It is spring and that means that dance competition season is upon us. If you have a son or daughter (or perhaps yourself), that is involved with competitive dance and you know that there is not a moment of rest in the coming weeks. The dance steps are down, and the costumes are ready. But what else do you need to take with you to make it through the long days of dance competitions? Here is a list of “must haves” for the upcoming dance competition season.
Costumes: Of course, the costumes that you will be wearing are probably the most important part of your dance competition. This means you will need to make sure that you have the costume, along with any other accessories you need in a garment bag and ready to go. Take a large gallon size Ziploc bag and plays your tights, hair accessories, gloves and anything else you need for your costume inside the bag. Poke a hole in the top and attach it to the clothes hanger, along with the costume. This will help you locate everything that you need quickly and easily. Make sure that you have two pairs of types in each color, just in case you get a run or a hole. Plus, make sure that you have all of your dance shoes ready to go. Clean your shoes beforehand and make sure that all of your ties and elastic are ready as well.
Makeup: You also need to make sure that you have all the right makeup that you need for your dance competition. This also includes makeup, removing wipes, cotton balls, Q-tips, special body glitter, and makeup applicators. If you use fake eyelashes, make sure that you have extras on hand along with the glue that you need for application. If you have painted nails, make sure that you bring along a bottle of nail polish for quick repairs and nail polish remover.
Hair accessories: In another bag, you need to organize your hair accessories. This includes making sure that you have Bobbie pins in the right color and size and hair bands in all sizes and colors. The clear plastic bands work great for competition, because you cannot see them and you can use a small pair of scissors to quickly cut them out of the hair between changes. Make sure you have enough hairspray and hair gel in your bag. Also bring along a small brush and comb, hairnets if needed and other hair accessories that you may need such as clips or jewels. If you have a complete hairstyle change between dances, bring along your hot rollers or curling iron.
First aid kit: It is always important to make sure that you have a small an adequate first aid kits when you attend dance competitions. Items that you want to make sure that you bring along included baby wipes, tissues, Neosporin or other antibacterial first aid ointment, Tylenol or aspirin, Band-Aids, bandages, instant ice packs, tweezers and a small pair of scissors.
Other items: Safety pins are other items that you will definitely want to bring with you when you attend a dance competition. It is a good idea to bring both gold and silver safety pins in a variety of sizes and put them in a container where you can find them easily. You never know when you are someone else on your team will need quick access to a safety pin. Double-sided tape, a hot glue gun, straight pins, and a small sewing kit are also “must haves” for attending a dance competition. In addition, you’ll want to put deodorant, baby powder or foot powder, and fabric wipes (such as Tide to Go) in your dance bag. Many dancers also swear by Vaseline. This handy product is perfect for taming stray hairs, and for preventing lipstick from rubbing off on your teeth. If you check the baby section of your local store, you can find a small travel size container of Vaseline to include in your dance bag.
Other items that you may want to think about bringing along included a change of clothes or cover-up for between dance numbers and a blanket to use for setting on the grounds or for resting f you are going to be there all day long. In addition, consider bringing along, healthy snacks (that aren’t messy), such as granola bars, cut up fruit and vegetables, cheese sticks and bottles of water.
Most dance conventions will have many items that you can purchase while you were there. If you want to shop, make sure that you bring along some extra money for souvenirs and for food. Also, don’t forget to bring a camera, extra batteries, film, and something to keep you busy between numbers. Many dancers like to bring their music for practicing in the hallways, books or magazines, card games, and maybe even a portable DVD player.
While it does seem like a lot of things to bring for only a few minutes of dancing, you want your experience at your dance competitions to be the best it can possibly be. Make sure that all of your items are clearly labeled with your name and dance studio’s name and phone number and that your bag is well organized so that you can find exactly what you need on a moments notice. When you are well organized and are prepared, you can make sure that you are only thinking about doing your best on the stage.
