Annick Press
Hardcover, 36 pp
9781773216157
March 29, 2022
A girl explores her love of dancing and her cultural identity in a lively picture book with echoes of the real-life collaboration between Bharatanatyam icon Rukmini Devi Arundale and ballerina Anna Pavlova.
Paro comes from a dancing family. At home, she dances Bharatanatyam with her mom, and now she’s excited to learn ballet. But what if she can’t dance like the other kids in her class? Ballerinas move like fairies, while Bharatanatyam dancers seem like queens. Paro can’t be both…can she? Anu Chouhan’s vibrant, energetic illustrations emphasize themes of creative flexibility and navigating the intersections of different cultural identities.
Behind the Scenes: Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes
About the Illustrator: Anu Chouhan
Anu Chouhan is a Punjabi-Canadian illustrator and former mobile game artist from Vancouver, BC. A trained animator and character designer, Anu often combines her love of her cultural heritage, anime, and global fashion into her art. She enjoys creating art that celebrates diversity and empowerment.
South Asian representation is a very important aspect of Anu’s work and it is her desire to help create more visual stories with diverse characters in the forefront. Anu’s unique, edgy, and energetic art has been featured by the BBC, Harper’s Bazaar Bride India, The Times of India, and The Times of London.
Visit Anu’s Instagram and website to learn more about her work.