Giving Tuesday

Support DIW's Pointe Shoe Fund

Giving Tuesday

Support DIW's Pointe Shoe Fund

Support DIW's Global Pointe Shoe Fund

This GivingTuesday, support DIW’s Pre-Professional students in their training by contributing to DIW’s Pointe Shoe Fund!

Ballet is an art form with a clear technique. Dancers spend hours training to create the perfect line – from the bun all the way down to the pointe shoe. It’s once this technique becomes second nature that the stories behind the movement come through.

“Technique – bodily control – must be mastered only because the body must not stand in the way of the soul’s expression. The only reason for mastering technique is to make sure the body does not prevent the soul from expressing itself.”

— La Meri

Dance Institute of Washington is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your receipt as your official record. We’ll email it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

Why the Pointe Shoe Fund Matters

Technical training is rigorous to achieve the high standard of elite ballet. Elite dancers go through pointe shoes quickly, practicing jumps, turns, and leaps each day in pursuit of excellence. DIW dancers are no exception.

However, many DIW dancers face different barriers to accessing pointe shoes. Families often cannot afford the multiple pairs of pointe shoes that students need each year, and few suppliers cater to Black and Brown ballet dancers.

The Costs: Pointe shoes cost about $200 per pair, and most DIW dancers need 4 pairs of shoes each training season. These costs don’t account for the ribbons, elastic, and toe pads necessary for complete training.

At DIW, we believe that inaccessibility should not be a barrier to students’ careers in the arts. That’s why we are asking for donations to the Pointe Shoe Fund – a portfolio of donations dedicated to providing dancers with the materials necessary to support their training at the highest level. DIW is working with a global network of dancers, from D.C. to Johannesburg, South Africa, to bring more ballet shoes to Black & Brown ballerinas.

Donate today to support the next generation of professional ballerinas on their path to excellence!

Your Support

  • $50 – Purchase of one student’s toe pads, ribbons, and elastics. 
  • $100 – Covers two students’ extra materials.  
  • $200 – Supports one pair of pointe shoes for a DIW Dancer.  
  • $500 – Covers the cost of two pairs of pointe shoes with elastics/necessary materials. 
  • $800 – Fully funds one year of pointe shoes for a DIW student. 
  • $1,000 – Buys five pairs of pointe shoes for dancers training at the highest level.