Patricia A. Keeler first fell in love with African dance after watching a Batoto Yetu performance at the Victory Theater in New York City. Pursuing the idea for a book, Keeler met Júlio Leitão and spent many weekends observing the young dancers in his troupe. With this book, Keeler hopes to introduce the richness of African dance to young readers everywhere. She lives with her husband in Hoboken, New Jersey.