Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA) A photo-essay about flamenco, a centuries-old living art form, originating in southern Spain, that incorporates traditional dance, song, and music. FLAMENCO-it's singing, it's dancing, it's guitar playing! It's an exciting, expressive art form that has evolved over hundreds of years. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, we meet Janira Cordova, who is studying flamenco. The students in her dance company, Flamenco's Next Generation, are eager to learn the tools of their art: how to move their hands, arms, feet, and bodies to the rhythms of the songs and music. When it is finally time to perform at Santa Fe's annual Spanish Market, the young dancers can't wait to get onstage and showcase their skills. As the singing, music, and clapping surround the dancers, Janira's arms and hands flow through the air. Her skirt whirls. Her feet stamp the floor. Her dancing expresses her joy as she proudly carries on the colorful tradition of flamenco. With captivating photographs and engaging text, George Ancona explores the origins, history, techniques, and performance of flamenco. Come along and catch flamenco fever. ¡Olé! "Children [will] soon be enticed by the story of flamenco. . . A helpful map traces the art form's roots, while the text explains both the history of the Gypsies and flamenco. Fullcolor photographs capture the excitement and dazzle. . . All aspects of flamenco are explored, including movements, facial expressions, and sound effects." -- Booklist "With the focus on child and adult performers in New Mexico, Ancona ably conveys the relevance of flamenco in contemporary American culture. This inviting yet under addressed topic earns its place in Latino studies and general music collections." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Ancona's narration skillfully paces Janira's preparation for performance with the history of flamenco-and the inextricably connected history of the Roma. . . The songs told of the joys, loves, pain, sorrow, and in some cases misery of Roma lives. These passions, or duende, are apparent in Ancona's photographs, which capture the dancers' and musicians' expressive bodies and faces mid-gesture. . . the clear text and stunning photography shine." -- The Horn Book George Ancona is an award-winning author and photographer known for his vivid, eye-catching images. He has written and/over photographed more than one hundred books for young readers. In 2002 Ancona received the Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award for his work providing quality nonfiction for young readers. Ancona and his wife live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can find him online at georgeancona.com. George Ancona is an award-winning author and photographer known for his vivid, eye-catching images. He has written and/over photographed more than one hundred books for young readers. In 2002 Ancona received the Washington Post Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award for his work providing quality nonfiction for young readers. Ancona and his wife live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can find him online at georgeancona.com.