Poland, 1942: seventeen-year-old Maya Schulze is struggling to survive in a brutal Nazi labour camp. But despite days filled with hunger, fear and despair, she is able to find courage and beauty in dancing – it is only then that she feels free.
One day a camp guard watches Maya perform, and both their destinies are changed for ever. Jan falls in love with Maya and promises to protect her; Maya lives for their stolen moments together, when her heart can dance again. Jan ultimately plots Maya’s escape and promises to find her when the war is over, but fate cruelly intervenes.
Fifty years on, having received news that changes everything for her, Maya tells her story to journalist Kate Young. As their friendship grows, they piece together the clues to find Jan before it’s too late.
Maya’s Dance is Australian writer and journalist Helen Signy’s first foray into fiction. And I expect we’ll be seeing a lot more from her soon – this novel is fantastic! Poignant, meticulously researched and compellingly written, Maya’s Dance is a must-read.
Based on a story of a true Holocaust survivor, Signy delicately and successfully tells this story of a brutal time in history. From the very first page, Signy’s prose captivates, drawing readers into Maya’s world with vivid descriptions and evocative imagery.
There’s a dual-timeline here: 1990s Sydney and 1940s Poland. We really see Signy’s journalistic background come into play in the 1990 timeline; I’d read the story just from that perspective. But reading Maya’s story firsthand, in 1942, added another element entirely. Many tears were shed reading this, but not all were tears of sadness; like Maya’s story of dance, there are moments of light that provoke hope and glimmers of happiness.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is in its richly drawn characters. There are many multiple layers to Maya, forged in her harrowing childhood journey, but also through learning to dance. It’s here that she learns valuable lessons about perseverance and resilience. The elder Maya is oh so wise, with Signy cleverly letting us look at her through Kate’s eyes. Kate’s journalistic hat comes off at times, and overall, she gives the story another layer of kindness and goodness.
Maya’s Dance is a powerful novel of survival, resilience and enduring love. With its beautifully crafted prose, authentic characters and compelling storyline, this novel is a celebration of the human spirit and the transformative power of following one’s dream in times of adversity. I can’t recommend it enough.
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