![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA533WYB3B4FAW6MWK5CRGLOUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6934216d4702827905b46b855508ee4b6ce541ac39ba5eb71c7b9b4c4496ca09&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Nicole Chavez, 15, prepares for the performance at home
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XXL3G467Z4W4E3UH3G6ULBESPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=998d1daf8ec30ef53a9620aeef73098715e5ca805697e3ab3cbe1a72faf6781f&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Nicole Chavez (15) performs at the San Genaro neighborhood in the Chorrillos district, south of Lima, on April 1, 2023. - At an arid and dry hill in Lima, a group of girls wearing leotards stand on their toes in a rocky and dusty road. Hardly any of them will become a professional dancer, acknowledges without bitterness Maria del Carmen Silva, instructor of the ballet that finances itself from recycling in Peru. (Photo by Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKD4CQHI6MV4XSA3XIGXZDM24M.jpg?smart=true&auth=4dbaad9acf918d3d39e189646174702d3468609cd08b90160e207bc1757fdbc8&width=400&height=225)
Ballet students from the low-income San Genaro area, in Chorrillos district, south of the capital, are being taught by retired dancer Maria del Carmen Silva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJDCH5B5SE3GIQ7O67YDW2XVAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae721a180db77681bfc077240f902392624f1c8c46cf45486e62cc739abc7ff7&width=400&height=225)
The ballet school raises its own funds by selling materials for recycling
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7JYM5YTMSLGBOHUHOWNLAS56M.jpg?smart=true&auth=18a9f5a90de32e3ae755ae9edbf4e60534cc8b950a54c17f9d17dd98e632e9b2&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva says it is not likely any of her students will make it as professional dancers, but that her focus is more on healing though dance
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NGAVWMHTMNBFNU2TH5P3AI23TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b12de97caf308560f865970d4d00c2b5cbdbefb49461b446ccb6a4fd0dbe595&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Keith Chavez (12) goes down the hill after performing at the San Genaro neighborhood in the Chorrillos district, south of Lima, on April 1, 2023. - At an arid and dry hill in Lima, a group of girls wearing leotards stand on their toes in a rocky and dusty road. Hardly any of them will become a professional dancer, acknowledges without bitterness Maria del Carmen Silva, instructor of the ballet that finances itself from recycling in Peru. (Photo by Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GFSPZUWAYLEPROFDTIINGUHLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c553760b952db027882a7bc6ea9afeab39dbaa22873f2ccc5064883e5abf49d8&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva founded the school to help improve the lives of poor girls and teens through ballet
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YCVJBDWFHZDZTD7YZHHDM3PKXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=217d88552e1cafee86fa5b37e0a8905bf26c7c6aefaf30c1de4851ecc80e38ea&width=400&height=225)
She also wants to help change ballet, which has long associated with a demanding (thin and white) aesthetic
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FPBV4AO43TGMGRVYCPLDI4XANQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=471e3b7c6dfbc0429ce237207da554a65240024c740a88b27a1836b44efdabad&width=400&height=225)
The students perform atop the hill in Chorrillos district
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46KAXQ5GE4JSFVB25K6XUHZWMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=98f51e37f6093f0569b77aa3181afa2dcd37e6bcf85e32cc9c149077425af628&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva is known as La Miss by her students
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AJBVAIRZKVSWEJBLE27LHBPUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=246e935cf2651342bbd445c6c10df237e3a89f1f5ca5e1bf5daef59a267de56d&width=400&height=225)
There are many stairs for the students to climb, zig-zagging up the hills above Chorrillos
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGXGSZTPDBTPIBRNGTSLSLU7MM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8322cde93db48d607621d54b27587217745fa2e8e3fee0f62579448c1b9aeb77&width=400&height=225)
'Despite the dirt from home they already want to be clean, they have their hair well combed,' says Ms Silva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3OR424PJB27FAZ45R4EMUDYLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fd6afb5284b6135b329746bbefb320b92d26f437f1dfad94d2113de757933b2&width=400&height=225)
San Genaro lies 300 metres above the Pacific sea level
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCTDNJ4Y2KZ7EJWFR2B6VQ77VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2bde89cc6b2900a35804718f6d7e10d28c315cbe46bdf3e77bb575a4dc01489&width=400&height=225)
The city sprawls out in the background as a young ballerina dances
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA533WYB3B4FAW6MWK5CRGLOUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6934216d4702827905b46b855508ee4b6ce541ac39ba5eb71c7b9b4c4496ca09&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Nicole Chavez, 15, prepares for the performance at home
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XXL3G467Z4W4E3UH3G6ULBESPU.jpg?smart=true&auth=998d1daf8ec30ef53a9620aeef73098715e5ca805697e3ab3cbe1a72faf6781f&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Nicole Chavez (15) performs at the San Genaro neighborhood in the Chorrillos district, south of Lima, on April 1, 2023. - At an arid and dry hill in Lima, a group of girls wearing leotards stand on their toes in a rocky and dusty road. Hardly any of them will become a professional dancer, acknowledges without bitterness Maria del Carmen Silva, instructor of the ballet that finances itself from recycling in Peru. (Photo by Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKD4CQHI6MV4XSA3XIGXZDM24M.jpg?smart=true&auth=4dbaad9acf918d3d39e189646174702d3468609cd08b90160e207bc1757fdbc8&width=400&height=225)
Ballet students from the low-income San Genaro area, in Chorrillos district, south of the capital, are being taught by retired dancer Maria del Carmen Silva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJDCH5B5SE3GIQ7O67YDW2XVAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae721a180db77681bfc077240f902392624f1c8c46cf45486e62cc739abc7ff7&width=400&height=225)
The ballet school raises its own funds by selling materials for recycling
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J7JYM5YTMSLGBOHUHOWNLAS56M.jpg?smart=true&auth=18a9f5a90de32e3ae755ae9edbf4e60534cc8b950a54c17f9d17dd98e632e9b2&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva says it is not likely any of her students will make it as professional dancers, but that her focus is more on healing though dance
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NGAVWMHTMNBFNU2TH5P3AI23TQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b12de97caf308560f865970d4d00c2b5cbdbefb49461b446ccb6a4fd0dbe595&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Keith Chavez (12) goes down the hill after performing at the San Genaro neighborhood in the Chorrillos district, south of Lima, on April 1, 2023. - At an arid and dry hill in Lima, a group of girls wearing leotards stand on their toes in a rocky and dusty road. Hardly any of them will become a professional dancer, acknowledges without bitterness Maria del Carmen Silva, instructor of the ballet that finances itself from recycling in Peru. (Photo by Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4GFSPZUWAYLEPROFDTIINGUHLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=c553760b952db027882a7bc6ea9afeab39dbaa22873f2ccc5064883e5abf49d8&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva founded the school to help improve the lives of poor girls and teens through ballet
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YCVJBDWFHZDZTD7YZHHDM3PKXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=217d88552e1cafee86fa5b37e0a8905bf26c7c6aefaf30c1de4851ecc80e38ea&width=400&height=225)
She also wants to help change ballet, which has long associated with a demanding (thin and white) aesthetic
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FPBV4AO43TGMGRVYCPLDI4XANQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=471e3b7c6dfbc0429ce237207da554a65240024c740a88b27a1836b44efdabad&width=400&height=225)
The students perform atop the hill in Chorrillos district
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46KAXQ5GE4JSFVB25K6XUHZWMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=98f51e37f6093f0569b77aa3181afa2dcd37e6bcf85e32cc9c149077425af628&width=400&height=225)
Ms Silva is known as La Miss by her students
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AJBVAIRZKVSWEJBLE27LHBPUY.jpg?smart=true&auth=246e935cf2651342bbd445c6c10df237e3a89f1f5ca5e1bf5daef59a267de56d&width=400&height=225)
There are many stairs for the students to climb, zig-zagging up the hills above Chorrillos
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JGXGSZTPDBTPIBRNGTSLSLU7MM.jpg?smart=true&auth=8322cde93db48d607621d54b27587217745fa2e8e3fee0f62579448c1b9aeb77&width=400&height=225)
'Despite the dirt from home they already want to be clean, they have their hair well combed,' says Ms Silva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q3OR424PJB27FAZ45R4EMUDYLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fd6afb5284b6135b329746bbefb320b92d26f437f1dfad94d2113de757933b2&width=400&height=225)
San Genaro lies 300 metres above the Pacific sea level
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCTDNJ4Y2KZ7EJWFR2B6VQ77VU.jpg?smart=true&auth=a2bde89cc6b2900a35804718f6d7e10d28c315cbe46bdf3e77bb575a4dc01489&width=400&height=225)
The city sprawls out in the background as a young ballerina dances
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NA533WYB3B4FAW6MWK5CRGLOUI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6934216d4702827905b46b855508ee4b6ce541ac39ba5eb71c7b9b4c4496ca09&width=400&height=225)
Ballet student Nicole Chavez, 15, prepares for the performance at home
Photo essay: Ballerinas overcome hardship to dance in Lima shanty town
Dancers in a company funded from the sale of materials for recycling have won scholarships to study in Barcelona
AFP
28 April, 2023
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