The Man Who Set the Town Dancing : El Hombreque Puso Abailar a Todo el Pueblo

Text in English & Spanish. This book is based on the true story of Jose Tena, maestro of dance, who popularised folk dances of Mexico.

It is also about how if a child has a dream he truly believes in, and works hard -- in spite of obstacles and others discouragement, even derision -- he can make that dream come true.

Jose had a dream; he dreamed of teaching everyone in his town to dance the original dances of New Mexico -- the folk dances from the Spanish Colonial period. Because no one else knew the steps, Jose had to dance by himself with others only watching, and he worried that this important part of their cultural heritage would soon be lost.

Forgotten or never even experienced would be the joys, the laughter, the gloriously coloured costumes and lively energetic movements of the dance.

For Jose, this future seemed unbearable. Lavishly illustrated with full colour paintings rich in cultural detail, the book follows Jose as he sets about making his dream come true and bringing dance back into the lives of the townspeople. The brilliantly coloured illustrations seem to pulsate with the life and the rhythm of the La Indita, the El Vaquero, the El Vals de los Panos and the La Cuna.

Basic musical transcriptions and step diagrams for each of these dances are included, so soon you can set your whole neighbourhood dancing!