From a Manila slum emerges an unlikely ballerina
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon uses his worn-out ballet shoes as he practices steps during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's programme, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and is given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon (left) practices steps during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's programme, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and is given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote arranges her things as she sits beside her sleeping niece inside their cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote rehearses during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote arranges her ballet shoes and clothes inside their cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (centre) practices with other students during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, students practice during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Aside from well-off students, the school picks scholars among kids living in slum areas of Manila and enrols them at their dance scholarship program where they are given a monthly stipend. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (centre) balances during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (3rd from right) points her toes with other students during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, the area where Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote lives at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote, right, talks with another student as she stretches before the start of classes at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote uses her smartphone beside a wall filled with her ballet certificates and pictures inside her cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon, right, focuses during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's program, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote holds her hair outside her cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon uses his worn-out ballet shoes as he practices steps during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's programme, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and is given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon (left) practices steps during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's programme, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and is given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote arranges her things as she sits beside her sleeping niece inside their cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote rehearses during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote arranges her ballet shoes and clothes inside their cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (centre) practices with other students during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, students practice during a class at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Aside from well-off students, the school picks scholars among kids living in slum areas of Manila and enrols them at their dance scholarship program where they are given a monthly stipend. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (centre) balances during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote (3rd from right) points her toes with other students during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, the area where Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote lives at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance programme. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote, right, talks with another student as she stretches before the start of classes at Ballet Manila in the Philippine capital. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote uses her smartphone beside a wall filled with her ballet certificates and pictures inside her cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Nov 25, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jamil Montebon, right, focuses during a class at Ballet Manila at the Philippine capital. Montebon, a scholar at Ballet Manila's program, used to collect garbage and also worked at a junk shop. He now receives a monthly stipend, stays at their dormitory and given meals. -- PHOTO: AP
In this photo taken on Dec 4, 2012, Filipino slum dweller Jessa Balote holds her hair outside her cramped home at a place called Aroma in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. Balote, who used to tag along with her family as they collect garbage at a nearby dumpsite, is a scholar at Ballet Manila's dance program. As an apprentice, she makes around 7,000 pesos (S$207) a month, sometimes double that, from stipend and performance fees. -- PHOTO: AP
MANILA (AP) - The ghetto called Aroma reeks of putrefying trash collected by its residents for recycling. Half-naked children with grimy faces play on muddy dirt roads lined by crumbling shanties of tarpaulin walls, cracked tin roofs and communal toilets.
From this Manila slum of garbage collectors emerged an unlikely Cinderella: ballerina Jessa Balote who at the age of 10 was plucked out of her grubby life by a ballet school to prepare her for a life on stage.
In four years since her audition in 2008, Jessa has performed in various productions, including Swan Lake, Pinocchio, Don Quixote and a local version of Cinderella. She rode a plane for the first time in August to compete in the 2012 Asian Grand Prix ballet competition for students and young dancers in Hong Kong, where she was a finalist.
The 14-year-old Jessa's unlikely success is as much a celebration of a unique effort by the Philippines' most famous prima ballerina, Lisa Macuja, to help slum kids of Manila by providing them a scholarship and classical ballet training for six to seven years.
