Bernard Mac Laverty's beautifully turned stories are full of humour, terse realism and moments of touching or shocking surprise. Nelson plays truant and sees something he wishes he hadn't in the title story, "A Time to Dance". In "Phonefun Limited", Sadie and Agnes, retired prostitutes hit upon an inventive new way of making someone happy with a phone call, while in "My Dear Palestrina'", a remarkable music teacher initiates her pupil into the mysteries of art and maturity.