What do you think?
Rate this book
Danza!: Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México
In the picture book Danza! , award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh tells the story of Amalia Hernández, dancer and founder of El Ballet Folklórico de México.
Winner of the Pura Belpré Award and the Robert F. Sibert Medal
“A vivid celebration of Mexican culture, art, and life.” ― School Library Journal (Starred Review)
As a child, Amalia saw a pair of dancers in the town square. The way they stomped and swayed to the rhythm of the beat inspired her. She knew one day she would become a dancer. Amalia studied ballet and modern dance under the direction of skilled teachers who had performed in world-renowned dance companies. But she never forgot the folk dance she had seen years earlier.
She began traveling through the Mexican countryside, witnessing the dances of many regions, and she used her knowledge of ballet and modern dance to adapt the traditional dances to the stage. She founded her own dance company, a group that became known as El Ballet Folklórico de México.
Using his signature illustration style, inspired by the ancient art of the Mixtecs, Tonatiuh tells the story of Amalia Hernández and the formation of one of the most famous and successful dance companies in the world.
This is a celebration of Mexican heritage, culture, and dance that will entertain young readers and their parents.
“Tonatiuh tells Hernández’s story with careful attention to detail and with obvious admiration for the subject. . . . His digitized, hand-drawn illustrations are striking. They showcase, in his signature style based on Mixtec art, the beauty and grace of many different dance styles.” ― Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Winner of the Pura Belpré Award and the Robert F. Sibert Medal
“A vivid celebration of Mexican culture, art, and life.” ― School Library Journal (Starred Review)
As a child, Amalia saw a pair of dancers in the town square. The way they stomped and swayed to the rhythm of the beat inspired her. She knew one day she would become a dancer. Amalia studied ballet and modern dance under the direction of skilled teachers who had performed in world-renowned dance companies. But she never forgot the folk dance she had seen years earlier.
She began traveling through the Mexican countryside, witnessing the dances of many regions, and she used her knowledge of ballet and modern dance to adapt the traditional dances to the stage. She founded her own dance company, a group that became known as El Ballet Folklórico de México.
Using his signature illustration style, inspired by the ancient art of the Mixtecs, Tonatiuh tells the story of Amalia Hernández and the formation of one of the most famous and successful dance companies in the world.
This is a celebration of Mexican heritage, culture, and dance that will entertain young readers and their parents.
“Tonatiuh tells Hernández’s story with careful attention to detail and with obvious admiration for the subject. . . . His digitized, hand-drawn illustrations are striking. They showcase, in his signature style based on Mixtec art, the beauty and grace of many different dance styles.” ― Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2017
About the author
Duncan Tonatiuh
27 books229 followersI was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I received my BFA from Parsons School of Design and my BA from Eugene Lang College, both of them divisions of the New School University in New York City.
My first picture book "Dear Primo, a letter to my cousin" is published by H N Abrams and will be in stores March 1st, 2010.
My illustrations of the AH1N1 in Mexico were selected to be a part of CONACULTA's catalog of Mexican illustrators for children and young adults. They also appeared in the BBC when the pandemic broke out.
My short graphic novel Journey of a Mixteco was awarded the prize for the best thesis in the Integrated Design Curriculum department at Parsons. It appeared serially in the webcomix site topshelfcomix 2.0
I'm currently working on two new picture books. And I regularly upload new illustrations about current events to my blog.
My first picture book "Dear Primo, a letter to my cousin" is published by H N Abrams and will be in stores March 1st, 2010.
My illustrations of the AH1N1 in Mexico were selected to be a part of CONACULTA's catalog of Mexican illustrators for children and young adults. They also appeared in the BBC when the pandemic broke out.
My short graphic novel Journey of a Mixteco was awarded the prize for the best thesis in the Integrated Design Curriculum department at Parsons. It appeared serially in the webcomix site topshelfcomix 2.0
I'm currently working on two new picture books. And I regularly upload new illustrations about current events to my blog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
August 24, 2017
Gorgeous book that celebrates Amalia Hernandez, the genius who founded El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Don't miss the back matter.
March 18, 2019
I was looking forward to Danza!: Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México given all the buzz about it and my own personal love of dance. I have even seen the Ballet Folklorico perform in person (they were wonderful, of course!) However, I was underwhelmed by the book. I felt it lacked pizazz. It didn't really give me a feel for Amalia's personality. I also wondered about her family background and how she was able to get the famous dancers as instructors at such a young age. I'm sorry to say that the illustrations frustrated me. I appreciate that they meant to convey a sense of culture but for me, personally, they were so stylized that it was hard to see dance form or technique very clearly. I would also have liked to see more detail in some of the illustrations--for example, the text mentions that Amalia ensured there were "spectacular backdrops" yet all we see is some rather dull greeny-brown background. I also must argue with Tonatiuh's definition of choreographer, which he says is "a person who creates dance steps and arranges them together to create new dance pieces." In most cases, choreographers do not "create" new steps. They use existing steps to create new dances. Certainly choreographers may lend their own personal style to existing steps, and in certain forms of dance, such as modern dance, they may create new dance steps. But, in many forms of dance (tap, jazz, ballet, ballroom) choreographers draw from an existing set of steps and use them to create an overall dance that is new. Just as authors use existing words to create new stories. So, overall, this was just not a winner for me.
September 6, 2017
Stunning. Duncan Tonatiuh is so uniquely creative. Great story, fantastic illustrations. Is it award worthy? You bet it is.
September 30, 2018
I’m not usually inclined to read children’s books, but I read this one because it won the Américas Award this year for children’s literature. It is a beautiful, simple telling of the story of Amalia Hernández and her dedication to the folkloric dance traditions of México and her creation of the Ballet Folklórico de México.
Tonatiuh writes and illustrates his own books, and his artistic style is perhaps the most beautiful I’ve seen in a while. He intentionally creates two-dimensional characters with features and characteristics that are reminiscent of and draw from pre-Columbian indigenous pictorial and glyphic traditions.
I had the pleasure to hear Tonatiuh speak about his work and his background. He has a kindness and humility about him that is powerfully magnetic and which enhances the beauty of his art. He also speaks of his own personal experiences as someone with cross-national sympathies, and it shows in his work. The story takes only 10 minutes to read, but one could spend hours and hours just looking at his illustrations. There is also a helpful glossary, index, author’s note, and bibliography at the end of the book for those less familiar with Mexican history and cultural traditions. If you have young ones in your house who are curious about world cultures, dance, and graphic illustration, this is a fantastic and highly recommended selection for your next book purchase.
Tonatiuh writes and illustrates his own books, and his artistic style is perhaps the most beautiful I’ve seen in a while. He intentionally creates two-dimensional characters with features and characteristics that are reminiscent of and draw from pre-Columbian indigenous pictorial and glyphic traditions.
I had the pleasure to hear Tonatiuh speak about his work and his background. He has a kindness and humility about him that is powerfully magnetic and which enhances the beauty of his art. He also speaks of his own personal experiences as someone with cross-national sympathies, and it shows in his work. The story takes only 10 minutes to read, but one could spend hours and hours just looking at his illustrations. There is also a helpful glossary, index, author’s note, and bibliography at the end of the book for those less familiar with Mexican history and cultural traditions. If you have young ones in your house who are curious about world cultures, dance, and graphic illustration, this is a fantastic and highly recommended selection for your next book purchase.
April 16, 2018
This picture book biography provides detailed information about the upbringing of Amalia Hernandez and her ties to the Ballet Folklorico dance culture. Amalia, who grew up thinking she was going to be teacher, was inspired by dancers in her town square one day and knew that someday she would be a dancer too. She began studying about different types of dance and even traveled throughout Mexico, learning about regional dances. She eventually founded her own dance company, El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, where she integrated her knowledge of ballet with folkloric dances. Her company became an international sensation that still performs today. The author does a great job at celebrating the life and success of Amalia Hernandez. The Mexican culture is woven into the book through the illustrations and some Spanish words that are used in the story. I liked how the author incorporated a glossary at the end of the book, defining the Spanish words that were used. This would be a great book to have in a classroom library because it offers great insight and history on a common tradition within the Mexican/Hispanic culture. This would be especially useful in a classroom with Hispanic ELLs, because their culture is being welcomed into the classroom literature.
August 8, 2018
Who doesn't love a book by Duncan Tonatiuh? I just love the way he draws people's faces. In this book he recounts the life of Amalia Hernandez, a dancer who studied ballet and modern dance before discovering traditional folklore danzas. She incorporated them into the ballet and modern dances she choreographed to form new dances and folkloric ballets. She also borrowed the traditional costumes worn by the traditional dancers to make her danzas more authentic. In 1952 she founded the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, which is still performing today. I would absolutely love to see some of these danzas!
An author's note at the back of the book provides more information about Hernandez, as well as a glossary and list of books and other sources to consult. This picture book even has an index. Even if you're not particularly into dance, this is a book to read if not for the interesting biography, but also for the gorgeous illustrations. Recommended!
An author's note at the back of the book provides more information about Hernandez, as well as a glossary and list of books and other sources to consult. This picture book even has an index. Even if you're not particularly into dance, this is a book to read if not for the interesting biography, but also for the gorgeous illustrations. Recommended!
March 19, 2019
This bored me. There's probably nothing wrong with it, and it's likely to be popular in libraries trying to 'diversify,' but I didn't find it engaging, nor do I personally care for the pictures or feel educated or enriched by them. I tried. Sorry.
June 30, 2017
A wonderfully written and illustrated admiring picture book biography with great attention to detail.
January 3, 2023
Adorable.
March 10, 2018
Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is a biography about the life of Mexican dancer Amalia Hernandez. This book tells the story of Amalia, Ami’s, life and how she was first inspired to start dancing when she was on vacation in Mexico and saw dancers dancing in the town square. After that she decided she was going to become a dancer and began studying ballet and then modern dance. Ami became a dance teacher and a choreographer and created ballets based on the folkloric dances from the different regions of Mexico. Ami’s dance company performed folkloric ballet around the world and although she passed away in 2000 her dance company continues to perform.
This book is an Orbis Pictus Award recommended book. I listened to this book as an audiobook through Hoopla. The audiobook was narrated by Adriana Sananes. The audiobook features music in the background to go with what Ami is dancing to in the book. I did not find that the audiobook added much to the text, however students may enjoy listening to the book. If the audiobook is used, the book should be used in addition so that students are able to see Duncan Tonatiuh’s beautiful illustrations. There is some vocabulary in this book that may be unfamiliar to students because it makes cultural references to Mexico as well as referencing specific dances. Duncan Tonatiuh supports the reader by explaining the new vocabulary in the text, using pictures as support, as well as adding a glossary to the back to define the important terms. There is an author’s note in the back that tells more about Amalia’s life as well as some of the hardships that she faced in her journey.
This book would be appropriate for students in grades 3-5. This book would be good to use if students were reading or writing biographies. Danza! showcases the life and accomplishments of a person that students may not be familiar with. It would be important for students to read the author’s notes in the end of the book to understand that Amalia’s life was not always easy and that she faced challenges in her journey.
This book is an Orbis Pictus Award recommended book. I listened to this book as an audiobook through Hoopla. The audiobook was narrated by Adriana Sananes. The audiobook features music in the background to go with what Ami is dancing to in the book. I did not find that the audiobook added much to the text, however students may enjoy listening to the book. If the audiobook is used, the book should be used in addition so that students are able to see Duncan Tonatiuh’s beautiful illustrations. There is some vocabulary in this book that may be unfamiliar to students because it makes cultural references to Mexico as well as referencing specific dances. Duncan Tonatiuh supports the reader by explaining the new vocabulary in the text, using pictures as support, as well as adding a glossary to the back to define the important terms. There is an author’s note in the back that tells more about Amalia’s life as well as some of the hardships that she faced in her journey.
This book would be appropriate for students in grades 3-5. This book would be good to use if students were reading or writing biographies. Danza! showcases the life and accomplishments of a person that students may not be familiar with. It would be important for students to read the author’s notes in the end of the book to understand that Amalia’s life was not always easy and that she faced challenges in her journey.
May 10, 2018
I knew absolutely nothing about Amalia Hernandez, who founded El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, before reading this book. As a young girl, Ami had become fascinated with dance and studied ballet. She trained hard, and eventually became a choreographer fascinated with modern and traditional dance forms. After traveling the country and making note of traditional dances and costumes, she created her own dance performances and hired her own performers. Eventually, the dancers traveled across the globe, and Ami started her own dance school. Even after her death in 2000, her troupe continues to perform and has done so for more than five decades. The text and illustrations, hand drawn and then digitally collaged, capture the flavor of Mexico and these unique dances, instilling a strong sense of cultural pride and awareness, just as the dances themselves did. Readers will want to check out the back matter, which includes an Author's Note, a Glossary, an Index, and a Bibliography, all useful for learning even more about this fascinating woman. Arguably, without her focus on the folk dances of Mexico, many of them might have been lost. This is a culturally-rich book, ideal for sharing with young audiences.
April 8, 2018
This story was an informational text in that it is a non-fiction story telling of the life of Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. It tells about her experience as a young girl, encouraged to become a teacher, but falling in love with the Danza dancing. She went on to be what she had always dreamed and even became a teacher for the things she found joy and passion in.
I would use this story in grades 4th or 5th, but would say that there needs to be a little more instruction with third because there may be words the class may not be familiar with. The story could be taught to bring more representation into the classroom and show the importance of having pride and celebration of various cultures. I would use the story to teach students to follow their dreams, no matter what is expected from them by others.
I included this story because it fits into the category of a non-fiction text and a biography but I couldn't leave it off the list. It was inspiring in that it allowed representation for girls of color, especially those from Latino culture.
I would use this story in grades 4th or 5th, but would say that there needs to be a little more instruction with third because there may be words the class may not be familiar with. The story could be taught to bring more representation into the classroom and show the importance of having pride and celebration of various cultures. I would use the story to teach students to follow their dreams, no matter what is expected from them by others.
I included this story because it fits into the category of a non-fiction text and a biography but I couldn't leave it off the list. It was inspiring in that it allowed representation for girls of color, especially those from Latino culture.
Read
October 24, 2017No matter where you go in the world in any given point in history, people are dancing. Some have to do it secretly but they dance. Some movements and steps are particular to a specific region. Other styles are more popular with individual age groups. Certain dance forms can cross cultural boundaries, recognized and practiced throughout the world.
If people wish to express sorrow or loss, observe a holiday or celebrate an event in their family or community, they dance. Some people dance for the sheer joy of living in the moment. DANZA! Amalia Hernandez and El Folklorico de Mexico (Abrams Books For Young Readers, August 22, 2017) written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh is a tribute to a singular woman dedicated to creative declarations through the art of dance.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
If people wish to express sorrow or loss, observe a holiday or celebrate an event in their family or community, they dance. Some people dance for the sheer joy of living in the moment. DANZA! Amalia Hernandez and El Folklorico de Mexico (Abrams Books For Young Readers, August 22, 2017) written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh is a tribute to a singular woman dedicated to creative declarations through the art of dance.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
June 14, 2018
Text to world.
A connection between the book read and something in the world that the reader does not have a direct connection with.
In this book there are numerous different festive native dances and costumes. As someone living in the Midwest with a family not focused on their ancestral culture, this has always interested me. Seeing and reading about the old dances reminds me of hearing about rain dances in the middle of large drum circles beating them into a frenzy. The colorful costumes make me think of the tropical birds they have in South America that gift feathers to their costumes. Going even farther back into the Mayan age as she built the dances for her programs reminded me of the ancient civilizations and their many customs that carried them through the ages.
A connection between the book read and something in the world that the reader does not have a direct connection with.
In this book there are numerous different festive native dances and costumes. As someone living in the Midwest with a family not focused on their ancestral culture, this has always interested me. Seeing and reading about the old dances reminds me of hearing about rain dances in the middle of large drum circles beating them into a frenzy. The colorful costumes make me think of the tropical birds they have in South America that gift feathers to their costumes. Going even farther back into the Mayan age as she built the dances for her programs reminded me of the ancient civilizations and their many customs that carried them through the ages.
August 26, 2017
Duncan Tonatiuh gives readers another glimpse into Mexican history with his biography of Amalia Hernandez, creator of the Mexican Folkloric Ballet and preserver of Mexico's folk dances. The subject matter is interesting and well-presented. Tonatiuh uses his signature stylized illustrations, based on pre-Columbian Mexican art. I particularly loved the effect of the digital collaging on the dancers' costumes throughout the book. It gives the appearance of lush fabric.
Reading this book made me want to look up what Hernandez's ballets and folkloric dances really looked like, which is a testament to Tonatiuh's ability to spark interest in a subject.
Reading this book made me want to look up what Hernandez's ballets and folkloric dances really looked like, which is a testament to Tonatiuh's ability to spark interest in a subject.
September 15, 2017
This fascinating picture book biography tells the story of Amalia Hernandez, who founded a ballet company in Mexico that is dedicated to performing dances that celebrate the indigenous cultures of the country. Born 100 years ago, Amalia became fascinated with the dancers that she had seen performing in the town square. She grew up studying ballet with the best teachers that could be found and eventually created her own dances for her group. There are numerous videos of this dance company on YouTube, and it would be fun to watch them as a supplement to this book. There are resources listed at the end, making this a good starting point for further research.
September 6, 2017
Wonderful portrait of Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México -- a person I did not know, and a dance company I was unfamiliar with -- but, I am so glad to know about them now. Duncan Tonatiuh's marvellous illustrations and his excellent storytelling style make this a book not to miss, especially if you, like me, want to see folk culture celebrated and brought into a place where it can continue to thrive and grow.
September 12, 2017
The illustrations carry this book. The story is a little dry but the illustrations are SO engaging that they keep you reading.
March 3, 2019
Danza! -- 2018 Americas Award Winner
Text to self: The part that I connected to in this text was when Tonatiuh talked about Ami getting hooked on dancing. (2017, p. 2) I wasn’t a kid when I got hooked to dancing, but it still happened. I fell in love with dancing (ballroom dancing) when Dancing with the Stars began airing on TV. By chance, I went to a group ballroom class and fell in love with it, and took ballroom, latin, and swing dancing lessons for the next 5 years. What’s clear is that in the text, Ami’s love of dancing would not let her let it go. She pursued it for her whole life, first dancing, then choreographing and directing dance programs. Even though I no longer take dance lessons, I still love dancing. Just like for Ami, it just kind of stuck with me, and I think that is many people’s experience with dance.
Text to text: A text that I felt has a connection to Danza! is Misty Copeland’s Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. (2016) As the first black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, Misty worked hard to bring ballet and the arts to people who had never experienced ballet before. Ami Hernandez did the same with her Mexican Folkloric Ballet – she connected with people who may not have been interested before, showing them dances that they may never have seen or experienced before. In Danza!, Tonatiuh (2017) noted that Ami continued to teach and supervise after she stopped dancing in performances (p. 26). Even though she was done performing in the ballet, she still felt so strongly about the importance of the culture and ballet that she continued to contribute. Likewise, Copeland (2016) noted that while she is still a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, she also teaches other students and is invested in bringing ballet to people and places that haven’t experienced it before (p. 178). She also stated how strongly she felt that ballet and dancing has value beyond the cultural value, giving people skills and experiences that they can’t necessarily get elsewhere. (Copeland, 2016, p. 179) Both women made an impact by being the first to bring their style of dancing to a new group of people.
Text to world: One of the connections I made to this book is actually a movie called Strictly Ballroom. In the text of Danza!, Tonatiuh (2017) talks about how Ami wanted to bring the dances from her own country’s history to a wider audience; she wanted to share her own culture and heritage with others. (p. 10) In the movie Strictly Ballroom, it’s the story of a woman in Australia who takes ballroom dance lessons, but dreams of dancing in a large competition. However, her family is made up of Spanish immigrants to Australia, and she wants to incorporate real dance moves that her father and grandmother have taught her into her ballroom routine. In spite of her efforts, she’s met with resistance, because while the dance moves she wants to incorporate are authentic and true to her heritage, they don’t follow the prescribed moves for the dance competition. While I was reading Danza! and watching Strictly Ballroom, it just made me think about how sometimes what we think is real and authentic for a culture really isn’t, but sometimes we’re resistant to changing our ideas. However, in both cases, the beauty of the dance wins out, and while enjoying something such as a ballet or ballroom show, you can learn a lot about a culture.
Another connection that I made was to another movie (sorry, I’m a movie lover!), called Mad Hot Ballroom. This movie is a documentary about children in New York City who were enrolled in a program to teach elementary students to ballroom dance. At one part in the documentary, one of the teachers mentions that while it’s a fun program, it serves a greater purpose. It helps many of the kids connect with an aspect of their heritage, as many of the Latin dances are based in Hispanic and African or world music, and many of the kids were Hispanic or African-American. Likewise, in the book Danza!, one of the things that Ami Hernandez was trying to accomplish through her ballet was to help people find a connection to the culture of Mexico, both modern and ancient. It says in the text that she traveled around to learn as much as she could about traditional dances and their histories. (Tonatiuh, 2017, p. 11) While the students in Mad Hot Ballroom weren’t traveling around trying collect histories, they were instead connecting with their some of their own histories and heritages by learning the various dances.
Agrelo, M. (Producer), & Agrelo, M. (Director). (2005). Mad Hot Ballroom [Motion Picture].
USA: Nickelodeon Movies.
Copeland, M. (2016). Life in motion: An unlikely ballerina, young readers edition. New York,
NY: Aladdin.
Miall, T. (Producer), & Lurhmann, B. (Director). (1992). Strictly Ballroom [Motion Picture].
Australia: Miramax.
Tonatiuh, D. (2017). Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. New
York, NY: Abrams.
Text to self: The part that I connected to in this text was when Tonatiuh talked about Ami getting hooked on dancing. (2017, p. 2) I wasn’t a kid when I got hooked to dancing, but it still happened. I fell in love with dancing (ballroom dancing) when Dancing with the Stars began airing on TV. By chance, I went to a group ballroom class and fell in love with it, and took ballroom, latin, and swing dancing lessons for the next 5 years. What’s clear is that in the text, Ami’s love of dancing would not let her let it go. She pursued it for her whole life, first dancing, then choreographing and directing dance programs. Even though I no longer take dance lessons, I still love dancing. Just like for Ami, it just kind of stuck with me, and I think that is many people’s experience with dance.
Text to text: A text that I felt has a connection to Danza! is Misty Copeland’s Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. (2016) As the first black principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, Misty worked hard to bring ballet and the arts to people who had never experienced ballet before. Ami Hernandez did the same with her Mexican Folkloric Ballet – she connected with people who may not have been interested before, showing them dances that they may never have seen or experienced before. In Danza!, Tonatiuh (2017) noted that Ami continued to teach and supervise after she stopped dancing in performances (p. 26). Even though she was done performing in the ballet, she still felt so strongly about the importance of the culture and ballet that she continued to contribute. Likewise, Copeland (2016) noted that while she is still a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, she also teaches other students and is invested in bringing ballet to people and places that haven’t experienced it before (p. 178). She also stated how strongly she felt that ballet and dancing has value beyond the cultural value, giving people skills and experiences that they can’t necessarily get elsewhere. (Copeland, 2016, p. 179) Both women made an impact by being the first to bring their style of dancing to a new group of people.
Text to world: One of the connections I made to this book is actually a movie called Strictly Ballroom. In the text of Danza!, Tonatiuh (2017) talks about how Ami wanted to bring the dances from her own country’s history to a wider audience; she wanted to share her own culture and heritage with others. (p. 10) In the movie Strictly Ballroom, it’s the story of a woman in Australia who takes ballroom dance lessons, but dreams of dancing in a large competition. However, her family is made up of Spanish immigrants to Australia, and she wants to incorporate real dance moves that her father and grandmother have taught her into her ballroom routine. In spite of her efforts, she’s met with resistance, because while the dance moves she wants to incorporate are authentic and true to her heritage, they don’t follow the prescribed moves for the dance competition. While I was reading Danza! and watching Strictly Ballroom, it just made me think about how sometimes what we think is real and authentic for a culture really isn’t, but sometimes we’re resistant to changing our ideas. However, in both cases, the beauty of the dance wins out, and while enjoying something such as a ballet or ballroom show, you can learn a lot about a culture.
Another connection that I made was to another movie (sorry, I’m a movie lover!), called Mad Hot Ballroom. This movie is a documentary about children in New York City who were enrolled in a program to teach elementary students to ballroom dance. At one part in the documentary, one of the teachers mentions that while it’s a fun program, it serves a greater purpose. It helps many of the kids connect with an aspect of their heritage, as many of the Latin dances are based in Hispanic and African or world music, and many of the kids were Hispanic or African-American. Likewise, in the book Danza!, one of the things that Ami Hernandez was trying to accomplish through her ballet was to help people find a connection to the culture of Mexico, both modern and ancient. It says in the text that she traveled around to learn as much as she could about traditional dances and their histories. (Tonatiuh, 2017, p. 11) While the students in Mad Hot Ballroom weren’t traveling around trying collect histories, they were instead connecting with their some of their own histories and heritages by learning the various dances.
Agrelo, M. (Producer), & Agrelo, M. (Director). (2005). Mad Hot Ballroom [Motion Picture].
USA: Nickelodeon Movies.
Copeland, M. (2016). Life in motion: An unlikely ballerina, young readers edition. New York,
NY: Aladdin.
Miall, T. (Producer), & Lurhmann, B. (Director). (1992). Strictly Ballroom [Motion Picture].
Australia: Miramax.
Tonatiuh, D. (2017). Danza! Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. New
York, NY: Abrams.
Read
April 20, 2019As part of a Fine Arts crossover on dancing, I selected the following Twin Text.
Nonfiction book- Danza! Analia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico by Duncan Tonatiuh. Fiction book- A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream by Kristy Dempsey.
I chose to pair these two books because they both have the common theme of dancing. The main characters in both books are little girls that dream of becoming professional dancers when the grow up. Danza! Is the biography of Amalia Hernandez who not only made her dream of being a dancer come true, she became internationally known for creating the Mexico Folkloric Ballet. With her accomplishments “she encouraged people of Mexican origin to feel pride in their roots and in their traditional dances.” The book A Dance Like Startlight is about an African American girl who wishes on a star each night in hopes of one day becoming a prima ballerina. When she learns of Janet Collins, one of the pioneers of African American ballet dancing, the little girl believes she too can be a ballerina someday. At the end of the book, after getting to see Janet Collins dance in person, the little girl says “no need to waste my wishes. I’ve got dreams coming true.” To bridge the two text, I would use the interactive strategy directed listening-thinking activity (DL-TA). To begin the class discussion and focus students on the topic I would read the title of each book and ask students to predict what they think each is going to be about. I would also ask why they think that; what information leads them to make such predictions? Once I start to read each book out loud, I would periodically stop and discuss if predictions were accurate, ask for new predictions, and point out important information or context clues until each book is complete. Following the reading of both books I would ask students for more detailed answers to a few comprehension questions and possibly verbal comparisons of the two. * Using a graphic organizer like the Venn Diagram or Webbing activity would work here too.
Dempsey, K. (2014). A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream. New York, NY: Philomel Books, an Imprint of Penguin Group.
Nonfiction book- Danza! Analia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico by Duncan Tonatiuh. Fiction book- A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream by Kristy Dempsey.
I chose to pair these two books because they both have the common theme of dancing. The main characters in both books are little girls that dream of becoming professional dancers when the grow up. Danza! Is the biography of Amalia Hernandez who not only made her dream of being a dancer come true, she became internationally known for creating the Mexico Folkloric Ballet. With her accomplishments “she encouraged people of Mexican origin to feel pride in their roots and in their traditional dances.” The book A Dance Like Startlight is about an African American girl who wishes on a star each night in hopes of one day becoming a prima ballerina. When she learns of Janet Collins, one of the pioneers of African American ballet dancing, the little girl believes she too can be a ballerina someday. At the end of the book, after getting to see Janet Collins dance in person, the little girl says “no need to waste my wishes. I’ve got dreams coming true.” To bridge the two text, I would use the interactive strategy directed listening-thinking activity (DL-TA). To begin the class discussion and focus students on the topic I would read the title of each book and ask students to predict what they think each is going to be about. I would also ask why they think that; what information leads them to make such predictions? Once I start to read each book out loud, I would periodically stop and discuss if predictions were accurate, ask for new predictions, and point out important information or context clues until each book is complete. Following the reading of both books I would ask students for more detailed answers to a few comprehension questions and possibly verbal comparisons of the two. * Using a graphic organizer like the Venn Diagram or Webbing activity would work here too.
Dempsey, K. (2014). A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina’s Dream. New York, NY: Philomel Books, an Imprint of Penguin Group.
September 26, 2019
Danza!: Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. It is a biographical picture book of Amalia Hernández – a Mexican dancer.
Mid-September to Mid-October, at least in my part of the world is Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Amalia Hernández Navarro was a Mexican ballet choreographer and founder of the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Written with lyrical text, Tonatiuh explores Hernández's childhood and her love for dance. Additional notes and glossary are provided in the back for more depth and clarity. The illustrations is Tonatiuth's customary brand of Mixtec-inspired collage, he makes expert use of photographic bits of lace, cloth, and hair to bring warmth to the dancers.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Inspired by the danzas she saw performed on the streets of Mexico City as a child, Amalia Hernández went on to study ballet before being exposed to modern dance. Eventually, she became a choreographer and founded a company that sought to pay tribute to Mexico's past and present, fusing her study of traditional dances from across the country with top-notch production values.
All in all, Danza!: Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México is a wonderful lyrical and cursory biography about Amalia Hernández – a world renowned dancer.
Mid-September to Mid-October, at least in my part of the world is Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.
Amalia Hernández Navarro was a Mexican ballet choreographer and founder of the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México.
The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Written with lyrical text, Tonatiuh explores Hernández's childhood and her love for dance. Additional notes and glossary are provided in the back for more depth and clarity. The illustrations is Tonatiuth's customary brand of Mixtec-inspired collage, he makes expert use of photographic bits of lace, cloth, and hair to bring warmth to the dancers.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Inspired by the danzas she saw performed on the streets of Mexico City as a child, Amalia Hernández went on to study ballet before being exposed to modern dance. Eventually, she became a choreographer and founded a company that sought to pay tribute to Mexico's past and present, fusing her study of traditional dances from across the country with top-notch production values.
All in all, Danza!: Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México is a wonderful lyrical and cursory biography about Amalia Hernández – a world renowned dancer.
April 26, 2019
Danza! is a 2018 America's Award winner. It tells the story of Amalia Hernandez and her journey as a ballet dancer. The story highlights her journey from a child learning to dance to starting a dance company to having her own dance studio. This book presents the theme of hard work and dedication. Throughout the story it can be seen that Amalia's dedication to dance and hard work allowed her to get opportunities, such as choreographing a dance in 1952, she may not have gotten without those two traits.
Throughout the text there are also great illustrations that really allows the reader to immerse him or herself into the story of Amalia Hernandez and the culture of Mexico. The illustrations show how Amalia took traditional ballet dancing and incorporated it with her style and Mexican culture. The contrast of the two styles of dance is seen from the beginning of the book, where Amalia practiced traditional ballet, to later on in the book where we can see the types of outfits and costumes worn during her performances. Without the illustrations there would be a huge part of the cultural aspect of the story missing.
I found the audiobook version of this text to also be a great companion to the text. Listening to the audiobook while looking at the text allows the book to come alive through the use of music and authentic pronunciations by the narrator. During the audiobook the music changes with the events in the book and it really allows the reader to get an idea of the style of each dance. Also, the story stays authentic by using original Spanish names of dances and other words. Having the audio book allows the reader to hear the correct pronunciation of all those words which is beneficial in keeping the book authentic.
This book has a variety of uses in the classroom. It is not only a great book practice retelling and chronological order, but it's also a text that can serve as an authentic story on diverse cultures. In addition to this, the book can be used for comparing and contrasting traditional ballet dancing with more Mexican style dances (using illustrations).
Throughout the text there are also great illustrations that really allows the reader to immerse him or herself into the story of Amalia Hernandez and the culture of Mexico. The illustrations show how Amalia took traditional ballet dancing and incorporated it with her style and Mexican culture. The contrast of the two styles of dance is seen from the beginning of the book, where Amalia practiced traditional ballet, to later on in the book where we can see the types of outfits and costumes worn during her performances. Without the illustrations there would be a huge part of the cultural aspect of the story missing.
I found the audiobook version of this text to also be a great companion to the text. Listening to the audiobook while looking at the text allows the book to come alive through the use of music and authentic pronunciations by the narrator. During the audiobook the music changes with the events in the book and it really allows the reader to get an idea of the style of each dance. Also, the story stays authentic by using original Spanish names of dances and other words. Having the audio book allows the reader to hear the correct pronunciation of all those words which is beneficial in keeping the book authentic.
This book has a variety of uses in the classroom. It is not only a great book practice retelling and chronological order, but it's also a text that can serve as an authentic story on diverse cultures. In addition to this, the book can be used for comparing and contrasting traditional ballet dancing with more Mexican style dances (using illustrations).
February 5, 2020
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Genre: Diverse
Awards: 2018 Américas Award Winner, Booklist Top 10 Diverse Nonfiction for Older and Middle Readers: 2018, CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: The Arts, CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2017, New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017
Audience: 1st-5th grade
Amalia Hernández was born in Mexico City and expected to become a school teacher, but she fell in love with dance. Danza! Follows her life journey as she excels on the stage as a dancer, but also as a choreographer and director of one of the most successful ballet companies in the world: El Ballet Folklórico de Mexicó.
A. Hispanic culture is emphasized in the story. It also emphasizes many other cultures as Amalia learns dances from other countries.
B. The culture of dance in Mexico is discussed. It’s uniqueness and beauty is made clear.
C. The author portrayed the culture positively- Amalia’s dance company served as a reminder to people from Mexico of the pride they should have in their heritage and traditions. He also portrayed the culture as very accepting- Amalia embraces many styles of dance from all over the world.
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Genre: Diverse
Awards: 2018 Américas Award Winner, Booklist Top 10 Diverse Nonfiction for Older and Middle Readers: 2018, CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: The Arts, CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2017, New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017
Audience: 1st-5th grade
Amalia Hernández was born in Mexico City and expected to become a school teacher, but she fell in love with dance. Danza! Follows her life journey as she excels on the stage as a dancer, but also as a choreographer and director of one of the most successful ballet companies in the world: El Ballet Folklórico de Mexicó.
A. Hispanic culture is emphasized in the story. It also emphasizes many other cultures as Amalia learns dances from other countries.
B. The culture of dance in Mexico is discussed. It’s uniqueness and beauty is made clear.
C. The author portrayed the culture positively- Amalia’s dance company served as a reminder to people from Mexico of the pride they should have in their heritage and traditions. He also portrayed the culture as very accepting- Amalia embraces many styles of dance from all over the world.
Read
November 14, 2019Amalia Hernandez, (1917 to 2000) Mexican folklore dancer and choreographer, pursued her dream of becoming a ballerina with determination and tenacity. She combined ballet, modern dance, and folk danza to create new forms of art to represent indigenous history of her country and dazzle the world with a diverse repertoire of dances. Her abilities to dance, manage her dance troupe, coordinate overseas performances, conduct a dance school, and promote Mexican traditions and history inspire everyone to pursue their dream with passion.
May 20, 2021
Beautiful book about the originator of the baile folklorico in Mexico. Love the training and variety of danzas Amalia learned and taught to her dancers, love the cultural institution she founded and its spread to the world.
April 9, 2019
In this biography of Amalia Hernández and her inspiration to found a dance company that became known as El Ballet Folklórico de México. Mr. Tonatiuh pays homage to the woman, her art, and the culture that influenced both.
He created the art by hand-drawing the images and then collaging them digitally. It makes for a very dramatic and distinctive presentation.
I love that the author included pronunciation guides for those who do not speak Spanish and who may not be sure how to say the names, locations, and other words.
I also love that the book shows how Ami traveled to many locations, to learn about the traditional dances, the music, and the costumes so that she could better honor them in her own interpretive dance productions.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the March 2019 - Outstanding Women-themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
I'm glad that it was selected, as I'm not sure if we would have discovered it otherwise. I really enjoyed reading this book and I appreciated the additional information provided at the end of the book, including an author's note, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
interesting quotes:
"She had become a schoolteacher after all, like her mother and her grandmother." (p. 26)
"She made the folkloric dances of Mexico known around the world, and she encouraged people of Mexican origin to feel pride in their roots and in their traditional dances." (p. 29)
He created the art by hand-drawing the images and then collaging them digitally. It makes for a very dramatic and distinctive presentation.
I love that the author included pronunciation guides for those who do not speak Spanish and who may not be sure how to say the names, locations, and other words.
I also love that the book shows how Ami traveled to many locations, to learn about the traditional dances, the music, and the costumes so that she could better honor them in her own interpretive dance productions.
This book was featured as one of the selections for the March 2019 - Outstanding Women-themed reads for the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
I'm glad that it was selected, as I'm not sure if we would have discovered it otherwise. I really enjoyed reading this book and I appreciated the additional information provided at the end of the book, including an author's note, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
interesting quotes:
"She had become a schoolteacher after all, like her mother and her grandmother." (p. 26)
"She made the folkloric dances of Mexico known around the world, and she encouraged people of Mexican origin to feel pride in their roots and in their traditional dances." (p. 29)
May 21, 2021
What a DELIGHTFUL and informative book! I learned many new things.
May 20, 2019
The biography of Amalia Hernandez and her creation of El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.
Colorful illustrations bring to life the story of Amalia and her
Colorful illustrations bring to life the story of Amalia and her
April 4, 2022
It brought a lot of memories when i wanted to be in a Danza but never actually got to do it.
March 21, 2021
4.5
When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it! As a child, I danced ballet folklorico and to this day enjoy watching dancers perform this artform. Ballet Folklorico is a big part of Mexican culture so I never gave it thought about its origins. This book book recounted the woman that brought the different dances from around Mexico and made it the staple dance of the country. What I really loved about this book was how the illustrations mimicked the Aztec/Mayan art style. They were a reminder to the reader of the origins of the Mexican people. I loved it!
When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it! As a child, I danced ballet folklorico and to this day enjoy watching dancers perform this artform. Ballet Folklorico is a big part of Mexican culture so I never gave it thought about its origins. This book book recounted the woman that brought the different dances from around Mexico and made it the staple dance of the country. What I really loved about this book was how the illustrations mimicked the Aztec/Mayan art style. They were a reminder to the reader of the origins of the Mexican people. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews