“Dance Class” Graphic Novels by Beka and Crip (Papercutz)
#1 “So You Think You Can Hip-Hop?”
#2 “Romeo and Juliets”
These two graphic novels are a charming romp into the world of middle-school-aged dance friends Julie, Alia, and Lucie. Some of the content is geared towards that age group, but the stories are easy enough reads to appeal to a younger audience, too.
Each book is a set of 46 page-long episodes. Dance “inside jokes” abound, from the girls using their horoscopes as an excuse to visit the local bakery, to failing a math quiz by forgetting what comes after number 8. Romance and rivalry are present too, as in the life of any preteen.
I found some of the scenarios in the “Dance Class” series far too silly to be realistic, but the girls’ sincere love of dance is at the heart of it all. Every scene ends with a note of humor, even when things go absurdly wrong—Murphy’s Law seems to govern everything that goes on in the world of “Dance Class!” If anything, these two stories set a positive tone for discussion about obstacles dance students face. The lively artwork is a visual treat.
