
Frederick Bernas is crowdfunding
Weʼre raising £5,000 to help build a safe community space in the Morro do Adeus favela, Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered nonprofit.
The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.
Story

Millions of children across the globe dream about dancing – whether it’s hip-hop, salsa, swing, bachata or ballet. Some get the opportunity to learn, others don’t – perhaps due to time, money, problematic parents, cultural taboos, access to schools, or dozens of other reasons which lie well within the realm of feasibility.
The risk of being caught in a crossfire should not be on that list – but it’s a very real danger for Tuany Nascimento and students of her Na Ponta dos Pés (“On Tiptoe”) project in the Complexo do Alemão, a sprawling cluster of favelas in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Last year, our documentary crew tasted that bitter reality while filming at an outdoor sports court in the Morro do Adeus neighbourhood, where the girls live. As Tuany put her pupils through their paces, stretching limbs and rehearsing routines – like any other ballet class, anywhere in the world – a flurry of gunshots ripped through the air.
Morro do Adeus is at the heart of a perpetual conflict between rival drug trafficking gangs, which control different sections of Alemão – a vast network of communities with a population that may be as large as 120,000. Frequent police raids only escalate the tension.
The scary situation that we captured on camera was a tiny glimpse of what these brave girls live through every day. Many have lost friends or loved ones; some nights, firefights rage for hours on end. Their tears of fear will not be quickly forgotten – along with a queasy sense of confusion as we left the favela, driving back to safety in stunned silence.

With presidential elections on October 28, the likelihood of a more aggressive public security policy in Rio under the government of far-right frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro – a former army captain who wants “every citizen to have a gun at home” – heightens the need for Tuany’s ballerinas to find a safe space, away from the outdoor sports court where they currently train.
The good news is that they are not far from achieving their goal: A plot of land has been secured, and foundations laid down. Locals have promised to chip in with labour and some building materials, but one final push is needed.

We hope the film will generate a fresh impulse for the Na Ponta dos Pés community centre to finally become reality. Thank you for your support!
Follow @frederickbernas on Instagram/Twitter and @tuany_nascimentoo for updates.
Share this story
Updates
3
1 year ago
Frederick Bernas
1 year agoConstruction is complete! In recent months, the girls have become a genuine media sensation as TV and newspapers flocked to cover the story of "Ballet & Bullets," which was selected by film festivals in Europe, Mexico, China and the US – as well as being shared on social networks by many prominent cultural figures in Brazil. A wave of subsequent donations will help to forge a sustainable future for the project. Tuany's incredible work has been recognized with national awards and we can't wait to see what she and the students do next.
Share this update to help us raise more
2 years ago
Frederick Bernas
2 years agoConstruction of the new community space is in full swing! Tuany and her students helped carry materials to the building site, before painting their names on the bricks and placing letters about their aspirations inside gaps in the wall. “This is a place for protagonism and strength,” says Tuany. “The Na Ponta dos Pés cultural centre is about more than just dance – it proves that we can do anything.” More photos here: https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/kzm3de/the-teenage-girls-building-their-own-ballet-school-in-a-rio-favela
Share this update to help us raise more
2 years ago
Frederick Bernas
2 years agoTo everyone who has supported this project – I'd like to express heartfelt thanks on behalf of the "Ballet and Bullets" team. We certainly didn't expect to reach the initial goal so quickly, and it's incredible to have exceeded it by such a wide margin. Tuany has written a personal message which was too long to fit in the character limit – see below. Happy Holidays!
Share this update to help us raise more
Frederick Bernas started crowdfunding
Leave a message of support
Supporters
409
Joanna CL
Oct 9, 2020
I am so pleased to hear that enough money has been raised to build the youth centre. Hopefully my donation will help a little. Every child should have opportunities and hope for their future.
£10.00
Anonymous
Sep 22, 2020
This is beautiful, best of luck!
Anonymous
Sep 21, 2020
£10.00
Anonymous
Sep 16, 2020
£20.00
Anonymous
Sep 13, 2020
Katrina Berg
Sep 11, 2020
EVERYBODY deserves to practice this beautiful art form in a safe environment. As a dancer myself, I want to help make this possible for you all.
£20.00
Anonymous
Sep 10, 2020
I just watched the movie made by vice and would love to see those girls dance as long as they want to in a safe space!

Become a supporter
Help Frederick Bernas raise more
About the fundraiser

Frederick Bernas
Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Audiovisual storyteller working on the intersection of journalism, documentary, music and cinema. Co-director of "Ballet & Bullets – Dancing Out Of The Favela" with Rayan Hindi. Twitter/Instagram: @frederickbernas // www.frederickbernas.com