Though their function is simplistic, ribbons—or the satin laces with which Robin fastens her pointe shoes—carry an almost superstitious importance. When buying new shoes, for instance, it’s customary to reuse the old ribbons, in the interest of preserving tradition: “new shoes need old ribbons” (86), Madame stresses, as Robin’s friend Amy graduates to the advanced classes. Here, ribbons represent the past, and in fastening them to new shoes, a dancer retains the sweat and tears of previous experience. Fittingly, as the novel continues, ribbons figure prominently in moments of intergenerational understanding. For instance, as Robin assures Grandmother that she isn’t a victim of footbinding, she mentions ribbons to better frame her argument: “My satin ribbons aren’t like your old silk ones. I use them to tie my shoes on” (115). Here, ribbons help Robin and Grandmother reconcile their generational differences, emphasizing Bridging Generational Divides through Empathy, and offer a meaningful throughline between past and present. Going forward, Robin and Grandmother’s relationship deepens, and just as new ballet shoes need old ribbons, so too does Robin benefit from Grandmother’s wisdom.

Ribbons appear again not long before the novel’s close, when Grandmother reveals her plan to move in with Uncle Eddy.