The Dancing Cansinos photograph album consists of photographs and ephemera relating to the Dancing Cansinos, a family of professional dancers who emigrated from Spain and eventually settled in Los Angeles. The troupe consisted of Antonio, Sr. and Carmen Cansino; their children Eduardo, Elisa, Paco, Jose, Antonio, Jr., Rafael, and Angel; Gabriel Cansino, a cousin; and, briefly in the 1930s, Margarita Carmen Cansino, who later became known as the actress Rita Hayworth. Rita Hayworth's parents were Eduardo Cansino and Volga Hayworth. The Dancing Cansinos, and Elisa in particular, played a major role in bringing Spanish and Romani dances to the United States. The album primarily comprises professional posed images of the Cansino dancers, including real photo postcard (RPPC) portraits of of Eduardo and Elisa, a backstage photograph of Gabriel and other dancers (possibly including Elisa) at a theatre, and several RPPCs of the Cansinos striking dance poses and in costume. Other images of the Cansinos include a handful of vernacular snapshots of several members of the family on a boat, and one of what appears to be Gabriel on a horse. Additional images include a group portrait photo of a party in what appears to be Seville, images of other dancers and performers that either performed with the Cansinos or, possibly, were students. The album also contains various ephemera that primarily relate to Gabriel Cansino. Included is a 1927 holograph note for a monetary transaction in Madrid between Antonio and Gabriel; two promotional cards from 1925 and circa 1930; a program for a celebration of Mexico's independence held in San Francisco in 1931, at which Gabriel performed; a mockup of an advertisement featuring Elisa and Gabriel in Who's Who in Music and Dance in Southern California; a flyer for an appearance by Elisa in Toronto; and programs for California performances by Gabriel.

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