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Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico

Born in Mexico City in 1917, Amalia Hernandez loved traditional Mexican folk dancing from the first time she saw it as a child in a public square. She studied ballet as a girl, and then modern dance as she got older, but it was audience reception to a ballet she choreographed based on a tradition danza that convinced her to make these traditional dances the focus of her work. She traveled around Mexico to learn regional dances and read about the history behind them before creating interpretations for El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, the company she founded. Ami died in 2000 but El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico continues, and has also inspired countless other groups. This lively account is paired with Tonatiuh’s distinctive, Mixtec-inspired illustrations. An author’s note discusses struggles Amalia faced, from financing her company to criticism of appropriation and misrepresentation. A glossary, bibliography, and index conclude this energizing work. ©2017 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-9
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7) Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format: Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Subjects: Biography Dance and Dancers Girls and Women Mexicans and Mexican Americans
Diversity subject: Latine

Publisher: Abrams
Publish Year: 2017
Pages: 29
ISBN: 9781419725326

CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 792 Tonatiuh