On a touching episode of BBC’s beloved series The Repair Shop, guest Julie Felix was left “breathless” as she watched her treasured pointe shoes receive a loving restoration.
Julie, a London-born dancer of Caribbean heritage, entrusted the expert restorers with the ballet shoes she wore during her professional solo debut over 40 years ago. The shoes symbolize not only her career beginnings but also the unwavering support of her late mother.
Felix shared the significant challenges she faced as a Black ballerina in the 1970s. After being rejected by a London ballet company that told her, “we can’t have a brown ballet dancer in the line-up of the swans,” she crossed the Atlantic to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York, a renowned all-Black ballet company.
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After seven years abroad, Felix returned to perform at London’s Royal Opera House, where she received her first solo role. It was there she wore her specially dyed “tan-coloured” pointe shoes, designed to match her skin tone—a poignant symbol of her perseverance and identity.
“These were the shoes that I wore when mum and dad came to see me perform on the stage of the Royal Opera House,” Felix reflected. “I said, ‘mum, you were right. I’ve made it, and I’m here.’ These shoes symbolize all the work, effort, love, and devotion from my mother.”
Seeing the expertly restored shoes, Felix became deeply emotional: “I was winded, almost. I felt like somebody had just kicked me in the stomach. It was genuine tears. Even now, talking about it gives me a lump in my throat.”
The restoration also honored her mother’s final wish—that the shoes be preserved and displayed at home as a reminder of that special moment. “She asked me, ‘Please fix these shoes so I can put them on display in the house as a memory of coming to see you perform,’” Felix shared. “That really choked me up.”
Now displayed proudly in her home, the shoes serve as a daily reminder of her journey and her mother’s encouragement. “I just think, ‘mum, look at these,’” Julie said with warmth. “That’s what she wanted.”
Julie Felix was awarded an MBE in 2024 for her outstanding contributions to dance education. Throughout her storied career, she has been a dancer, instructor, mentor, and writer, dedicated to empowering Black artists in the performing arts.
The Repair Shop continues to share inspiring stories every Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.