Applications of Compliant Mechanisms in Pointe Shoes

Keri Nicolich

Pointe shoes allow dancers to create the aesthetic of effortless movements. Current shank designs are comprised of leather board or glue-hardened burlap and deteriorate quickly. In this work, the implementation of compliant mechanisms in pointe shoe designs was explored. Additive manufacturing was leveraged to generate multiple iterations of pointe shoe designs. The ultimate goal of this work is to extend the lifetime and increase the comfort and function of pointe shoes.
Major: 
Industrial Engineering
Exhibition Category: 
Engineering
Exhibition Format: 
Poster Presentation
Campus: 
University Park
Faculty Sponsor: 
Jessica Menold
Location: 
Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center
Poster Number: 
153