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While preparing for his ballet company's fall recital, artistic director and choreographer Calvin Tropp, awakens to the concept of adding a new dance to the program with a focus on prayer. Compelled by this enigmatic voice, and with only nine weeks before the show, Tropp quickly enlists the talents of a difficult composer, then selects three dancers for this new, creative piece. As the personal lives of these individuals become intertwined with the necessary demands of this special performance, it soon becomes clear that the triumphant "Spirit of Prayer" dance will prove to be a metaphor for each character's soul-searching journey. Through this beautiful fictional blend of art and spirit, readers will follow some rocky paths to a revealing opening night, in a captivating, and well-paced chapter countdown.
While often looked upon as a religious act, here author Jean Gilbertson highlights prayer as a spiritual connector. To this end, whether confronting issues of family dysfunction, loss, sexual orientation, or creative blocks, in the final hour each character looks to find an inner peace. Gilbertson effectively asserts her own background and credentials into the storyline by weaving elements of spiritual counsel, transcendental meditation, and even the joy of a smart Pomeranian, throughout the book. The author's own love of the ballet is finely detailed in the ultimate presentation that combines ethereal music, simplified choreography, colorful lighting, grand fund-raising efforts, and major sweat equity.
In its purest form this novel brings to light the positive transformational power of prayer. Gilbertson gracefully succeeds in her effort by presenting an engaging narrative, well-written dialogue, and emotionally revealing characters, all showcased against the backdrop of a classic art form that proves the ideal medium for expressing a visual manifestation of the body, mind, and spirit. Dancing on the Whisper of God is a shining literary denouement, definitely worth the listen and read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review