France, May 4 -- Kibera, Nairobi's largest informal settlement, is often reduced to images of poverty - rusted tin rooftops, open sewers and overcrowded homes. But a community project is using ballet as a means to build the confidence of the children living there.

Hidden within Kibera's maze of alleyways and makeshift homes is a modest studio space, where a group of children don second-hand leotards and ballet shoes to rehearse with the quiet discipline of dancers preparing for the stage.

This is Project Elimu, a community-based initiative using classical ballet to build confidence and open up opportunities for the children living in one of Africa's most challenging urban environments.

Founded in 2014 by Mike Wamaya, a former professio...