Shoe Fund
Become our dance partner!
Ballet dancers' footwear is an important extension of their artistry, and we wouldn't have the beauty of such ballets as Swan Lake, Giselle, or The Nutcracker without them.
Did you know that a single pair of pointe shoes or men's specialty stage boots can cost anywhere between $100 and $180? Pointe shoes, which have the herculean task of supporting our dancers on the tips of their toes, may only last for 10-20 hours of dancing before they become too soft to be worn.
These specialized shoes are necessary to create the out-of-this-world dancing that's unique to ballet, but keeping our 37 pointe shoe-wearing dancers on their toes would not be possible without additional support from our audience members. Please consider donating to our dancer shoe fund!
About Pointe Shoes
Ballet and pointe shoes go hand-in-hand. These shoes, which in many cases are still handcrafted using traditional materials, create the out-of-this-world dancing that's unique to ballet. Pointe shoes are…
Exquisitely unique
In order to protect the dancer's feet and enable her best dancing, the pointe shoes she wears must fit like a glove.
There are over a dozen brands of pointe shoes, all of which offer multiple models to accommodate different feet. Specifications for foot length, width, and the strength of the inner shank provide the right fit. Some dancers may also order customized shoes to make sure they're perfect for their needs.
Deeply personal
Once a dancer's shoes arrive, the job isn't done. Dancers sew on ribbons and elastics to secure the shoe to their foot, and may also modify the shoe in several ways:
-
Applying shellac or glue to increase longevity and personalize the shoe's support
-
Darning the tip of the shoe to aid in traction and balance
-
Cutting down the shank (the internal structure of the shoe that lies between the inner and outer sole) so the shoe conforms exactly to their arch
-
And more!
Once the shoe is ready, every dancer has their own routine for how they like to break them in: some might step on the hard box to flatten it, hit the shoes on the pavement outside to make them quieter to dance in, or simply wear the pair in class until they're ready for rehearsal.
Unfortunately, quite costly
With a single pair of pointe shoes selling for over $100, costs quickly become a concern. Pointe shoes typically last our dancers from 1-3 weeks, so a dancer can go through up to 14 pairs in a single season with BTM.
When dancers must defray some of the costs of their own shoes, they may be tempted to continue dancing in shoes that are worn out. However, doing so leaves dancers susceptible to soft-tissue injuries, stress fractures, and even lifelong damage.
Your support ensures that our dancers remain happy and healthy, which means they can continue to inspire and bring the beauty of ballet to our community. Thank you for contributing today!
Donations made to BTM are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law.
Help keep our dancers on their toes.
Donate to the Shoe Fund today!
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Tax ID 52-1151372