The Essential Items to Pack in Your Dance Bag

Having a dance bag that is neatly organised, clutter-free, and packed with all your essential dance items, mirrors the preparation required for a dance class.

It’s time to say goodbye to the endless back-and-forth trips to your dressing room.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO PACK IN YOUR DANCE BAG?

The essential items to pack in your dance bag include apparel and accessories, equipment, personal care, and personal items.

Keep in mind everyone’s dance bag will look slightly different.

Therefore, tailor your dance bag to accommodate you, your unique dance style, and your class, rehearsal, and performance requirements.

APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES

Here is a breakdown of the apparel and accessories you may want to include in your dance bag:

DANCE SHOES

Tailor your dance bag’s shoe selection to your chosen style of dance.

For instance, I always packed soft ballet flats for classes, along with several different pairs of pointe shoes, both soft and hard, depending on my personal preference for each rehearsal.

SOCKS/BOOTIES

I always liked to have two pairs of socks in my ballet bag.

One pair to keep my feet nice and toasty for warming up, and another pair with reliable grip for contemporary classes or rehearsals.

Don’t forget to include your dance booties.

There’s nothing quite like starting your practice with warm toes, allowing you to truly connect with the floor from the get-go.

Plus, the added comfort they provide is hard to beat!

POINTE SHOE ACCESSORIES

When deciding on pointe shoe accessories for your dance bag, prioritise items you regularly use.

For example, I always carried my preferred Bloch toe pads (because they allowed me better articulation in pointe shoes compared to silicone pads). I also packed toe spacers, toe tape, and second skin.

My ballerina feet would not have survived without these accessories!

WARM-UP CLOTHES

When packing warm-up clothes, focus on items that provide extra warmth for your body.

Consider including leg warmers, a ballet jumpsuit or onesie, and a long-sleeve ballet top to keep your muscles warm and ready for practise.

SHORTS/SKIRT

I always preferred to select my ballet skirt for the day (ie. morning class or rehearsal) and include a pair of tight or loose-fitting shorts in my dance bag.

This way, during small breaks, I could stretch and prepare myself without having to rush back to the dressing room.

EQUIPMENT

Here’s a list of equipment to include in your dance bag:

WARM UP EQUIPMENT

Items like resistance bands, overball, foam rollers, or massage balls (or tennis ball) are great for a ballet warm up and stretching before and after rehearsals.

SWEAT TOWEL

Sweat dripping everywhere?

Pack a sweat towel!

SEWING KIT

Include a small sewing kit with a pair of scissors, needles, and threads, for quick repairs to your shoes (ie. ribbons and elastics).

FIRST AID KIT

Include a compact first aid kit in your dance bag, stocked with band-aids, blister pads, muscle tape, muscle creams, and any necessary pain medications.

It’s always nice being prepared in this way.

Don’t leave it too late before you try to alleviate pain or discomfort that may arise during dance sessions.

PERSONAL CARE

Here’s a list of personal care items to include in your dance bag:

WATER BOTTLE

An essential for every dancer.

Don’t forget to pack your water bottle!

HEALTHY SNACKS

I recommend having a few healthy snacks in your dance bag for small breaks throughout the day.

Opt for items such as fruit or nuts, that will provide you with instant energy, and a boost to keep going during rehearsals.

DEODORANT

Smelly pits for pas de deux?

A quick spray of deodorant and you’re good to go smelling fresh.

HAIR KIT

It’s always handy to have an extra set of hair pins, hair ties, and hair nets in your bag.

After 32 fouettes, you might find yourself in need of a few extra pins to keep your ballet bun nicely in place.

HAND SANITISER

After covid, hand sanitiser might be wise.

PERSONAL ITEM

Here’s a list of personal items to include in your dance bag:

PHONES

Keep your phone in your bag to listen to music while warming up or during breaks.

Remember to keep it on silent or turned off during rehearsals to avoid distractions.

HEADPHONES

If you’re the type of dancer who enjoys listening to music to get in the mood for a performance, consider keeping a pair of headphones in your bag.

WALLET

I preferred to keep my wallet with me at all times.

While dressing rooms are generally safe, you never know who might enter the building.

KEYS

Ensure your keys, whether for your locker, car, or your home, are kept safe and secure in your dance bag, to avoid misplacement and for easy access.

NOTEPAD AND PEN

Consider including a small notebook and pen in your dance bag to avoid forgetting corrections or choreography.

This way, you can quickly jot down important details and stay prepared for your next rehearsals.

FREE CHECKLIST

Check out my Dance Bag Checklist available from my Free Resource Library!

WRAP UP

While you don’t want to be lugging around a 10kg bag from rehearsal to rehearsal, your dance bag must include all your essential items.

Keeping an organised bag ensures you are:

At the end of the day, these are just some ideas, remember to tailor your bag to meet your specific dance needs.