Pointe shoe and tights worn by Ingrid Silva of Dance Theatre of Harlem

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

.1: One (1) ballet pointe shoe custom-colored with cosmetics to a dark brown to match the skin tone of the dancer. A drawstring runs around the top of the foot opening and is tied in a knot at the vamp with the ends cut short. Two lengths of custom-colored satin ribbon are hand sewn to the binding, one each on the left and right side quarters of the shoe. The leather sole has hatch marks on the front half and impressed text at the heel that reads: "24 1/2 / D / M / Chacott / MADE IN JAPAN / N / L / V". Also on the sole is hand-written text reading: "26 / 5 / L / E". Uneven wear on the platform of the toe box and the ball of the foot on the outer sole indicates this shoe was worn on the left foot.

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