FRANCIA BALLERINA IN TIGHT BUDGET

RAISING A BALLERINA IN THE PHILIPPINES

Francia ballerina in tight budget;

My daughter Francia is a 13 year old classical ballet and contemporary dancer. She started taking classes at the age of 8, in a small town of Los Baños Laguna. As parent with little income and believed that ballet is expensive, I cannot afford to support her dream. Way back in March 2013, I got an invitation from a friend and asking us to watch a ballet recital at Philippine High School for the Arts in support of his son as a recitalist. Actually, Francia wanted to learn ballet when she is 5 years old but I know I cannot send her to any ballet school because of our small income. With channels and connections I learned this small dance school in Los Baños, it was called AVA’s School of Dance they offer dance classes like classical ballet, modern ballet/contemporary, jazz and hip hop. And by July of that year I enrolled Francia, you can’t believe her tuition fee that time its only 800php a month and my expense for her first ballet shoes, thighs and pink leotard is only 1700php.

   

Francia is now a grade 8 ballet major student granted with 6 years scholarship at Philippine High School for the Arts. Thanks to her first mentor Ms. Ava Villanueva Ong of AVA’s school of dance with her help and believing in my daughters capability and potential. Francia passed her audition and entrance exam at PHSA last January 2017 and start schooling by June of same year. She is now enjoying the life as “Ibarang” or “iskolar para sa sining” and honored to be part of Maquiling Ballet. My daughter is now happy, thankful and bless because she is enjoying the privilege to be mentored by Sir Robert Medina, Mam Lisa Macuja Elizalde, Sir Nonoy Froilan, Mam Jeng Halili and other international guest teachers. She is now experiencing as part of different recitals, productions and even awarded with different scholarships in manila and abroad.

As parent with little income, i am happy and proud of her achievements at the same time sad because of many opportunity coming her way but we can't support her all the way. I am on the stage now of realizing the demand of her chosen field. Whose parent don't want the best for their child? I just close my hand and look up above, believe and pray that God will continue to bless my daughter and time will come that Francia will achieve her dreams.