Detail Book

Earth Dance tells the story of four generations of Balinese women, with conflicts arising from the demands of the caste system and personal desires. The narrator, Ida Ayu Telaga, tells us how Balinese women wish to be beautiful and, ultimately, to find husbands from the higher caste groups. When the stubborn Telaga defies her mother’s wishes and marries a commoner, those around her see this is as a step-down. Behind their thick glossy hair and golden complexions lies a web of jealousy and intrigue, making Telaga wonder if this is all it means to be a woman. Earth Dance has been translated into German and published under the title Erdentanz.