The Pointe Shop

2026 Model Search Application Fee

$ 35.00

ThePointeShop & Dancer's Choice Model Search 2026

Application Deadline: Monday, February 9th, 2026

*Applicant must be en pointe and between the ages of 11-18 as of Saturday, April 9, 2026.

*Applicant must be located in the United States to apply.

*The application fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee your acceptance as an Ambassador or Model.

ThePointeShop Model Search is an annual charity event benefiting non-profit organizations in the dance community.

Two dancers will be selected as ThePointeShop Model for 2026.

Winners are selected based on dancing ability, creativity and poise, and will represent ThePointeShop & Dancer's Choice in promotional materials, websites, social media, print, and email blasts from May 2026-April 2027.

ROUND 1

Application

*Application will not be reviewed until $35 application fee has been submitted.*

1. Pay non refundable application fee

2. Fill out application (will be sent with in 3 days of submitting your payment)

3. Submit 2 photos: head-shot and dance photo*

4. Submit Dance Video (30-60 seconds) en pointe*

* these DO NOT have to be professional photos or videos they just need to be clear. Videos and Photos with multiple dancers without a clear identification of which dancer the applicant is WILL NOT be considered.

Semi-Finalists will be announced on social media on March 1st, 2026

All Semi-finalists will be required to travel to Southern California for the in-person, live 2-day event on Saturday, April 11, 2026 and Sunday, April 12, 2026 for the final selection.

Participation fee for the weekend of Semi-Finals and the Final Round Competition is $375 + 5 tickets to the live competition.

If you do not pay the participation fee and attend the event, you will forfeit your Semi-Finalist title.

ThePointeShop Semi-Finalists will receive:

Master Class
Goody Bag: including matching leotard and skirt
Professional Photoshoot: headshot and dance photos
Features on ThePointeShop social media

ROUND 2: Semi-Finals
Saturday, April 11, 2026

11 AM - 6 PM
Santa Ana, CA

- Master Class
- Tech/Staging
- Professional Photo-shoot
- Video filming for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts
- Individual Evaluations: Center & Across the Floor Combinations

Semi-Finalists will be judged based on Dance Technique, Stage Presence, Musicality, & Creativity

Finalists will be announced during the show. If you are selected as a Finalist, you will be one of ThePointeShop Ambassadors for 2026 and will be in the running to be ThePointeShop Model.

ROUND 3

Model Search Show
Saturday, April 12, 2026
9:30 AM - 3 PM

- Warm Up Class
- Tech/Staging Rehearsal
- Performance & Winner Announced

Two dancers will be selected as ThePointeShop Model for 2026.

In addition to the Semi-Finalist prizes, ThePointeShop Ambassadors will receive:

10% discount at ThePointeShop for the year as a PointeShop Ambassador
Featured on ThePointeShop website, e-mails and socials throughout the year
Exclusive merchandise from ThePointeShop

Model Search 2026 Winners will receive:

25% discount at ThePointeShop for the year as ThePointeShop Model
$1,000 in prizes including pointe shoes and goodies from each sponsoring brand
$1,800 Photoshoot with world renowned photographer Ballet Zaida
Feature on ThePointeShop website, e-mails, and socials throughout the year
Exclusive merchandise from ThePointeShop

Past Models Include:

Sage Humphries: Boston Ballet
Madeline Woo: Principal Dancer at Royal Swedish Ballet
Matisse Love: Moscow State Theater of Russian Ballet
Amber Ray: Formerly Stuttgart Ballet
Petra Johnson: Philadelphia Ballet II, Prix de Lausanne 2021
Natalie Steele: ABT Studio Company, Prix de Lausanne Prize Winner 2024
Keliah Peterson (Pre Professional): English National Ballet School
Samantha Striplin (Pre Professional): Royal Ballet School
Isabella Graves: Milwaukee Ballet Second Company
Ayne Kim (Pre Professional): Ballet Academy East
June Freeman (Pre-Professional): YAGP Finalist
Jane Woodford (Pre-Professional): YAGP Finalist
Victoria Carillo (Pre-Proferssional): YAGP Finalist
Madeline Lee: Kansas City Ballet

*The application fee is non-refundable and does not guarantee your acceptance as an ambassador or model.