*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link*
In today’s digital age, smartwatches have become an invaluable tool for ballet dancers!
A smartwatch can help you monitor your training, track your performance, and even assist with sleep and recovery.
For ballet dancers, finding the right device can enhance your practice, monitor your progress, and keep you connected to all your favourite things, while still allowing you to reach your fitness goals.
In this blog post, I’ll identify the 5 best smartwatches for ballet dancers in 2024, comparing their key features.
WHY ARE SMARTWATCHES IMPORTANT FOR BALLET DANCERS?
Smartwatches are important for ballet dancers for a few reasons.
Specifically, smartwatches help:
track your physical activity
monitor your heart rate and recovery
provide important insights and valuable data to help optimise your training, health, and performance during classes, rehearsals and conditioning routines.
By providing feedback on heart rate and energy expenditure, dancers can better understand their bodies and ensure they get adequate rest and recovery.
I’ve found the sleep tracker especially useful, as it provides information on the duration and quality of my sleep, along with details about different sleep stages.
This data has helped me adjust my sleep habits, allowing me to feel more rested, and ready to give more energy to every performance.
KEY FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN A SMARTWATCH
COMFORT
When you’re trying to dance gracefully, the last thing you want is a clunky watch which distracts your movements and distorts your lines.
A lightweight, comfortable design is really important, allowing you to have fluid, unimpeded movement of your wrist (especially if you’re dancing with a partner).
FITNESS TRACKING
As dancers, our bodies are our most important asset.
As a result, it’s important to look for a smartwatch that can help you track your overall health and wellness, including your heart rate, stress levels, and sleep patterns.
Smartwatches not only monitor your fitness levels and physical activity but also track your recovery, allowing you to set specific fitness goals, and reminders to take breaks.
Peak performance is the name of the game, and any little advantage you can get is worth it!
COMPATIBILITY
Dance isn’t just about movement—it’s about mastery.
A smartwatch that syncs with dance-specific apps can provide tailored training, helping you refine your technique and stay on top of your game.
Plus, you’ll want to make sure the smartwatch you choose can sync with your existing devices.
TOP 5 SMARTWATCHES FOR BALLET DANCERS
1. APPLE WATCH SERIES 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is Apple’s newest smartwatch offering enhanced performance with the new S9 chip, a brighter always-on display, and advanced health features.
Advanced Health Monitoring: includes ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and temperature sensors, making it ideal for health-conscious dancers
Enhanced Durability: crack-resistant glass, designed to withstand daily wear and tear
Brighter Display: provides bright and clear visuals in full sun, and low light conditions (double the brightness of the Series 8)
Double Tap Gesture: by simply double-tapping your index finger and thumb together, you can answer a call, open a notification, play and pause music, and more
Comprehensive Fitness Tracking: from strength training and HIIT to Pilates and meditation, you can pick and choose from a variety of workout options
Integration with Apple Ecosystem: the ultra-wideband chip improves the integration with other Apple device
Reasons to Avoid:
Price: little pricey so might not be cost-effective for dancers seeking basic features. It might be worth checking out the cheaper option, the Apple Watch SE 2
Incremental Upgrades: for those who already own a Series 7 or 8, the upgrades are probably not significant enough to warrant an new purchase
Battery Life: lasts about 18 hours, which may require daily charging. A little inconvenient during intensive rehearsals or performances, but not a showstopper
Limited Compatibility: Best suited for dancers within the Apple ecosystem, as it’s less functional with Android devices
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a robust and feature-rich smartwatch with advanced health tracking, durable design, and seamless integration with the Google ecosystem.
Robust Health and Fitness Tracking: it’s equipped with advanced sensors that monitor heart rate, SpO2 (blood oxygen levels), tracks sleep stages, stress levels, and features ECG monitoring
Durable Design: it’sbuilt with a sapphire crystal display, making it more scratch-resistant than its predecessors
Battery Life: improved battery life over the Galaxy Watch 4, providing around 2-3 days of use on a single charge
Google Integration: provides seamless integration with Google services like Google Maps, Google Pay, and the Play Store, expanding its app ecosystem and functionality
Wireless Charging: the device supports fast wireless charging, allowing for quicker top-ups when needed
Reasons to Avoid:
Limited Compatibility: while it works with most Android devices, certain features may only be fully functional with Samsung smartphones
No Major Upgrades: for dancers who already own the Galaxy Watch 4 like me, the improvements may not feel incremental
Price: on the higher end, and considering the incremental upgrades, there might be better value in sticking with your older model
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is a sleek, health-focused smartwatch with advanced sensors for heart rate and stress monitoring, and integration with the Google ecosystem.
It’s considered the Best for Dancers using Android.
Advanced Health Monitoring: features advanced health sensors, including continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, and an improved ECG function
Stress Management and Sleep Tracking: offers in-depth stress management tools and sleep tracking, which is great for monitoring your daily dance routine
Google Fit Integration: provides seamless integration into Google Fit and other fitness apps
Google Ecosystem: offers smooth integration with the Google ecosystem, including Google Pay, and access to a wide range of apps
Design and Comfort: features a sleek and lightweight design, which is important for dancers who require comfort during long hours of practice
Reasons to Avoid:
Battery Life: relatively short (around 24 hours) compared to some other fitness-focused smartwatches
Limited Durability: not as durable as some other sport-oriented watches, which you might pay the price for if you drop it
Price: quite pricey which might not offer the best value for dancers looking for basic fitness and health tracking features
Compatibility: while it can work with other Android devices, dancers outside the Google environment might not get the full range of features
Price: The Google Pixel Watch 2 will cost you $350 (USD)
4. APPLE WATCH SE
The Apple Watch SE is a solid, budget-friendly smartwatch that covers the core health and fitness features well. It’s a great first entry point for those wanting to experience the benefits of Apple.
It’s considered the Best for Dancerswanting the Basics.
Core Health Features: includes all the core fitness and health tracking features most dancers need
Sleep Tracking: provides built-in sleep tracking, allowing you to monitor your sleep patterns, including the time spent in different sleep stages
Fall Detection: can detect if you’ve taken a hard fall and will automatically call emergency services if you don’t respond to the alert
Apple Features: includes standard Apple features like Apple Pay and Apple Music
Reasons to Avoid:
Lacks Advanced Health Features: it doesn’t include features like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring and temperature sensing
Display: no always-on display, and the design is obviously older than the Apple Watch Series 9 with slightly thicker bezels and less customisation options
Comprehensive Fitness Tracking: offers a wide range of fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, SpO2 (blood oxygen) monitoring, and Active Zone Minutes
Built-In GPS: great for dancers who prefer outdoor cardio activities, allowing you to track your workouts without your phone
Design: designed to be lightweight and comfortable, making it ideal for all-day wear
Sleep and Stress Management: includes advanced sleep tracking and stress management tools
Music Control and Storage: can control music playback from apps like Spotify and store up to 300 songs directly on the watch for phone-free listening
Battery Life: up to 6 days of battery life
Reasons to Avoid:
Limited Smartwatch Features: lacks some advanced smartwatch features, such as support for third-party apps and music storage
Plastic Build: has a plastic build which is not as durable as metal-cased watches
Limited App Ecosystem: the FitBit app store is limited compared to competitors like Apple Watch or Wear OS
Touchscreen Responsiveness: some users have reported that the touchscreen is less responsive
Proprietary Charging Cable: it uses a proprietary charging cable, which can be inconvenient if you lose it or forget it when you’re travelling for ballet performances
Price: The FitBit Versa 3 typically costs around $229.95 (USD)
Note: The newer FitBit Versa 4 is very similar to the FitBit Versa 3 but with things missing.
TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT SMARTWATCH
TIP 1 – START WITH YOUR BUDGET AND MUST-HAVE FEATURES
When choosing a smartwatch, it’s essential to first consider your budget and what features are non-negotiable for you.
Some dancers are content with using the basic features, while others prefer to use their smartwatch as a comprehensive fitness trainer.
TIP 2 – SEEK INSIGHT FROM FELLOW DANCERS
One of the best ways to understand how a smartwatch will perform in the real world, particularly while dancing is by reading reviews from other dancers.
TIP 3 – CHECK COMPATIBILITY WITH YOUR EXISTING DEVICES
Before making a decision, make sure the smartwatch is compatible with your smartphone and any other devices you use.
Don’t make the mistake of buying something that doesn’t work with your existing suite of devices.
WRAP UP
Smartwatches are helping to transform the way ballet dancers approach their training, offering a variety of features to support your health and performance.
By choosing the right device, you can track your heart rate, energy expenditure, and sleep patterns, while you dance, train and sleep.
This information allows dancers to optimise their routines, manage energy levels, and ensure adequate rest and recovery.
Have fun exploring the options listed above, and best of luck finding your perfect smartwatch to support your dance journey.
