Kirsty Martin. Photography Tim Richardson.

"The pointe shoe has a breathless, seductive line. When a ballerina steps up on pointe, time stands still."

Daniel Gaudiello, dancer and choreographer

Covered in pink satin, fragile but an essential part of a ballerina's performance, pointe shoes enable dancers to execute feats of virtuosity, beauty and power.

At The Australian Ballet, over 5000 pairs are worn out each year, and every shoe is handmade to each dancer's individual specifications. Each pair costs $85; a huge expense but crucial to our breathtaking performances.

You can help by contributing to this significant expenditure for the company. Your gift will make a very real difference and is one that you can enjoy when you attend our performances.

For more information download or request our Pointe Shoe brochure

Learn more about the pointe shoe in this online video