How can I reuse or recycle ballet shoes and pointe shoes?
We’ve had an email from Flannery, saying:
i would like to suggest : pointe shoes.
i have ten trillion old ones and they’re just hanging around
We’ve already covered shoes in general, Crocs and high-heeled shoes – so there maybe some suggests that’ll apply to these shoes too.
Flannery’s “ten trillion” of them suggests they’ve been worn as much as they can/should be so giving them to, say, beginners or other dancers might not be an option. I suspect like with high-heels and other “pretty” shoes though, they might lend themselves to crafts, especially if they’re “shabby chic” slightly scruffy rather than completely trashed. A display like the one in the picture might be a wonderful decoration for a dancer, former dancer or ballet-fan’s house.
Any particular suggestions or other ideas?
(Photo by crisderaud)
Could you use them to store things in? The ribbon lends itself to hanging up somewhere and perhaps you could store little bits and bobs in them. The other thing that sprung to mind was hanging baskets – not that you’d get much in them but they might look pretty!
Hanging baskets is a gorgeous idea!!!
http://www.geocities.com/roseannplessl/oldshoes.html
Oooh,where do you live?I would totally take them if it’s not far away from my place ^^ PLZ respond!
in GA, USA
Helo i desperately need ballet shoes! Pointe would be nice. Where do you live? What sizes do you have?
Its just ive got a performance soon and NEED THE BALLET SHOES. Please Please please reply!!!
Just send an email to narna1996@hotmail.co.uk. I need them please reply
why would you want them?
If you stuff the toe into the heel of the next shoe over and over again, then you can glue them into a ring. Then the ribbons hanging down would make an awesome way to attach mobile items, like butterflies or snowflakes or something girlie.
If you’d rather, you can remove the ribbons from the shoes and tie them into a large loopy bow and attach them in one corner and hang the ring of slippers up on a wall as a wreath. I love the pastel, shiny fabric. It would make an adorable decoration in a child’s room or dining room.
When my son was in Cub Scouts, he made a beautiful decoration from discarded high heeled shoes. The surface of the shoe was cleaned of all dust and grease. Dried pasta of various shapes were glued to the entire shoe. When the glue was dry, the whole shoe and pasta were spray painted gold. The one I received had a bit of florest’s clay in the heel with a few artificial flowers stuck in the clay.
Regards, Peg
Take all of them to the nearest visual arts school. Artists love to create still life scenes, and these WILL be scooped up. Too bad I live in the U.S. or I’d scoop a few pair for myself!
so do i!
Hey I will be happy to pay for shipping and handling if you can mail them all to me. I am a visual and performing artist, and I do ballet myself, but as far as one pointe shoes, I would love to make some sculptures or lamps out of them, please let me know if this is at all possibly I would GREATLY APPRECIATE this if you can do so THANKS
VIKKI
They make very good house slippers once deshanked (the hard board inside ripped out). Just make sure you remove all the nails / pins.
They can also be used as demipointes or died to make costume shoes for dress ups.
Yes, that’s exactly what I did with a worn out pair of glisse’s-I took out the shanks, soaked them in water to really soften the paste, and now I have house slippers.
The absolute best thing to do is to give them to ballet companies who can’t afford the cost of new pointe shoes. The Ballet Nacional De Cuba for instance. Hope that helps. On my own blog shortly I’ll be doing just this, along with all the other things the dancers need but can’t get hold of, so you might want to follow me – and please do encourage others to do the same if they have shoes to spare !!! Thankyou for sharing your lovely blog and have a great week… best wishes
I find that my old toe shoes are too worn, soft, or stinky to be worn by serious dancers….
what if the ballet shoes still can be used can you try to fix them or not ?
I am looking for a pair of used point shoes-jennimedic@aol.com
would pay you plus shipping -thanks!!!!
Hello – Perhaps I am to late? I reside in Ga and would be happy to pick up several pairs of old pointe shoes. I have been trying to collect as many pairs as I can for a project that I am working on with our local ballet company. (old, ratty, moldy, single shoe – it don’t matter) This would be wonderful – would you please contact me? Sincerely George cZ
Hello – Perhaps I am to late? I reside in Ga and would be happy to pick up several pairs of old pointe shoes. I have been trying to collect as many pairs as I can for a project that I am working on with our local ballet company. (old, ratty, moldy, single shoe – it don’t matter) This would be wonderful – would you please contact me? Sincerely George cZ – czar1259@netscape.net
I am looking for about 20 pairs of used ballet pointe shoes to be used in an art project and photographs. I would be more than willing to have them shipped to me. I live in Toronto, Ontario in Canada. If anyone has any or suggestions as to where to get them I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance, Luisa
i have a whole box of old pointe shoes (at least 20 pairs) that i’d like to get rid of ASAP. some are barely worn or new, but i wore most of them. please let me know if you’d like them. i live in NY, but the shoes are in IL. i think they are the equivalent of a US size 8. i would love to not just throw them in the trash and i don’t know if they’ll take them at donation centers.
thanks.
Hi Michelle,
I would love them. I’m in Missouri. Please let me know ASAP. Thanks, Elaine
Hello! i am probably too late. but, I was wondering…do you still anymore of your ballet shoes? I would love to have one because I will be taking ballet in the fall.
bryonyfayers@hotmail.co.uk
Hi there,
I’m looking to buy a lot of pairs of used ballet shoes for Billy Elliot’s 5th Birthday in London. It would be amazing if we could ship them from you for the event.
We could either pay for them, or donate money to a (dancing?)charity of your choice?
x
I too have several pairs of used ballet shoes. Mainly pointe shoes (retired dancer) if u pay for shipping I would be happy to send them anywhere. Anyone interested? I would just ask for a photo of what you did with them so I could show my daughter. Teaching her the importance of recycling and reusing. Does anyone have any idea on what to do with gently used ballet wear.
Do you still have the Pointe Shoes available? Regards
We were looking for ways to recycle pointe shoes–my daughter has > 20 pairs of used pointe shoes that she would be happy to donate if you paid shipping (we are in US). Depending on timing, we could get them over to UK in mid-June and ship to you there….
Hi, If anyone has worn out pointe shoes, I would love them. Please contact me at- greeneggsk9@yahoo.com Thanks! Elaine
I posted above here is my info paobeartrice@hotmail.com I live in PA, USA
After every performance when the shoes are too soft or too small to wear, I sign them (or decorate them with sequins) and give them to a little girl who wants to be a ballerina too. :) Little girls who look up to you would love them as a memento to play in or just hang in their bedroom. It is so special for them!
Hello Everyone,
If anyone has old pointe shoes they are looking to get rid of I’d LOVE to have them. I use them for arts and crafts projects and can’t find any used shoes right now.
Thanks!!
Amy
P.S. my email is amy.slechta@gmail.com
We might be able to send you some. Please post your e-mail, what sort of shape (if any requirements) that they need to be in, and how many pairs you would want.
Also–what country are you in!
I have shoes, where do you live and are you willing to pay for shipping.?
I would!
Hello! I am probably too late. but, I was wondering…do you still anymore of your ballet shoes? I would love to have one because I will be taking ballet in the fall. Please email me at slarose1992@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Hi! I have about 15 pairs of used pointe shoes as well. They are too worn to be salvaged for dancing purposes, but they’d be great for art projects etc. Does anyone still need them?
Thanks!
I am interested can you let me know if you still have them. Regards
I am interested in the Pointe shoes so you still have them? karendezine@aol.com
I do! karendezine@aol.com
I am looking for OLD POINTE shoes. Does anyone have any?