En Pointe! Pointe Shoe Decorating Contest

About the Contest


The National Museum of Dance invites you to submit your used and revamped shoes to be featured in our upcoming exhibit: En Pointe! This exhibit will explore the history, myths, and reality behind pointe shoes and ballet. Young dancers across the country can make works of art from their used and soon-to-be-discarded pointe shoes. Paint, sew, staple, bejewel, or print: let your imagination go wild!

Download the contest rules and submission form.

Age Groups:
• 12 years and younger
• 13 to 16 years old
• 17 to 21 years old
• 22 years and older

Contest Rules


• All entries must include two shoes.

• Submitted shoes will remain as part of the En Pointe! exhibition and will not be returned upon the exhibit's closing

• Artist must include completed entry form along with shoes to be included in the exhibition

• The National Museum of Dance reserves the right to exclude any received shoes from the exhibition without notice to artist

• The National Museum of Dance reserves the right to reproduce images of any submitted works

• One winner from each age group will be selected to receive the following: NMD prize package including a selection of National Museum of Dance merchandise, a $100 cash prize (to use for new pointe shoes!), and a $100 gift certificate to Saratoga Dance in Saratoga Springs, NY.

• Runners up from each age group will be featured on the National Museum of Dance's website, www.dancemuseum.org

• Shoes must be received by March 1, 2012 (Deadline has been extended!) to be considered for display in the En Pointe! exhibit. Shoes received after this date will still be kept by the museum.