Finding Rhythm: An International Dance Journey

At 29, Salmon (In School, in Society) left her job at the UN in Thailand to travel and learn to dance. The book recollects her journey, beginning in Bangkok, then going on to New York, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina. In each place, she studied and learned to dance. In Mexico, for instance, she learned the national dance—jarabe tapatio—a hat dance that mimics courting doves. In addition to in-depth descriptions of the grueling work to master each dance, she also recalls the unique flavor of each locale: the food, drink, and people. Early on, she was given wise advice: don’t worry about technique; do what feels natural and comfortable. These words sustained her when things became difficult. By the time she returned to England, at 31, she was nearly penniless but rich emotionally, since, as she concludes, “I have found my rhythm.”