Worn out shoes are usually considered with some disdain by most of us; the scuffing, lacklustre and shabby attempt at a shine are shunned in favour of the new, polished pair. However, dancers shoes quite literally reflect the blood, sweat and tears expelled to attain perfection. In each crease and tear there is proof of the determination required to achieve such standards that you and I will part with our hard earned money to watch them perform. The emotional relationship most dancers have with their shoes was palpable to me when a retired dancer handed over her old shoes for me to photograph with such tenderness and gentleness; they held her history.
These shoes are owned by retired dancers who have now transitioned into successful second careers. These images marry the two worlds of the dancer together; their past and their present.
