AP PHOTOS: Young Kenyan ballet dancers stage early Christmas performance for their community

NAIROBI, Kenya — As the sun sets on the narrow streets of Africa’s largest informal settlement, children hurry to change from daily clothes into pointe shoes and other ballet gear. The ballet project is run by Project Elimu, a community-driven nonprofit that offers after-school arts education and a safe space to children in Kibera. A young dancer performs at Project Elimu social hall, prior to the start of a Christmas ballet event in Kibera, one of the busiest neighborhoods of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Young girls get their makeup applied at Project Elimu social hall, prior to the start of a Christmas ballet event in Kibera, one of the busiest neighborhoods of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Young performers pose for a photo at Project Elimu social hall, prior to the start of a Christmas ballet event in Kibera, one of the busiest neighborhoods of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.