Teen who grew up in a slum becomes ballerina princess

Call her the Slumdog Ballerina. Jessa Balote hails from Aroma, an impoverished shanty town in the Philippine capital of Manila where most residents make a living collecting garbage. From these circumstances, the 14-year-old has blossomed into a talented ballerina -- imagine if Eliza Doolittle wore a tutu and could arabesque. Four years ago, Jessa successfully auditioned for a dance scholarship provided by Lisa Macuja, the country’s most famous ballerina, and since then, she has performed in the likes of “Swan Lake,” “Don Quixote” and “Cinderella.” Her dancing, which comes with a stipend and performance fees, has also enabled her to provide for her family. [Source]

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