancing ability whatsoever. In fact, the only time I dance at all is when I've been drinking heavily and I mention that because if you ever see me dancing, knock the drink out of my hand, give me a diet soda and some aspirin.
So even though I am not a dancer at all (or even graceful), I am so in love with stories about dance in general and ballet in particular. And this book was no exception.
I think most of us have one thing (or more, maybe) that we are so passionate about that not doing them isn't an option. For Ditty, it's ballet. Her family is very religious (ultra-Orthodox, to the point where they don't even have a TV) and so the thought of her wearing revealing clothes and dancing with boys is so out of the question that it's never even a consideration. And yet, Ditty has no choice. She HAS to dance. And she's good at it. Over the course of the story (which is several years), she goes from a novice (a 12-year-old girl in a class with eight and nine-year-olds!) to performing on stage. And when her parents find out, she isn't even that sorry. I mean, yes, she's not happy that her parents are upset (mostly disappointed but also very angry and hurt), but she knows that dancing is her thing and she has to do it.
The most interesting thing about this book for me was the idea of the slippery slope of sin. To clarify, I'm not Jewish at all, and my brand of Christianity is pretty liberal (yes to moderate drinking, yes to dancing) so my experience is about as different from Ditty's as you can get...and I don't consider the things she does sinning. But she did, at least at first
So remember how I said her family didn't have a TV? Her friend Sara found that her mom had a small one hidden in her room. It's completely verboten in the community so the two girls work up their nerve and watch it together. And Ditty feels so guilty! She's sure that God's mad at her and that her mom will be able to tell right away. And yet, they keep watching. That's how she learns about ballet; there's a performance on TV one afternoon.
She asks her parents for permission but they say no. But she goes anyway. She just wants to see if she can do it. So it goes from a few kind of relatively minor incidents of disobeying (two lessons a week) to eventually being four days a week. But to REALLY make it as a dancer and to show that she's serious about it, she knows that she'll have to attend rehearsals and classes on Saturdays...which is Shabbos (the Jewish Sabbath). And that's basically the most unforgivable thing you can do if you're Orthodox. Probably the only thing worse would be converting to Christianity. It's a huge deal.
And yet she does.
I enjoyed this book but it also made me really sad because Ditty was getting so far away from her family. In the beginning of the book, they were so close but dancing drove a wedge between her and everyone she loved.
Bavati has a new book coming out in November called Pirouette. I really, really hope it's a sequel to this.
Recommended.
So even though I am not a dancer at all (or even graceful), I am so in love with stories about dance in general and ballet in particular. And this book was no exception.
I think most of us have one thing (or more, maybe) that we are so passionate about that not doing them isn't an option. For Ditty, it's ballet. Her family is very religious (ultra-Orthodox, to the point where they don't even have a TV) and so the thought of her wearing revealing clothes and dancing with boys is so out of the question that it's never even a consideration. And yet, Ditty has no choice. She HAS to dance. And she's good at it. Over the course of the story (which is several years), she goes from a novice (a 12-year-old girl in a class with eight and nine-year-olds!) to performing on stage. And when her parents find out, she isn't even that sorry. I mean, yes, she's not happy that her parents are upset (mostly disappointed but also very angry and hurt), but she knows that dancing is her thing and she has to do it.
The most interesting thing about this book for me was the idea of the slippery slope of sin. To clarify, I'm not Jewish at all, and my brand of Christianity is pretty liberal (yes to moderate drinking, yes to dancing) so my experience is about as different from Ditty's as you can get...and I don't consider the things she does sinning. But she did, at least at first
So remember how I said her family didn't have a TV? Her friend Sara found that her mom had a small one hidden in her room. It's completely verboten in the community so the two girls work up their nerve and watch it together. And Ditty feels so guilty! She's sure that God's mad at her and that her mom will be able to tell right away. And yet, they keep watching. That's how she learns about ballet; there's a performance on TV one afternoon.
She asks her parents for permission but they say no. But she goes anyway. She just wants to see if she can do it. So it goes from a few kind of relatively minor incidents of disobeying (two lessons a week) to eventually being four days a week. But to REALLY make it as a dancer and to show that she's serious about it, she knows that she'll have to attend rehearsals and classes on Saturdays...which is Shabbos (the Jewish Sabbath). And that's basically the most unforgivable thing you can do if you're Orthodox. Probably the only thing worse would be converting to Christianity. It's a huge deal.
And yet she does.
I enjoyed this book but it also made me really sad because Ditty was getting so far away from her family. In the beginning of the book, they were so close but dancing drove a wedge between her and everyone she loved.
Bavati has a new book coming out in November called Pirouette. I really, really hope it's a sequel to this.
Recommended.
April 11, 2013
Delightful. Different. Delightfully different!
The very best YA fiction doesn't include any of the usual tired plot devices or characters. By this I mean no MHB (Mysterious Hot Boy), no LT(Love Triangle), no PG(Plain Girl who is universally beloved for no apparent reason), no IL(Insta-Love), and no we can't be together because I am too dangerous, you are too dangerous, you and me together is too dangerous, etc.
So, you may be asking, well then what's left? If you remove all that stuff and the sparkly supernatural, paranormal beings or dystopian world, what would you write about?
Well, real life, real happenings, real feelings.
I love it when I find books like this, little gems that haven't gotten tons of promotion, but are nevertheless very much worth the time.
Ditty, the heroine of this story, is from an ultra-conservative Jewish sect and she falls in love . . . with ballet. Yes, and she falls hard, hard enough to risk everything in pursuit of her dream, of her love. And along the way, she begins to question her life, what she wants, what she believes.
But, the story isn't all about her. It is populated with her friend, Sarah and her cousin, Linda and you also get glimpses into their lives and beliefs and choices so the story is well-rounded since you get to see into this world from several angles, although the book is first person so the voice is always Ditty.
One of the things I liked best is that Ditty's choice is so pure. While there is a gentle beginning of a romance(if you are reading this as a romance novel, you will be disappointed because the romance is very tentative and simply hinted at)I liked that Ditty's choice wasn't about some boy or which boy, but her choice was truly clearly about dance and her life. So many authors might have cluttered it up by making the love story affect her choice and it was refreshing to read a book that wasn't all about the boy.
Without giving spoilers I can't say much more.
Definitely a great read. Highly recommend it.
The very best YA fiction doesn't include any of the usual tired plot devices or characters. By this I mean no MHB (Mysterious Hot Boy), no LT(Love Triangle), no PG(Plain Girl who is universally beloved for no apparent reason), no IL(Insta-Love), and no we can't be together because I am too dangerous, you are too dangerous, you and me together is too dangerous, etc.
So, you may be asking, well then what's left? If you remove all that stuff and the sparkly supernatural, paranormal beings or dystopian world, what would you write about?
Well, real life, real happenings, real feelings.
I love it when I find books like this, little gems that haven't gotten tons of promotion, but are nevertheless very much worth the time.
Ditty, the heroine of this story, is from an ultra-conservative Jewish sect and she falls in love . . . with ballet. Yes, and she falls hard, hard enough to risk everything in pursuit of her dream, of her love. And along the way, she begins to question her life, what she wants, what she believes.
But, the story isn't all about her. It is populated with her friend, Sarah and her cousin, Linda and you also get glimpses into their lives and beliefs and choices so the story is well-rounded since you get to see into this world from several angles, although the book is first person so the voice is always Ditty.
One of the things I liked best is that Ditty's choice is so pure. While there is a gentle beginning of a romance(if you are reading this as a romance novel, you will be disappointed because the romance is very tentative and simply hinted at)I liked that Ditty's choice wasn't about some boy or which boy, but her choice was truly clearly about dance and her life. So many authors might have cluttered it up by making the love story affect her choice and it was refreshing to read a book that wasn't all about the boy.
Without giving spoilers I can't say much more.
Definitely a great read. Highly recommend it.
January 14, 2012
Very absorbing and beautifully written. I could really relate to Ditty on a lot of levels because I too was brought up in a strict religious family - not as strict as Ditty's, but still pretty out-there by today's standards - and there were quite a few moments where she was sneaking around behind her parents' back, crippled with guilt, getting tangled in a web of lies and more lies to cover up those lies etc etc, that could have been lifted straight from my teenage years. I loved the moment when she drew up the little table about the kids she was supposed to be babysitting and invented backstories for them! The whole time I was on tenterhooks waiting for her cover to be blown but it only happened right at the end when she'd pretty much decided to leave the community anyway. MAYBE a tad unrealistic that she managed to attend ballet school four days a week for five whole years without ever once being found out, but I'm willing to forgive it.
I think R. Bavarti did a good job of portraying the 'haredi' (ultra-orthodox) Jewish community in a balanced way. Some of them were narrow-minded and horrible but others were genuinely good people, happy in the community and convinced of their beliefs. I would have liked MORE info about it actually. Like, what did all the men do for jobs? Where did the money come from? But I suspect any more info would've detracted from the story so maybe not. I never realised the haredi community existed to such an extent in modern day Australia - it seems so.... archaic, in a lot of ways.
The discussions that Ditty had about religion with her 'modern-orthodox' cousin Linda were interesting but I thought Ditty did a pretty rubbish job of arguing her side. Possibly because the author herself was raised modern-orthodox? But yeah, Ditty just never really came up with any convincing arguments whereas Linda had all these valid points to make.
I think R. Bavarti did a good job of portraying the 'haredi' (ultra-orthodox) Jewish community in a balanced way. Some of them were narrow-minded and horrible but others were genuinely good people, happy in the community and convinced of their beliefs. I would have liked MORE info about it actually. Like, what did all the men do for jobs? Where did the money come from? But I suspect any more info would've detracted from the story so maybe not. I never realised the haredi community existed to such an extent in modern day Australia - it seems so.... archaic, in a lot of ways.
The discussions that Ditty had about religion with her 'modern-orthodox' cousin Linda were interesting but I thought Ditty did a pretty rubbish job of arguing her side. Possibly because the author herself was raised modern-orthodox? But yeah, Ditty just never really came up with any convincing arguments whereas Linda had all these valid points to make.
November 24, 2021
16, Dancing and orthodox judaism
I loved this book- looking through her eyes into the life of a orthodox young girl. I first read this book when I was about 13- young and dancing; although not an orthodox jew I loved following her trials and tribulations.
four stars because of other reviews view on her accurateness on an orthodox jew life.
I loved this book- looking through her eyes into the life of a orthodox young girl. I first read this book when I was about 13- young and dancing; although not an orthodox jew I loved following her trials and tribulations.
four stars because of other reviews view on her accurateness on an orthodox jew life.
March 30, 2017
Really questions the validity of religion, whether ones religion is more sacred or above another. Also, it teaches a good lesson of FOLLOW YOUR HEART.
I stayed up until 2 am last night finishing it off. The moment I read the last page, I turned the lights off and pulled up the sheets, and just laid there. My mind was processing what I had just read, and I could not sleep until AT LEAST half an hour later.
I don't know what I'm going to say in my review. I'll say this now, though: Anyone who has ever had a dream, an unreachable, impossible dream fenced off by what ever reason--pick up this book. Dancing in the Dark explored the deep complexities between following what you've been taught to believe all your life, and following your passions and your desires, however unrealistic they may seem.
I'm kind of wandering how this book goes, as a true depiction of Jewish beliefs and communities. Especially if there are people out there as uncompromising as Ditty's father. Call it a result of my upbringing, but I can't even begin to fathom the ideal, that a life spent on Earth is ONLY to be spent: sticking to the rules, becoming a housewife and bearing children, upholding the family name and not getting into trouble... Linda and Sara were such great characters, and I liked their side-stories. Kind of sad that the book had to end.
REAL REVIEW IN THE FUTURE. :P
I stayed up until 2 am last night finishing it off. The moment I read the last page, I turned the lights off and pulled up the sheets, and just laid there. My mind was processing what I had just read, and I could not sleep until AT LEAST half an hour later.
I don't know what I'm going to say in my review. I'll say this now, though: Anyone who has ever had a dream, an unreachable, impossible dream fenced off by what ever reason--pick up this book. Dancing in the Dark explored the deep complexities between following what you've been taught to believe all your life, and following your passions and your desires, however unrealistic they may seem.
I'm kind of wandering how this book goes, as a true depiction of Jewish beliefs and communities. Especially if there are people out there as uncompromising as Ditty's father. Call it a result of my upbringing, but I can't even begin to fathom the ideal, that a life spent on Earth is ONLY to be spent: sticking to the rules, becoming a housewife and bearing children, upholding the family name and not getting into trouble... Linda and Sara were such great characters, and I liked their side-stories. Kind of sad that the book had to end.
REAL REVIEW IN THE FUTURE. :P
August 8, 2011
Dancing In the Dark is an incredibly bittersweet novel of living your dreams. Ditty wants to become a ballet dancer, she loves the art of ballet, the costumes, the elegancy, the moves, everything. But when she asks her parents, they refuse. But Ditty doesn’t let that hold her back; she goes ahead and starts taking lessons anyway. At first keeping the truth from her family comes easy, but as she becomes more advanced and more committed to ballet, it becomes a struggle. And one day, she is caught, and is forced to choose between ballet and family. What will it be?
October 29, 2019
4.5 stars. My daughter handed me this YA book and said I had to read it. I didn't expect much but found that I couldn't put it down! After I finished it, I handed it to my youngest and found her staying up late to read it- she couldn't put it down either!
I recommend this book as a great conversation starter between yourself and your daughter. There are major themes of religion and free will in this book. Be Aware: This book questions whether or not someone should have a choice in observing religion in Ultra-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox families so it won't be for everyone.
I recommend this book as a great conversation starter between yourself and your daughter. There are major themes of religion and free will in this book. Be Aware: This book questions whether or not someone should have a choice in observing religion in Ultra-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox families so it won't be for everyone.
February 21, 2014
This book was engaging and the main character was very likable. I think it was a bit one-sided as it did a good job showing why she had to choose between ballet and her hasidic family, community, and lifestyle; however, it didn't do much to show positive or beautiful aspects of hasidic life. Still, it was a very good book and I would recommend it for Jewish teens.
December 31, 2012
Also posted here: http://ireviewyalit.blogspot.ca/2012/...
*Made Possible by NetGalley.com! Thank you very much!
Introduction:
Yehudit (Ditty) Cohen and her friend Sara see a ballet on TV. It is the first time Ditty has ever seen the beautiful and graceful art form, and she is beyond smitten. She is twelve-years-old and she asks her parents to have lessons. Her request is hit with a firm rejection, and she cannot ask again, ever. This is all because she is part of a haredi community of ultra-orthodox Jews. Dancing is strictly forbidden. Yet she cannot simply forget. At first she practices in secret, then it escalates, and she goes to great lengths to lie to her parents to continue dancing. She fights with her religion, her morals, and her family, and in the end, is it worth it?
Cover
NetGalley only gave me this tiny PNG for a cover, so making it bigger just makes it blurrier, but...it says “Dancing In The Dark.” Really. For your cover, that’s a serious typo. There should not be typos on your cover, ever.
Dancing and Religion
It is evident that genres like the paranormal get a lot of attention from me because, well, I like them a lot. I decided that I needed to keep up with other genres too. After all, I love being able to personally recommend books when teens ask for different subjects.
So, I know nothing about ballet beyond the year I took when I was six-years-old. I also know very little about ultra-orthodox Judaism. The ballet parts were easy enough to read without knowing the meaning of every specific term the author throws at the reader. The Jewish terms, not so much. I had to look up many words (like “sheitel”), despite it being explained somewhat (they wear the wig because no one except her husband may see her natural hair after she is married). You know what I didn’t know? There is a glossary in the back. Because I read this book as an eBook, I had no idea, though it is possible that I would not have found the glossary in a print book either, unless it was pointed out.
Age
The protagonist is twelve at the beginning of the book, but on the page, she doesn’t read like a twelve-year-old. To me, she came off as being at least fifteen, but it might be that her ultra-orthodox upbringing is unfamiliar to me. It was not terribly apparent that she was steadily becoming older. The book ends when she’s seventeen (minus the epilogue). I only felt her really aging when she begins to question her upbringing and morals, but before this she didn’t act her age. Maybe she’s just so...good?
Later in the book, Ditty and her cousin Linda begin to debate the validity of religion. I would never tell anyone that having religious faith is a bad thing, I advocate questioning the world as a whole, and I thoroughly admire the author for presenting the dilemmas that everyone, young and old, might have. If she didn’t have these religious quandaries the book would have been boring.
I found it infuriating that parents would not allow their children to express themselves in harmless ways, and I’m all for the arts. I think this kind of emotional response is what the author was going for. My inner monologue kept going “but it’s not fair!” and “if my daughter ever wanted this, I’d totally let her because I’m awesome.” But because I am a rational human being, I had to acknowledge that every day we accept the truths that are given to us in blind faith because...we just do. I don’t go outside in my bikini and make snow angels because I’ve been told all my life that I would get sick after such an act. Sure, I might not, but I have been led to believe that I will, so I won’t even bother to try. I don’t really even question it.
Community Themes
Community is so conflicting in this book. The haredi community is for the ultra-orthodox Jews. They help each other, visit, arrange marriages with each other, etc. Ditty gets babysitting jobs with her community ties. They gather for religious holidays together. Very special bonds are formed.
But the community is such a double-edged sword. They constantly watch each other and report on the younger members. When Ditty is caught doing something against the rules of their religion, her mother is told immediately. As a minor, it is difficult to be part of a community and not follow every single one of their rules. What if one member didn’t want to be kosher anymore? What about an adult? As a minor, the parents would punish their child to change the behaviour. As an adult, they would be gossiped about and ostracized.
This gossiping is easily seen with Sara’s family situation. What does it matter to the community about what her father, who no longer lives in the community, does? Why would it reflect badly on his daughter? And I do have to say, if anyone is going to judge you based on your family, they are not worth your time. It happens every day, but it’s by people who cannot adequately value themselves, those who have to tally their self worth by adding other people into their lives.
Adults As Authority Figures
This book definitely reminded me how I felt about adults when I was a teen. In Dancing In The Dark, the parents control their kids and lie to them. Yes, these things are done in a “loving” way. Yes, they will choose who you marry, though you can say no...but you’ve been raised never to say no. They give you the illusion of choice. Then you grow up fearing people in authority. And when you’re an adult who has feared authority all your life, you continue to let other people make the choices for you. A perfect example is Sara’s mother and the Rabi. When the adults are like this...you feel powerless to make your own choices. To have your own life.
Adults As Allies
Not all adults will hold the exact same position of authority in life. Some, like Miss Mitchell, will encourage you, protect you, and give you opportunities. We need more adults like these. Unfortunately, sometimes these kinds of adults can be few and far between. I did not have many until I hit high school, and then I only had two teachers who actually encouraged me to read, write, and go to university. Considering that absolutely no one encouraged me before this to make something of myself, that I had talent, that I was anything but stupid, those two people made an immeasurable difference to me. There are so many teachers and administrators and librarians who seriously shouldn’t be in their profession. Young people need more positive experiences with adults, or else they are going to grow up expecting to be treated like dirt their whole life. In turn, they will probably become a bitter adult too.
Verdict
I highly recommend this as a possible teen book club pick. It can be read by people who are not Jewish or dancers, and I have the feeling that boys would enjoy it too, if they are open to female protagonists. Teens who are interested in stories about religion, rebellion, and freedom will probably enjoy this immensely. This story is about ballet, but I did not find that it has the “sports genre” feel. It was more of a drama. It was a little slow at the beginning, but it grabbed me when she finds her love of dance, and it had moments when I genuinely ached for Ditty to have the freedom to dance without hiding it.
*Made Possible by NetGalley.com! Thank you very much!
Introduction:
Yehudit (Ditty) Cohen and her friend Sara see a ballet on TV. It is the first time Ditty has ever seen the beautiful and graceful art form, and she is beyond smitten. She is twelve-years-old and she asks her parents to have lessons. Her request is hit with a firm rejection, and she cannot ask again, ever. This is all because she is part of a haredi community of ultra-orthodox Jews. Dancing is strictly forbidden. Yet she cannot simply forget. At first she practices in secret, then it escalates, and she goes to great lengths to lie to her parents to continue dancing. She fights with her religion, her morals, and her family, and in the end, is it worth it?
Cover
NetGalley only gave me this tiny PNG for a cover, so making it bigger just makes it blurrier, but...it says “Dancing In The Dark.” Really. For your cover, that’s a serious typo. There should not be typos on your cover, ever.
Dancing and Religion
It is evident that genres like the paranormal get a lot of attention from me because, well, I like them a lot. I decided that I needed to keep up with other genres too. After all, I love being able to personally recommend books when teens ask for different subjects.
So, I know nothing about ballet beyond the year I took when I was six-years-old. I also know very little about ultra-orthodox Judaism. The ballet parts were easy enough to read without knowing the meaning of every specific term the author throws at the reader. The Jewish terms, not so much. I had to look up many words (like “sheitel”), despite it being explained somewhat (they wear the wig because no one except her husband may see her natural hair after she is married). You know what I didn’t know? There is a glossary in the back. Because I read this book as an eBook, I had no idea, though it is possible that I would not have found the glossary in a print book either, unless it was pointed out.
Age
The protagonist is twelve at the beginning of the book, but on the page, she doesn’t read like a twelve-year-old. To me, she came off as being at least fifteen, but it might be that her ultra-orthodox upbringing is unfamiliar to me. It was not terribly apparent that she was steadily becoming older. The book ends when she’s seventeen (minus the epilogue). I only felt her really aging when she begins to question her upbringing and morals, but before this she didn’t act her age. Maybe she’s just so...good?
Later in the book, Ditty and her cousin Linda begin to debate the validity of religion. I would never tell anyone that having religious faith is a bad thing, I advocate questioning the world as a whole, and I thoroughly admire the author for presenting the dilemmas that everyone, young and old, might have. If she didn’t have these religious quandaries the book would have been boring.
I found it infuriating that parents would not allow their children to express themselves in harmless ways, and I’m all for the arts. I think this kind of emotional response is what the author was going for. My inner monologue kept going “but it’s not fair!” and “if my daughter ever wanted this, I’d totally let her because I’m awesome.” But because I am a rational human being, I had to acknowledge that every day we accept the truths that are given to us in blind faith because...we just do. I don’t go outside in my bikini and make snow angels because I’ve been told all my life that I would get sick after such an act. Sure, I might not, but I have been led to believe that I will, so I won’t even bother to try. I don’t really even question it.
Community Themes
Community is so conflicting in this book. The haredi community is for the ultra-orthodox Jews. They help each other, visit, arrange marriages with each other, etc. Ditty gets babysitting jobs with her community ties. They gather for religious holidays together. Very special bonds are formed.
But the community is such a double-edged sword. They constantly watch each other and report on the younger members. When Ditty is caught doing something against the rules of their religion, her mother is told immediately. As a minor, it is difficult to be part of a community and not follow every single one of their rules. What if one member didn’t want to be kosher anymore? What about an adult? As a minor, the parents would punish their child to change the behaviour. As an adult, they would be gossiped about and ostracized.
This gossiping is easily seen with Sara’s family situation. What does it matter to the community about what her father, who no longer lives in the community, does? Why would it reflect badly on his daughter? And I do have to say, if anyone is going to judge you based on your family, they are not worth your time. It happens every day, but it’s by people who cannot adequately value themselves, those who have to tally their self worth by adding other people into their lives.
Adults As Authority Figures
This book definitely reminded me how I felt about adults when I was a teen. In Dancing In The Dark, the parents control their kids and lie to them. Yes, these things are done in a “loving” way. Yes, they will choose who you marry, though you can say no...but you’ve been raised never to say no. They give you the illusion of choice. Then you grow up fearing people in authority. And when you’re an adult who has feared authority all your life, you continue to let other people make the choices for you. A perfect example is Sara’s mother and the Rabi. When the adults are like this...you feel powerless to make your own choices. To have your own life.
Adults As Allies
Not all adults will hold the exact same position of authority in life. Some, like Miss Mitchell, will encourage you, protect you, and give you opportunities. We need more adults like these. Unfortunately, sometimes these kinds of adults can be few and far between. I did not have many until I hit high school, and then I only had two teachers who actually encouraged me to read, write, and go to university. Considering that absolutely no one encouraged me before this to make something of myself, that I had talent, that I was anything but stupid, those two people made an immeasurable difference to me. There are so many teachers and administrators and librarians who seriously shouldn’t be in their profession. Young people need more positive experiences with adults, or else they are going to grow up expecting to be treated like dirt their whole life. In turn, they will probably become a bitter adult too.
Verdict
I highly recommend this as a possible teen book club pick. It can be read by people who are not Jewish or dancers, and I have the feeling that boys would enjoy it too, if they are open to female protagonists. Teens who are interested in stories about religion, rebellion, and freedom will probably enjoy this immensely. This story is about ballet, but I did not find that it has the “sports genre” feel. It was more of a drama. It was a little slow at the beginning, but it grabbed me when she finds her love of dance, and it had moments when I genuinely ached for Ditty to have the freedom to dance without hiding it.
February 18, 2013
SUMMARY
Have you ever wanted to do something forbidden so badly, that it made you question your entire belief system or maybe even the foundation for your beliefs - well that's what's going on in this engaging, thought provoking read. Poor Ditty....
Ditty is being raised a Haredi Jew (Ultra-Orthodox Jew). Her strict religion forbids so many pleasures in life: no TV, no dancing and no food that isn't Kosher. She will have an arranged marriage and her number one duty in life is to have babies and raise them under the Haredi faith. There is only one small problem with this grand plan: what if Ditty doesn't want to comply? What if she finds a love (and its not a boy) forging a new purpose for her life? Will she be bold enough to follow her dreams, even if it means leaving her family behind?
BACKGROUND
From Robyn's Website: "Born in Melbourne, Australia, Robyn Bavati is the fourth of five children. She's taught creative dance, worked as a shiatsu therapist, and published short stories and feature articles in magazines and newspapers both in Australia and overseas.
She is currently living in Elsternwick, a twelve-minute walk from the house she grew up in. She likes chocolate, movies, walks on the beach, eating out with family or friends, and Japanese tea. Robyn is married and has three grown children and a cat called Chino, who likes sitting on her lap when she reads.
Her debut novel, Dancing in the Dark, was first published by Penguin Australia in 2010, and was released in the US on February 8th, 2013. Her next book, Pirouette, will be out in November."
SETTING PACE AND STYLE
Set in a small community of Haredi Jews, Dancing in the Dark is a contemporary read. With little action and only issues to fill the pages, the driving force in this novel is constantly, stressing, wondering if and when Ditty's parents will discover her dark secrets. The book covers a wide span, (a period of over 5 years) and at times felt a little rushed, as a result. The mood is fairly serious, but definitely thought provoking. Its told in a first person narrative from the perspective of Ditty.
CHARACTERS AND PLOT
Its been a long time since I've read about admirable characters, ones who really are striving to be good people, good friends, kindred souls, people who care.
Ditty, the narrator and main character is hardworking, respectable and a very gifted dancer. She's determined to find her way, earn her own money and learn to dance. The catch is, its all in secret! I admire her courage, strength, determination and perseverance, all the time knowing the consequenses of her risky choices.
Her cousin Linda, though being raised as a Haredi Jew, had parents who were far more relaxed in their beliefs, allowing Linda the wiggle room she needed to find her own way. She also was extremely supportive, encouraging and many times Ditty's sole inspiration in pursing her dreams.
Ditty's best friend, Sara, ended up being true and reliable. I respected she always held Ditty's secret close at heart, never spoke a word to anyone about it and was her alibi for so many years. The hardest part for Sara is she didn't agree with what Ditty was doing, but she kept her secret despite their differing opinions.
Something I found refreshing about this story, the girls at the dance academy Ditty attended didn't treat her cruelly. Shockingly, they weren't jealous or even the least bit mean, instead they welcomed Ditty with open arms, encouraging her to be the best she could be. The girls also never judged her too harshly, even though her religious beliefs were beyond strict, they even tried to understand them.
It was difficult, but realistic, how Ditty's father was so controlling over everyone in the family. He seemed extreme in his beliefs and their application. My spirits were lifted though by how loving her mother was, I guess opposites really do attract.
PLOT: A contemporary read about Haredi Jews and how one girl begins to question her religious beliefs because of her new love for dance, which is strictly forbidden in her community.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend this book to all lovers of dance, especially those who like ballet. Gals more than guys will probably be drawn to this story. Readers searching for books with strong female heroines or parents looking for a good clean read about an inspirational character who followed her dreams, wil find this book is a perfect match. Teachers looking for material to inspire discussions about right and wrong will also find this book both a useful tool and a great read.
PERSONAL NOTE
A captivating and emotionally charged story about a girl who chose to follow her dreams instead of her family's predetermined plan, designated by strict religious beliefs. Its a book about a journey to find oneself, search for the truth despite what you've been taught and to question beliefs which don't make sense - or align with your own - to find your own way.
The Black Sheep in the family is an expressive way to describe, Ditty. Born into a large family of Haredi Jews, a family whose lives are governed by strick religious beliefs. Ditty is a loving big sister, a strong contributor, helping her mom mangage their large family. She cooks, cleans and tends to the needs of the younger children. Her dress is very conventional, she attends a special private school and will have an arranged marriage as soon as she graduates, with her main duty in life being to poliferate and raise a house full of Jewish kids.
Ditty found no qualms with her strict religious constraits until one day life altering day while watching a forbidden TV at her friend's house she discover's dance - ballet specifically. When she returns home and asks her parents, hopefully, if she could take dance lessons, they forbid her. So, instead of obeying she goes behind their backs and takes lessons on her own. This begins her journey, one in which if she wishes to pursue will mean living her own life and leaving her family behind. How much will she risk for her love of dancing?
RATING
I award this contemporary read four rings, one ring subtracted for focusing on such a long time period in Ditty's life. Sometimes I felt like the author had to rush the story to move it to completion.
4 out of 5 Rings
(Captivating - Looked Forward to Reading)
Have you ever wanted to do something forbidden so badly, that it made you question your entire belief system or maybe even the foundation for your beliefs - well that's what's going on in this engaging, thought provoking read. Poor Ditty....
Ditty is being raised a Haredi Jew (Ultra-Orthodox Jew). Her strict religion forbids so many pleasures in life: no TV, no dancing and no food that isn't Kosher. She will have an arranged marriage and her number one duty in life is to have babies and raise them under the Haredi faith. There is only one small problem with this grand plan: what if Ditty doesn't want to comply? What if she finds a love (and its not a boy) forging a new purpose for her life? Will she be bold enough to follow her dreams, even if it means leaving her family behind?
BACKGROUND
From Robyn's Website: "Born in Melbourne, Australia, Robyn Bavati is the fourth of five children. She's taught creative dance, worked as a shiatsu therapist, and published short stories and feature articles in magazines and newspapers both in Australia and overseas.
She is currently living in Elsternwick, a twelve-minute walk from the house she grew up in. She likes chocolate, movies, walks on the beach, eating out with family or friends, and Japanese tea. Robyn is married and has three grown children and a cat called Chino, who likes sitting on her lap when she reads.
Her debut novel, Dancing in the Dark, was first published by Penguin Australia in 2010, and was released in the US on February 8th, 2013. Her next book, Pirouette, will be out in November."
SETTING PACE AND STYLE
Set in a small community of Haredi Jews, Dancing in the Dark is a contemporary read. With little action and only issues to fill the pages, the driving force in this novel is constantly, stressing, wondering if and when Ditty's parents will discover her dark secrets. The book covers a wide span, (a period of over 5 years) and at times felt a little rushed, as a result. The mood is fairly serious, but definitely thought provoking. Its told in a first person narrative from the perspective of Ditty.
CHARACTERS AND PLOT
Its been a long time since I've read about admirable characters, ones who really are striving to be good people, good friends, kindred souls, people who care.
Ditty, the narrator and main character is hardworking, respectable and a very gifted dancer. She's determined to find her way, earn her own money and learn to dance. The catch is, its all in secret! I admire her courage, strength, determination and perseverance, all the time knowing the consequenses of her risky choices.
Her cousin Linda, though being raised as a Haredi Jew, had parents who were far more relaxed in their beliefs, allowing Linda the wiggle room she needed to find her own way. She also was extremely supportive, encouraging and many times Ditty's sole inspiration in pursing her dreams.
Ditty's best friend, Sara, ended up being true and reliable. I respected she always held Ditty's secret close at heart, never spoke a word to anyone about it and was her alibi for so many years. The hardest part for Sara is she didn't agree with what Ditty was doing, but she kept her secret despite their differing opinions.
Something I found refreshing about this story, the girls at the dance academy Ditty attended didn't treat her cruelly. Shockingly, they weren't jealous or even the least bit mean, instead they welcomed Ditty with open arms, encouraging her to be the best she could be. The girls also never judged her too harshly, even though her religious beliefs were beyond strict, they even tried to understand them.
It was difficult, but realistic, how Ditty's father was so controlling over everyone in the family. He seemed extreme in his beliefs and their application. My spirits were lifted though by how loving her mother was, I guess opposites really do attract.
PLOT: A contemporary read about Haredi Jews and how one girl begins to question her religious beliefs because of her new love for dance, which is strictly forbidden in her community.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend this book to all lovers of dance, especially those who like ballet. Gals more than guys will probably be drawn to this story. Readers searching for books with strong female heroines or parents looking for a good clean read about an inspirational character who followed her dreams, wil find this book is a perfect match. Teachers looking for material to inspire discussions about right and wrong will also find this book both a useful tool and a great read.
PERSONAL NOTE
A captivating and emotionally charged story about a girl who chose to follow her dreams instead of her family's predetermined plan, designated by strict religious beliefs. Its a book about a journey to find oneself, search for the truth despite what you've been taught and to question beliefs which don't make sense - or align with your own - to find your own way.
The Black Sheep in the family is an expressive way to describe, Ditty. Born into a large family of Haredi Jews, a family whose lives are governed by strick religious beliefs. Ditty is a loving big sister, a strong contributor, helping her mom mangage their large family. She cooks, cleans and tends to the needs of the younger children. Her dress is very conventional, she attends a special private school and will have an arranged marriage as soon as she graduates, with her main duty in life being to poliferate and raise a house full of Jewish kids.
Ditty found no qualms with her strict religious constraits until one day life altering day while watching a forbidden TV at her friend's house she discover's dance - ballet specifically. When she returns home and asks her parents, hopefully, if she could take dance lessons, they forbid her. So, instead of obeying she goes behind their backs and takes lessons on her own. This begins her journey, one in which if she wishes to pursue will mean living her own life and leaving her family behind. How much will she risk for her love of dancing?
RATING
I award this contemporary read four rings, one ring subtracted for focusing on such a long time period in Ditty's life. Sometimes I felt like the author had to rush the story to move it to completion.
4 out of 5 Rings
(Captivating - Looked Forward to Reading)
April 20, 2024
I read this book a LONG time ago, and I can’t remember much about the specifics of the plot; what I do remember is that I never wanted to put it down. It was a recommendation from a friend, plucked from the Y/A section of the school library, and I remember being absolutely captivated.
April 6, 2013
[3/5]
For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!
I usually don’t read too much multicultural fiction, recently I’ve been more interested in stories about dance. This book also sounded kind of like A World Away by Nancy Grossman, which I also enjoyed. So, when I saw this book on NetGalley, as well as a handful of good reviews from GR friends, I picked it up and enjoyed the book (:
Ditty was a likable and somewhat complex character, though I wish she was a bit more developed. I definitely admired her commitment to sacrificing her security, friends, and family for something she truly loved – I mean, how often do you see most people these days stepping out from a crowd, away from their past lives, friends, and family, to chase their true dreams? That was what made me really enjoy her character.
Other than that, I also was intrigued as to how Ditty made each of her decisions and what internal conflict she went through. However, at times I felt like her thinking seemed skimmed over or oversimplified. For example, though I thought Ditty’s conflict about lying to parents was interesting, it seemed like Ditty would mention it once or twice per chapter, then move on without a second thought. Nevertheless, by the end of the novel, I really felt like I cared for and liked Ditty’s character.
As for the other characters, I also liked them, though they also seemed undeveloped. Specifically, each character had a different personality and part in the story that I thoroughly enjoyed, but at times I felt like I might have preferred more focus on a smaller group of characters, rather than less focus on each individual character, on a larger cast of characters. In particular, I might have liked more devolopment on Ditty’s relationships with her mother, father, and siblings. On that note though, I thought Ditty’s friendships with Sara and Linda were sweet, well-developed, and, in a way, unique because of their religious background.
It was the plot though, that I felt like I had the biggest trouble with. I’m not saying that I disliked or hated it, but I still felt like I had the biggest issues with it, compared to the other aspects in the book. First of all, it seemed like religion was portrayed as a result of some kind of brainwashing. Though I’m not a religious person, I don’t feel like religious people, even those that are really devout to their religion are necessarily brainwashed. In my opinion, it’s definitely a more complex issue than I thought the book portrayed religion as, so I suppose it left me with some questions :/ I also felt like some parts of the storyline were undeveloped or kind of unexplained, like Ditty’s long years between age twelve and seventeen.
However, I want to emphasize that I still found the overall story enjoyable. Though the idea of “breaking free” might be a bit cliché, Ditty’s journey from a more outspoken person, to someone who stands up for herself and takes action was heartwarming. The book also tugged on my heartstrings with its own heartbreaking and hopeful moments. So, if you’re the type of person who might enjoy this type of story, reads in the multicultural genre, or are just looking for a short but different type of feel-good story, definitely check out this book ^__^
* A review copy of this book was provided through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog @ Moosubi Reviews!
I usually don’t read too much multicultural fiction, recently I’ve been more interested in stories about dance. This book also sounded kind of like A World Away by Nancy Grossman, which I also enjoyed. So, when I saw this book on NetGalley, as well as a handful of good reviews from GR friends, I picked it up and enjoyed the book (:
Ditty was a likable and somewhat complex character, though I wish she was a bit more developed. I definitely admired her commitment to sacrificing her security, friends, and family for something she truly loved – I mean, how often do you see most people these days stepping out from a crowd, away from their past lives, friends, and family, to chase their true dreams? That was what made me really enjoy her character.
Other than that, I also was intrigued as to how Ditty made each of her decisions and what internal conflict she went through. However, at times I felt like her thinking seemed skimmed over or oversimplified. For example, though I thought Ditty’s conflict about lying to parents was interesting, it seemed like Ditty would mention it once or twice per chapter, then move on without a second thought. Nevertheless, by the end of the novel, I really felt like I cared for and liked Ditty’s character.
As for the other characters, I also liked them, though they also seemed undeveloped. Specifically, each character had a different personality and part in the story that I thoroughly enjoyed, but at times I felt like I might have preferred more focus on a smaller group of characters, rather than less focus on each individual character, on a larger cast of characters. In particular, I might have liked more devolopment on Ditty’s relationships with her mother, father, and siblings. On that note though, I thought Ditty’s friendships with Sara and Linda were sweet, well-developed, and, in a way, unique because of their religious background.
It was the plot though, that I felt like I had the biggest trouble with. I’m not saying that I disliked or hated it, but I still felt like I had the biggest issues with it, compared to the other aspects in the book. First of all, it seemed like religion was portrayed as a result of some kind of brainwashing. Though I’m not a religious person, I don’t feel like religious people, even those that are really devout to their religion are necessarily brainwashed. In my opinion, it’s definitely a more complex issue than I thought the book portrayed religion as, so I suppose it left me with some questions :/ I also felt like some parts of the storyline were undeveloped or kind of unexplained, like Ditty’s long years between age twelve and seventeen.
However, I want to emphasize that I still found the overall story enjoyable. Though the idea of “breaking free” might be a bit cliché, Ditty’s journey from a more outspoken person, to someone who stands up for herself and takes action was heartwarming. The book also tugged on my heartstrings with its own heartbreaking and hopeful moments. So, if you’re the type of person who might enjoy this type of story, reads in the multicultural genre, or are just looking for a short but different type of feel-good story, definitely check out this book ^__^
* A review copy of this book was provided through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book.
January 1, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Flux Books and Netgalley.)
17-year-old Yehudit (Ditty) is glad that she is Jewish, and glad that her life has a purpose, but she also knows that her life would be nothing without dance.
One of 7 children, and part of a strict Jewish family, Ditty’s life is strictly structured, and she must abide by the Jewish laws and stipulations. She must always be dressed conservatively, she must always eat kosher food, she must not do anything on Saturdays which are Jewish rest days, and she must not spend time with boys who are not her relatives. The list of rules that Ditty must live with and abide by is endless.
At the age of 12, Ditty asked her parents if she could learn ballet, and they forbade it. Ditty did it anyway but hid it, and as she learned more her love of dance grew. At 17, Ditty is a very talented dancer and wants to go to ballet school and to pursue a career as a dancer, but her parents have plans to have her married and having babies as soon as possible, as every good Jewish girl should. But Ditty isn’t sure that she wants to be Jewish any more.
Can Ditty ever really be the dancer she wants to be? Can she defy her family to follow her dreams? And what else must she sacrifice to get what she wants?
This was a lovely story, which although it was about religion wasn’t preachy. There was time given to talking about the rules, traditions, and laws by which Ditty’s family lived, but whilst Ditty believed everything that her parents had taught her, her love of dance and her not-quite-so-strictly-Jewish cousin Linda allowed her to question the things that she had been taught, and stretch her wings a little.
I loved Ditty, she was such a good person, and I hated that her parents told her that she couldn’t do what she loved because of her religion. I understand that people have religious beliefs that rule certain things out, but it was just so unfair that religion could stop Ditty from dancing. Like her cousin said, how bad is dancing really? In the grander scheme of things dancing is not bad – wars are fought over religion, but not dance.
I loved how Ditty grew during this book and developed her own ideas about things. She was so believing and accepting of everything her parents told her to start with, so much so that going against their teachings made her feel physically sick at times, but as she slowly did more and more things that they would disapprove of, she realised that nothing bad happened when she disobeyed the rules, and actually began to learn through finding her own way.
Overall I found this book so inspiring, and I could almost feel the dance with Ditty. She went through so much, but she learned and gained so much too. A great YA story about religion and following your dreams.
8 out of 10.
17-year-old Yehudit (Ditty) is glad that she is Jewish, and glad that her life has a purpose, but she also knows that her life would be nothing without dance.
One of 7 children, and part of a strict Jewish family, Ditty’s life is strictly structured, and she must abide by the Jewish laws and stipulations. She must always be dressed conservatively, she must always eat kosher food, she must not do anything on Saturdays which are Jewish rest days, and she must not spend time with boys who are not her relatives. The list of rules that Ditty must live with and abide by is endless.
At the age of 12, Ditty asked her parents if she could learn ballet, and they forbade it. Ditty did it anyway but hid it, and as she learned more her love of dance grew. At 17, Ditty is a very talented dancer and wants to go to ballet school and to pursue a career as a dancer, but her parents have plans to have her married and having babies as soon as possible, as every good Jewish girl should. But Ditty isn’t sure that she wants to be Jewish any more.
Can Ditty ever really be the dancer she wants to be? Can she defy her family to follow her dreams? And what else must she sacrifice to get what she wants?
This was a lovely story, which although it was about religion wasn’t preachy. There was time given to talking about the rules, traditions, and laws by which Ditty’s family lived, but whilst Ditty believed everything that her parents had taught her, her love of dance and her not-quite-so-strictly-Jewish cousin Linda allowed her to question the things that she had been taught, and stretch her wings a little.
I loved Ditty, she was such a good person, and I hated that her parents told her that she couldn’t do what she loved because of her religion. I understand that people have religious beliefs that rule certain things out, but it was just so unfair that religion could stop Ditty from dancing. Like her cousin said, how bad is dancing really? In the grander scheme of things dancing is not bad – wars are fought over religion, but not dance.
I loved how Ditty grew during this book and developed her own ideas about things. She was so believing and accepting of everything her parents told her to start with, so much so that going against their teachings made her feel physically sick at times, but as she slowly did more and more things that they would disapprove of, she realised that nothing bad happened when she disobeyed the rules, and actually began to learn through finding her own way.
Overall I found this book so inspiring, and I could almost feel the dance with Ditty. She went through so much, but she learned and gained so much too. A great YA story about religion and following your dreams.
8 out of 10.
Read
January 11, 2013 Ditty has a love, a forbidden one, but for once it is not boys. It is ballet. Her parents don't approve, so she dances in secret, and falls more and more in love and becomes more talented. How deep can she get while keeping her secrets and the essence of who she is?
Ditty was quite a character. I could feel her love for dancing across the page as well as the pain and conflict of slowly letting go of her beliefs and others that she holds dear in order to pursue what she loves and what she is good at.
The sense of family in this one is unique. I appreciate how some of the parents are involved and some are not, and the degrees in between. We can see the effects of when the parents try to suppress their kids from doing what they wanted and loved and then ones who knew when to let go and be more hands off. I also appreciated the teachers' involvement in this story, when one in particular stepped up when she strictly did not have to.
I also appreciated the scope of friendship that I saw in this book. Ditty's closest friend Sarah is amazing, and how she covered for her friend and supported her even if she didn't agree really spoke to me. Then there is Emma from the dance company, how Robyn wrote her in, accepting Ditty but still asking questions like any teenager would. My favorite though, is probably Ditty's cousin Linda. I loved reading her character development and transformation, as well as her loyalty to Ditty throughout her changes.
At first all of the unfamiliar Jewish terms got to me, and I spent a lot of time flipping between bookmarks on my kindle, but eventually the most popular words worked their way into my head and I was able to read more seamlessly. There was time of course given to explaining and demonstrating what Ditty and her family practiced, and it was needed because I for one, had no idea the scope of haredi (the ultra conservative Jewish beliefs and practices of her family.) It really molded the family and what they said, did and interacted with. Every facet of their lives really. I never felt like I was being preached at though, it just seemed matter of fact and way of life for the characters, and it was sad and realistic at the same time the conversations Ditty had with Linda about questioning if this is the only way to live and watching Ditty give up pieces of herself and her religion in order to dance. But, ultimately she was learning what she believed and following her heart.
Bottom line: Powerful transformation of a young girl into a beautiful dancer and what she had to give up to get there.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
Ditty was quite a character. I could feel her love for dancing across the page as well as the pain and conflict of slowly letting go of her beliefs and others that she holds dear in order to pursue what she loves and what she is good at.
The sense of family in this one is unique. I appreciate how some of the parents are involved and some are not, and the degrees in between. We can see the effects of when the parents try to suppress their kids from doing what they wanted and loved and then ones who knew when to let go and be more hands off. I also appreciated the teachers' involvement in this story, when one in particular stepped up when she strictly did not have to.
I also appreciated the scope of friendship that I saw in this book. Ditty's closest friend Sarah is amazing, and how she covered for her friend and supported her even if she didn't agree really spoke to me. Then there is Emma from the dance company, how Robyn wrote her in, accepting Ditty but still asking questions like any teenager would. My favorite though, is probably Ditty's cousin Linda. I loved reading her character development and transformation, as well as her loyalty to Ditty throughout her changes.
At first all of the unfamiliar Jewish terms got to me, and I spent a lot of time flipping between bookmarks on my kindle, but eventually the most popular words worked their way into my head and I was able to read more seamlessly. There was time of course given to explaining and demonstrating what Ditty and her family practiced, and it was needed because I for one, had no idea the scope of haredi (the ultra conservative Jewish beliefs and practices of her family.) It really molded the family and what they said, did and interacted with. Every facet of their lives really. I never felt like I was being preached at though, it just seemed matter of fact and way of life for the characters, and it was sad and realistic at the same time the conversations Ditty had with Linda about questioning if this is the only way to live and watching Ditty give up pieces of herself and her religion in order to dance. But, ultimately she was learning what she believed and following her heart.
Bottom line: Powerful transformation of a young girl into a beautiful dancer and what she had to give up to get there.
For more of my reviews, check out Blkosiner’s YA and Teen Book Blog: http://blkosiner.blogspot.com
August 9, 2017
5/5
This was my third time reading this book and every time it has been just as earth-shattering as the other but each in such different ways. This book has many great attributes such as great writing and plot however I also understand how to many it can be seen as just another contemporary book - but to me it was so much more. This book hit me personally and right in the heart. It probably could have been not the best writing and I'd still love it! Though to be fair it has to be written well with good characterisation in order to the story across - which is did amazingly!
Ditty... Ditty is everything I wish I was... perhaps wished ... for so long. As soon as I saw this book years after reading it I knew I had to buy it and own it however for over a year I could not bring myself to read it again. This book is extremely hard for me to read. It brings up so many hopes and dreams and whilst Ditty goes on to achieve them.. I'm the little sister left behind. However, finally the time came. I was doing something for the first time in my life that made me extremely happy and hopefully for the future - going on Exchange. Seems simple but it was/is huge for me! I decided to take this book on the plane ride as for once when reading it I'd be able to progress with Ditty into the light... Couldn't do it. The trip there reading the book made me doubt myself and bring back the longing and hurt. I was so confused but put it aside. A month later on my way back from England I picked it up again as this time was different. Unlike the trip to - where I had to experience anything but was ready to - by the trip back I had experienced freedom and adventures and done so much I'd always wanted to and so much I never thought about before but loved! I made my own choices and consequences. I read the book without letting it go and though I was not in the light - I felt the closest I ever have been in my entire life. And this is only my 3rd reading. I'm looking forward to reading Dancing in the Dark everytime I get closer to that goal.
I truly want to thank Bavati for creating such a piece of work. By bringing Ditty and her situation alive she helped a young girl connect like never before to someone - despite it being an literary character only. Though I know I will never dance like Ditty I simple hope to live my life in the light. One baby step at a time I will not give up!
This was my third time reading this book and every time it has been just as earth-shattering as the other but each in such different ways. This book has many great attributes such as great writing and plot however I also understand how to many it can be seen as just another contemporary book - but to me it was so much more. This book hit me personally and right in the heart. It probably could have been not the best writing and I'd still love it! Though to be fair it has to be written well with good characterisation in order to the story across - which is did amazingly!
Ditty... Ditty is everything I wish I was... perhaps wished ... for so long. As soon as I saw this book years after reading it I knew I had to buy it and own it however for over a year I could not bring myself to read it again. This book is extremely hard for me to read. It brings up so many hopes and dreams and whilst Ditty goes on to achieve them.. I'm the little sister left behind. However, finally the time came. I was doing something for the first time in my life that made me extremely happy and hopefully for the future - going on Exchange. Seems simple but it was/is huge for me! I decided to take this book on the plane ride as for once when reading it I'd be able to progress with Ditty into the light... Couldn't do it. The trip there reading the book made me doubt myself and bring back the longing and hurt. I was so confused but put it aside. A month later on my way back from England I picked it up again as this time was different. Unlike the trip to - where I had to experience anything but was ready to - by the trip back I had experienced freedom and adventures and done so much I'd always wanted to and so much I never thought about before but loved! I made my own choices and consequences. I read the book without letting it go and though I was not in the light - I felt the closest I ever have been in my entire life. And this is only my 3rd reading. I'm looking forward to reading Dancing in the Dark everytime I get closer to that goal.
I truly want to thank Bavati for creating such a piece of work. By bringing Ditty and her situation alive she helped a young girl connect like never before to someone - despite it being an literary character only. Though I know I will never dance like Ditty I simple hope to live my life in the light. One baby step at a time I will not give up!
October 16, 2019
This book came at just the right time in my life. I am a modern-orthodox Jew who constantly gets frustrated with religion and questions the laws. When I first took this book out, I had no idea what it was about. I was very excited to see that it was about a haradi Jew.
I loved how both modern-orthodox Jews and haradi Jews are accurately portrayed in this book. While I am not haradi, I felt like I could relate to the main character, Ditty. Ditty goes against her parents' wishes by taking ballet classes, and it is her dream to become a dancer. I am not passionate about dance, but my Judaism does get in the way of other things I want to do. A few times I got the chance to be in a movie, but I could not do it because the shootings were on Saturdays, which is the Jewish Sabbath. I felt frustrated because it was my parents who wouldn't let me go, as they wanted me to keep the Shabbat.
I felt myself relating most to Linda, Ditty's cousin. She, much like me, is a modern-orthodox Jew living a secular life while questioning her own beliefs. She observes Judaism, but, like me, wears shorts and t-shirts and listens to modern pop music. She also tests God by breaking the rules of Shabbat or experimenting with non-kosher food. I have done these things as well and for the same reasons.
This book made me reflect on my own beliefs, and, like the characters, I am unsure of what I personally believe in. Even more important, this book really helped me see that I am not alone, and that other teens struggle with religion, too.
I loved how both modern-orthodox Jews and haradi Jews are accurately portrayed in this book. While I am not haradi, I felt like I could relate to the main character, Ditty. Ditty goes against her parents' wishes by taking ballet classes, and it is her dream to become a dancer. I am not passionate about dance, but my Judaism does get in the way of other things I want to do. A few times I got the chance to be in a movie, but I could not do it because the shootings were on Saturdays, which is the Jewish Sabbath. I felt frustrated because it was my parents who wouldn't let me go, as they wanted me to keep the Shabbat.
I felt myself relating most to Linda, Ditty's cousin. She, much like me, is a modern-orthodox Jew living a secular life while questioning her own beliefs. She observes Judaism, but, like me, wears shorts and t-shirts and listens to modern pop music. She also tests God by breaking the rules of Shabbat or experimenting with non-kosher food. I have done these things as well and for the same reasons.
This book made me reflect on my own beliefs, and, like the characters, I am unsure of what I personally believe in. Even more important, this book really helped me see that I am not alone, and that other teens struggle with religion, too.
May 2, 2013
I usually do not like books about people who leave their religious group or turn their back on their heritage, but I really enjoyed this one. I felt the tension throughout the book - that Ditty was so determined to become a dancer, she risked lying to her parents to fulfill her dream. As a parent, it's also hard for me to understand how a parent can be that rigid when their child has so much passion and talent. It also made me think, is passion and talent enough to forsake everything that a parent has taught a child and invested in her? Then again, in Ditty's large family, she doesn't feel that unconditional love, that she is "cherished."
Ditty's struggle was palpable. She and her cousin Linda and her friend Sara are the only characters that grow and change, but that is one of the points of the book. Her father's unyielding and unquestioning adherence to religion make him very stuck and authoritarian instead of opening and compassionate. He makes a comment about bringing Mashiach. We often debate what will bring Mashiach: what kind of head covering, what kind of service, etc. I cannot believe that quashing someone's dreams will be on the list, even if she does not live her life "al pi halacha."
Thought-provoking, great for a book club - an all-around winner.
Ditty's struggle was palpable. She and her cousin Linda and her friend Sara are the only characters that grow and change, but that is one of the points of the book. Her father's unyielding and unquestioning adherence to religion make him very stuck and authoritarian instead of opening and compassionate. He makes a comment about bringing Mashiach. We often debate what will bring Mashiach: what kind of head covering, what kind of service, etc. I cannot believe that quashing someone's dreams will be on the list, even if she does not live her life "al pi halacha."
Thought-provoking, great for a book club - an all-around winner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2012
Dancing in the Dark follows a young girl's progress from living as an obedient Haredi (orthodox Jew) daughter in a strict religious household, to becoming a dancer who lives for her art.
From the moment Yehudit "Ditty" Cohen watches a forbidden ballet DVD, she's hooked. She practices in the bathroom for hours before wandering into Australia's National Ballet school and falling into lessons. Soon she's living a double life, half a Haredi, half as a dancer, and knowing it can't last forever. The contrast between her own growing awareness of the choices the world offers her - and the lack of choices deemed worthy by her family - eventually forces her to take sides.
I found this to be a great examination of the limitations (and benefits) of living in a strict religious community. The author does a great job of making Ditty sympathetic while still portraying her parents as well-meaning. The Australian setting and varying cultural norms were fun to learn and a nice contrast to other YA books on the market right now.
From the moment Yehudit "Ditty" Cohen watches a forbidden ballet DVD, she's hooked. She practices in the bathroom for hours before wandering into Australia's National Ballet school and falling into lessons. Soon she's living a double life, half a Haredi, half as a dancer, and knowing it can't last forever. The contrast between her own growing awareness of the choices the world offers her - and the lack of choices deemed worthy by her family - eventually forces her to take sides.
I found this to be a great examination of the limitations (and benefits) of living in a strict religious community. The author does a great job of making Ditty sympathetic while still portraying her parents as well-meaning. The Australian setting and varying cultural norms were fun to learn and a nice contrast to other YA books on the market right now.
April 5, 2014
I was greatly looking forward to reading this book as it combines many of my personal interests: the arts, coming of age topics and Jewish culture. In this story, we are introduced to the main character at age 12 and learn that her passion for dance conflicts with the mores and values of her ultra orthodox Haredi community. What could've been treated as a nuanced examination of when someone's passions are at odds with their family's culture, became a cheap and 2 dimensional attack on the entire Ultra Orthodox community. Instead of finding the beauty of both words and juxtaposing them, which would have made the main character's ultimate choice one of great thought and sacrifice to one of her loves, the author wimped out and made one side so unpalatable that there would be no regret once the choice was made. I was not just disappointed in this book, but pretty offended with how the Jewish community was portrayed.
August 20, 2013
Although I love books about dancing this one was a challenge because of my strong religious beliefs. The girl in this book was Jewish and chose dancing over the traditions of her religion. On the one hand I agree with her that the traditions she was expected to follow were too strict and not necessarily how she needed to live her life. On the other hand, even though I am not Jewish, I still understand having strong religious beliefs and it was hard to see someone give up what they believe and disappoint their family and community even if I don't believe the same things.
July 3, 2016
This was an interesting story about a girl who dreamed of being a ballerina and I enjoyed all the ballet poses and terminology. However, I found it rather unbelievable that Ditty was able to hide the fact she was doing ballet lessons for over five years from her parents who were strict orthodox Jews. Considering the limitations that were placed on Ditty because of her family's religious beliefs, the fact that no one suspected her, despite having lessons two and three times a week, a bit fanciful.
May 1, 2019
This is a wonderful combination of a young woman striving for her dreams but being curtailed by her parents & her religion. It raises so many philosophical questions throughout but in such a way that it makes you really stop and think. A fabulous YA novel.
August 3, 2017
I recommend this book for girls who have a dream to dance. I liked this book because it makes me feel like wanting to do even more dancing. It is a good book for ages 8+.
April 6, 2021
Absolutely beautiful story. I loved reading this book so much! It has mystery, culture and an appreciation for ballet that can be felt beyond the book.
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