Win Cash Prizes & Get Professional Feedback @ Flash Fiction Magazine
Learn More
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

101 Words

101 Word Short Stories

  • Subscribe
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Volunteer

The Dancer

October 3, 2023 9 Comments

By Amrita Sarkar

I inhaled deeply and took a leap of faith as the tabla player punched in the beats.

Everything after the ‘namaskar’ was a lump in my throat, a clop on the stage where I danced.

The stares from across the gallery tased me, every time I curved my fingers to bloom the ‘lotus’ mudra.

A stray jeer almost disrupted my chaari bheda—footwork—but I persevered.

The audience, stage, and beats of the tabla whirled around me as I wrapped up the climax. Quiescent silence. A clap, then two—hundreds followed!

I patted my prosthetic leg. You filled big shoes today.

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

The Power of Imagery with Nina Schuyler

September 12 & 13 on Zoom
Enrollment closes Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM Pacific

If your descriptions are vivid but your stories still feel thin, this workshop is for you.

Join award-winning author Nina Schuyler to learn the difference between description, which tells a reader what things look like, and imagery, which carries plot, character, and meaning at the same time.

In just two days, you'll learn to choose images that hold emotion without naming it, pair them so each one deepens the other, and build patterns that gather meaning as the story moves.

Learn More and Enroll

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Goldstone says

    October 3, 2023 at 7:32 am

    A tense yet poetic story – very difficult to achieve but pulled off expertly here.

    Reply
    • Amrita Sarkar says

      October 4, 2023 at 7:07 am

      Thank you so much! You have made my day! ?

      Reply
  2. Sujatha says

    October 4, 2023 at 7:51 am

    Very well written. The twist at the end delivered beautifully in an uplifting way.

    Reply
  3. Lisa H. Owens says

    October 4, 2023 at 9:54 am

    Wow! Magnificent twist, and that jerky-jeerer needs a beat down.

    Reply
  4. Bud says

    October 4, 2023 at 10:20 am

    Great story about overcoming adversity. Nicely done!

    Reply
  5. Michael Theroux says

    October 4, 2023 at 1:01 pm

    I will happily share with my dancer sister, who struggles to continue her jazz & tap despite two hip replacements. So beautifully delivered.

    Reply
  6. Debasree Banerjee says

    October 4, 2023 at 1:24 pm

    To express the story of human triumph over adversity, and that too in a hundred words, is nothing short of outstanding. It needs a standing ovation.

    Reply
  7. Michele Cacano says

    October 12, 2023 at 2:53 am

    You had me at tabla, and kept me engaged throughout. Great little story!

    Reply
  8. Liz says

    October 18, 2023 at 12:33 am

    What can I add to all the rest of those lovely comments? They say it all. Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Stories

The end.