Dance 101

What's in your dance bag?

By Irene Booth| November 4, 2010

Owner of Tempo Dance Academy and part of the dance industry for over 40 years., Ms. Irene Booth offers five essentials that every dance bag should have.  

It’s a new dance year and dancers all over Canada are settling into their classes. Now is the perfect time to focus on the things that don’t get enough attention: your dance bag.

When I was younger, I never had a dance bag. I carried everything in a plastic bag and things went missing due to holes in the bag. Even my clothes got wet from my water bottle leaking. It was just so disorganized.

Not only does having a dance bag show organization, maturity and professionalism, it can make or break your day. Dancers need to be self sufficient and by packing their own equipment it will help to prevent a lot of headaches down the road.
Having a dance bag allows a dancer to feel they have all the items they need within reach, especially if they snag their tights or need extra pins or elastics. Plus, young students don’t lik e asking or borrowing items from the teacher or other students. It’s important to be equipped with all the necessities so that you can face all the emergency circumstances that can arise during class time, competitions, exams or auditions. The earlier dancers get into the habit of being prepared, the better!

So, what’s in a dance bag and how do we pack the essentials without lugging around a giant suitcase? Here are five key essentials that should ALWAYS be in your dance bag:

GEAR
Rushing from one class to another can be tough, but packing all your gear will ensure nothing gets left behind. Bodysuits, two pairs of tights, undertards, dance shorts, jazz pants, dance sweater or cover up for the cold winter days. All kinds of shoes that pertain to your dance classes: ballet a nd jazz, pointe and tap, hip hop and foot undees. Also be sure to include tape, gauze, foot pads and extra band aids.

DANCE KIT
Aside from a uniform and shoes, the dance kit is important to have at all times. Sometimes students are going to dance class right after school or need to get ready at the studio so they need all their equipment. A good dance kit includes: hair pins, clips, hair nets, elastics, brush or comb, gel, hairspray, band aids, nail clippers, safety pins, deodorant, hand sanitizer, lip moisturizer or balm, breath mints, small face cloth, feminine hygiene products, extra change for the vending machine.

LIQUIDS
Always stay hydrated! Stick to bottled water or to get that extra boost, try chocolate milk and try to avoid pop at all times!

SNACKS
When packing snacks, think about how they will nourish the body and keep it going during class time. For ultimate energy, consider packing a healthy shake, a granola/energy bar, bagel, fruit or veggies. Other ideas are to pack popcorn, dried fruit/trail mix, pretzels or dry cereal. Try to avoid any sugary products like chocolate bars or chips, and most importantly anything with nuts in case your studio has a food allergy policy.

OTHER ESSENTIALS
A good thing to keep handy is a student calendar with important dates indicated in it, a pen, and a notebook to stay organized. An iPod that contains the current music for the season (along with some favourite dance tunes) will be useful during down time and your travels!


Irene Booth has been teaching for over 29 years. From an early age, Irene devoted her time in learning all aspects of the dance world. A mentor and registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, she operates an established dance school on Vancouver Island, British Columbia and enjoys adjudicating competitions and festivals all across Canada.