A Young Dancer: The Life of an Ailey Student
Readers old enough to remember Jill Krementz’s A Very Young series will recognize a similar format in this book about a 13-year-old African American dancer that combines strong color photos and lively, first-person text. Iman Bright is a student at New York City’s Ailey School, founded by the late Alvin Ailey, the famed choreographer whose eponymous dance company continues to perform programs, drawn from African American cultural traditions, around the world. Each spread matches multiple images of the talented teen with Iman’s descriptions of her hectic days, spent in academic classes, long dance practices, and lessons with her violin teacher. Young dancers will love the images and specific details of life in the studio, where Iman practices African- and Latin American–inspired dances along with traditional ballet. But a wide range of readers will find inspiration in Iman’s dedication and in her joyful approach to her discipline, which allows her to take criticism in stride and to connect to deep feelings: “It makes me feel good, like I’m in church.” Grades 1-4. --Gillian Engberg