Tuany Nascimento

Tuany Tomas Nascimento is a Brazilian ballet dancer, rhythmic gymnast, and dance teacher. She is the founder and director of Na Ponta dos Pés, a dance school that provides ballet training for underprivileged girls living in the favelas of Complexo do Alemão in Rio de Janeiro.

Biography

Nascimento was born and raised in the Complexo do Alemão of northern Rio de Janeiro. She started training in classical ballet and rhythmic gymnastics as a child.[1] She performed as a dancer and gymnast, representing Brazil at international events, including the World Gymnaestrada, until her career was cut short due to a lack of resources.[2][3] She began working as a financial assistant after retiring from gymnastics.[4]

In 2012 she launched Na Ponta dos Pés, a dance project providing classical ballet training for girls ages four to fifteen living in the Morro do Adeus favela of Alemão.[5][6] Her program caters to young women and girls who are from families involved in narcotic wars, extreme poverty, and gang violence.[2][7] The classes are held at an outdoor sports court in the Morro do Adeus.[8][9] The program is free for students, who are required to provide their report cards showing they are enrolled in school and passing their classes in order to be eligible.[10]

In 2017 she and her ballet program were the focus of a Vice documentary titled Ballet and Bullets: Dancing Out of the Favela.[8]

Nascimento lives with her mother, stepfather, and five siblings in a two-bedroom apartment on Adeus hill in the Morro do Adeus.[11]

References
  1. Love, Allison. "Beautiful ballet in a violent slum". Cnn.com.
  2. "Ballet and Bullets: Dancing Out of the Favela". Pulitzercenter.org. October 26, 2018.
  3. "Dancing for the Future". Nowness.com.
  4. "Ballet Class In Brazil For Young Girls With Good Grades". Vibe.com. June 13, 2016.
  5. Frank, Priscilla (October 4, 2016). "How One Brazilian Dancer Is Changing The Lives Of Young Girls Through Ballet". HuffPost.com.
  6. "Tuany Nascimento – The Influencers". Theinfluencers.us.
  7. "In Brazil, Young Women Are Dancing Toward Better Futures". Uproxx.com. June 13, 2016.
  8. Clifton, Jamie; Hindi, Frederick Bernas and Rayan (November 1, 2018). "Ballet and Bullets: The Favela Dance Class Stuck in the Crossfire". Vice.com.
  9. "An Inspiring Story of Ballet in Brazil". Dancespirit.com. March 23, 2017.
  10. "How a Ballet School in the Slums of Brazil Is Changing Girls' Lives". Marieclaire.com. April 27, 2016.
  11. Bernas, Frederick (November 27, 2015). "Pointe break: favela ballet project gives Brazilian girls a chance to dance". Theguardian.com.
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