Overview
A talented team of children's book creators craft a beautiful, stirring tribute to the grace and power of prima ballerinas everywhere.Every little girl has the dream to become a prima ballerina! On today's ever-changing cultural stage, ballerinas come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. To celebrate the beauty of black ballerinas, here is a lush photographic picture book with a brilliant poetic narrative, brought to young readers by two amazing talents. The minimal text balances the harmony of the photos and demonstrates the joy of movement.
Synopsis
Every little girl has the dream to become a prima ballerina! On today's ever-changing cultural stage, ballerinas come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. To celebrate the beauty of black ballerinas, here is a lush photographic picture book with a brilliant poetic narrative, brought to young readers by two amazing talents. The minimal text balances the harmony of the photos and demonstrates the joy of movement.
Children's Literature
"Beautiful ballerina, you are the dance." This refrain weaves its way through poet Nelson's tribute to the young ballet students of Dance Theatre of Harlem's Community and Pre-professional programs. Award-winning poet laureate of Connecticut, Nelson focuses her lyric poem on special contributions African-American dancers can make to their art: "you bring a tiny hint of Africanness,/ juju and beautiful joy danced in your every move." Stressing dedication and technique as well, this ode to ballet and its "ballerinas," reminds students that "Self-discipline, self-criticism,/ self-control, focus,/ and imagination give you your skill./ Beautiful ballerina, you are the dance." Four girls from the school perform for Kuklin's color photographs—small Doris, who looks about four; Jalen, perhaps ten and already in the Pre-professional program; Raven M. and Raven B., teen dancers from the Pre-professional classes—all dancing through the lines and pages of the poem in photos placed against flat backgrounds using colors like lavender, lime green, teal, and apricot. Most advanced is lovely Raven B. in her lilac practice tutu showing off her athleticism, openness, and expansiveness. Final pages offer information about Arthur Mitchell, founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem; Endalyn Taylor, present director of the company; and the company's purpose and mission. A perfect complement to this book would be Valerie Gladstone's A Young Dancer: The Life of an Ailey Student, with striking photos by Jose Ivey (Holt, 2009). Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft