The English National Ballet's Pointe Shoe Christmas Tree Is a Work of Art

December 15, 2016

Last year, we introduced you to the magical majesty of the English National Ballet’s pointe shoe Christmas tree, the holly-jolliest of all holly-jolly things. This year? This year, it’s back—and it is even more amazing, if that’s possible.

The tree, once again masterminded by Arnaud Stephenson and Amber Hunt (aka Photography by ASH), will adorn the lobby of the London Coliseum for the duration of ENB’s Nutcracker run. It features 341 shoes—all of them signed by their ballerina owners, and many of them bedazzled—arranged in an artful spiral. And this year it’s adorned with braided shoe-ribbon garlands and extra-sparkly twinkle lights. Which—I mean, just look at it:

Sometimes we get cynical about promotional hashtagging, but oh, man: This wonder DESERVES ITS OWN HASHTAG, and ENB has, happily, provided one. If you need to get in the ho-ho-holiday spirit, go search #ENBTree on Twitter and Insta. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, please enjoy this delightful time-lapse video of the tree’s creation:


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