Twelve Dancing Princesses

For classroom teachers and dance teachers alike, the classic Brothers Grimm tale of The Twelve Dancing Princesses can be a springboard for a creating dance or for a class discussion on versions of folktales.

I love Rachel Isadora's 2007 version set in Africa. The artwork is beautiful, employing an Eric Carle-esque use of paper and color. I am always on the look out for books with dancers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

(I have also blogged on the Debbie Allen and Kadir Nelson variation on the tale, Brothers of the Knight, another great book.)

For Bay Area teachers, the following libraries have The Twelve Dancing Princesses:

Berkeley Public Library

Oakland Public Library

San Francisco Public Library