Every dancer should have a dance bag. Even if you’re only taking one class per week and you think you can do without – you can’t. [PARENTS: Even if your three year old is taking her first ballet class and you can’t possibly imagine what she could need beyond her tutu and ballet shoes. Keep reading and let us help you avoid a melt down because Sophia has pink ribbon in her hair and your dancer only has a purple one, which is clearly not adequate.] Having your dance bag packed and ready to go the night before your dance day(s) will make your life so much easier. No more frantically running through the house looking for your missing toe pad. (Oh, there it is – right where it’s supposed to be in it’s cute little bag.) No more trying to stretch in skinny jeans because that’s what you wore to school today. (Your awesome brand new leggings are waiting patiently to be rocked on the dance floor.) No more being late (gasp! Don’t be late to dance class!!) because you spent twenty minutes looking for your tights without runs in them. #ProblemSolved

The options are endless when choosing a bag. You can get pretty fancy or keep it simple. You can lug a huge backpack or carry a cute tote bag. It’s up to you. Keep in mind that the more classes you are taking, the larger your bag will need to be. This one’s our favorite right now. So cute and classy. Big enough to hold pretty much anything you could possibly need without getting so heavy it will break your back. However, you may not need such a fancy bag. Check out more options here. Or find some super trendy bags here. As cute as those are, it’s really not even necessary to buy a brand new bag. You can always reuse an old backpack or cute tote bag. As long as it’s properly packed, you’ll be good to go.

Alright. Now you’ve chosen the perfect bag. What do you put in it? We’ve got your back. Read on, tiny dancer, for a complete back to dance shopping list.

www.valjacobs.com

Everyone:

• Hairbrush
• Hair Ties
• Bobby Pins
• Hairspray
• Deodorant (if you’re older)
• Bandaids
• Healthy snack (granola bars, apples, etc.)
• Water bottle

Ballet Dancers:

• Tights
• Leotard
• Ballet shoes
• Legwarmers/other warm up clothes
• Pointe shoes (if en pointe)
• Toe pads
• Lamb’s wool
• Extra elastic and ribbons
• Stitch kit

Jazz Dancers:

• Dance pants (leggings, tights & shorts, etc.)
• Sports bra (if needed)
• Dance shirt (anything, as long as it’s not too lose)
• Jazz shoes
• Warm up clothes
• Knee pads (if needed)

Hip Hop Dancers:

• Dance Pants (leggings, sweats, shorts – NO JEANS!)
• Sports bra (if needed)
• Extra shirt
• Sneakers & socks
• Knee pads (if needed)

Now go pack your bag! In order for your bag to be effective, it needs to be packed ahead of time. And your sweaty clothes and shoes should be taken out as soon as you get home so they don’t get too stinky. (Sorry moms – no promises.)

Happy shopping 🙂