In 2020, as the Black Lives Matter movement pushed conversations about inclusivity into the spotlight, dancers and balletomanes called on shoe manufacturers to offer pointe shoes in a more diverse range of skin tones. Some brands, at least initially, answered that call. But in 2026—with tariffs squeezing the global market and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives dwindling—it’s worth asking: How real has progress actually been? Today, inclusive pointe shoe shades are often harder to find than they were a few years ago. “It seems that some brands jumped on that as a marketing ploy, but then they realized how expensive…
Author: Kyra Laubacher for Dance Magazine
The pointe shoe may look much as it did a century ago, but a handful of manufacturers are making waves with non-traditional designs that leverage modern technology.