Muses "music", and "musing upon". In current literature, the influential role that the Muse plays has been extended to the political sphere. In "Down to Earth", the Muses, espcially Terpsichore (Rita Hayworth), are offended by a vulgar Broadway musical called "Hot Muses", in which they are portrayed as besotted by two American flyers who crash-land on Parnassus. Terpsichore masquerades as a mortal to get the show "improved". All nine Muses appear in the 1980 film "Xanadu", with actress Olivia Newton-John as Terpsichore. Many of the Greek gods, including five of the Muses (Thalia, Clio, Calliope, Melpomene, and Terpsichore) appear in the
There Should Be More Dancing her review for The Sydney Morning Herald said, "There Should Be More Dancing is a deceptively frivolous title, a wistful phrase with more sagacity than it might suggest: research shows dancing might help delay or prevent the onset of dementia. Its playful message hints at Ham's skill in disguising her informed eloquence on a serious subject behind sparkling, entertaining prose. Senior citizens will wave their walkers in relief and delight: help is at hand." In a review for Steep stairs, Mike Heald called the novel "one of a deep humaneness" and praising Ham said, "Rosalie Ham’s skill allows her to