Danza! Amalia Hernàndez and El Ballet Folklórico de MéxicoBy Duncan Tonatiuh
Amalia was destined to become a schoolteacher like her mother and grandmother. However, after seeing a pair of dancers while on vacation with her family she decided she was going to become a dancer. In 1939, two dancers from the United States visited Mexico City. Their visit and modern style of dance impressed Amalia even more. Amalia grew up to create El Ballet Folklórico de México, Mexico's Folkloric Ballet company. Her company became international in 1961 when it won the first prise the Festival of Nations in Paris.
This nonfiction picture book is wonderful for all ages and grades. Students who are interested in history, culture, and/or dance would love reading this book. Although this book mainly represents Mexican culture Amalia brought traditions from all over the world into her dances. This would be wonderful to show students how cultures can be influenced by other cultures. Additionally, the book assists younger readers by including pronunciation guides for names as well as a glossary for Spanish and English terms. I would use this book when introducing cultures, research projects, or understanding the main ideas of nonfiction texts. I would also use this to show the power of women and girls!
Promotional video for the current company:
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