Dance

For Ada, dance is an avenue through which she can connect to her community at large and therefore feel relevant, useful, and valuable in the world. When she is in the dance class with Kendra at the end of the novel, in a moment of nervousness, Ada forgets the dance moves taught to the students earlier in the class. However, by taking in her surroundings and realizing that she is not alone in the task of crossing the floor in unison with her line of dancers, Ada gains clarity and calmness, saying, “I look to my left and look to my right to see who I dance with and see their bodies in ready position then feel the memory of the steps return” (339). This quote reveals the power of community over Ada’s journey towards self-confidence and illustrates the ways in which an individual can feel...