If you’re preparing for dance competition season, you can’t miss this post all about the most important dance competition essentials every dancer needs to pack.
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It’s almost dance competition season again and that means that you as a dancer or dance parent have a lot to prepare. There is so much that you need to pack for a dance competition and getting started is the hardest part. As a dancer with years of experience planning to travel for performances and competitions, I’m sharing my favorite dance competition essentials that you need to pack this year.
You’re going to learn all about how to pack for a dance competition, dance competition essentials, dance competition must-haves, how to prepare for a dance comp, dance comp essentials, and more!
After reading this post you will have all the best essentials for your next dance competition.
This post also includes a free EXCLUSIVE dance competition survival guide complete with a dance competition packing list.
This post is all about dance competition essentials
Dance Competition Essentials List
Part 1: The Basics of Packing for a Dance Competition
This first section will cover your most basic dance competition essentials that you can not leave home without. These are items that you can’t just run to the nearest drug store to replace on a moment’s notice.
Typically these dance competition essentials include:
- All dance costumes
- Costume headpieces and accessories
- All dance shoes
- Dance tights and undergarments
- Any specialty makeup and items
- Competition luggage and prep materials
This section will go over some of the best recommended practices for preparing each of these items, keeping them organized, and how to have them ready for your next dance competition.
Dance Competition Luggage and Organization
Before we move onto other basic dance competition essentials it’s important to go over how to organize your dance competition supplies.
Since dance competitions typically require A LOT of different supplies, you might want to have a garment duffel or suitcase to keep everything together and organized. Luckily, there are bags made specifically for dancers and dance competitions!
Check out some of the links below to find the best dance competition luggage dancers recommend!
Elite Dance Gear Dance Bag with Garment Rack – Your typical dance travel duffle but even more compact, and it comes with sparkles!
Travolution 24 inch garment rack duffle – One of the more affordable, but very well recommended dance duffels. It even has a pocked for a stool (not included)
Mavii Deluxe Dance Bag with Garment Bag– This one has super spacious accessory pockets for all of your headpieces and other dance essentials.
Other Luggage and Travel Bags
When you go to a dance competition, there will probably be some things that you don’t want to carry in your costume luggage. Some studios might sell or give you a backpack or smaller duffel bag to use. I highly recommend bringing a smaller bag like one of these with you no matter what to pack snacks, a tablet or laptop, and personal essentials.
If you don’t already have a good backpack or personal travel bag check out some of the links below to find some I recommend
Vera Bradley Campus XL Backpack- This has been my go to for years and I couldn’t recommend it more for long performance and competition days.
Related: 9 Best Dance Makeup Bags
Dance Costumes
Dance costumes include everything that you wear onstage and perform your routine in. Depending on the competition you might be bringing multiple dance costumes with you. Be sure you check with your dance instructor or studio director so you pack the right costumes and have all the pieces you need with you.
To keep your dance costumes organized keep them hung up in a garment bag. If your costume was ordered from a dance costume company like Revolution or Weissman it may have come with a garment bag already. You can also buy one for a really good price on Amazon.
I recommend getting some high quality garment bags like these, that can also store your accessories and any head pieces that you can’t hang up. Garment bags like these also have compartments for other dance competition must-haves like your dance shoes and hair products. They will help you keep your supplies organized before you even head to the dance competition.
Dance Shoes
You can not leave for your next dance competition without all of your necessary dance shoes.
A few weeks before your dance competition, be sure to check all of your dance shoes to see if any of them need to be replaced beforehand. Typically half soles, ballet shoes, jazz shoes, and foot “undeeze” will wear out faster than other shoes. If any of these shoes have holes or bad scuffs you probably want to get a new pair or some extras to break in before your next competition.
It is also important to check with your studio in case there are specific shoes you need to have. Add each pair of shoes that you need to your dance competition checklist as you pack and prepare all of your competition essentials.
Dance Tights and Undergarments
Tights and undergarments that you need for your dance performances and competitions are another extremely important essential to pack for your next competition.
For tights, most studios will specify the brand and color that you need to have for each dance routine. You might even receive the tights you are supposed to wear for the competition with your dance costume.
Capezio transition tights are very popular amongst dance studios for dance competitions and come in a variety of colors. Click the link above to check them out on discount dance.
When it comes to undergarments some dance studios and competitions have specific rules on what dancers can and can not wear. Many studios do not allow dancers to wear underwear at certain ages because most tights and costumes have lining.
Some common undergarments some studios require and some dancers prefer are body tights or a nude leotard. These are great for modesty when changing and just as a dance undergarment in general.
However, as dancers get older you may need to have an extra barrier between your body and the dance costume for extra comfort and modesty. Dancewear companies sell an amazing variety of seamless underwear, thongs, dance bras, and more to help you feel more comfortable and secure onstage.
Check out these links for some great dance competition undergarment options
- Capezio Seamless Clear Back Bra
- Capezio Body Tights
- Mariia True Bare Camisole Leotard
- Capezio Seamless Thong
Part 2: Looking Performance Ready with Competition Hair and Makeup
Now that you’ve packed all of your essentials that you can’t replace last minute, it’s time to pack all of the dance competition essentials like hair and makeup that are a little easier to replace like your hair and makeup essentials.
Dance Competition Makeup
When it comes to the makeup you need for your next dance competition begin by checking your dance studio’s policies and makeup requirements for dancers and competitions.
If your studio does not have any makeup requirements or specific products that they need you to have you will want to get your own dance competition makeup kit put together. If you already wear makeup you might be able to pull a couple of product from your everyday collection. However, dance competition makeup will typically be a little heavier and darker than everyday makeup.
Here is a list of some dance competition makeup essentials you might need:
- Foundation
- Setting Powder
- Blush
- Contour/Bronzer
- Makeup Primer
- Lipstick
- Eye Shadow
- Eye liner
- False Eyelashes
- Mascara
- Eye brow pencil
Dance Competition Hair
After your stage makeup look for your dance competition it is time to prepare your dance competition hairstyles.
For each dance routine, you might have a different hairstyle that you are required to do. Be sure to check with your dance instructor and dance studio for what types of dance competition hairstyles you’ll need to be prepared to do.
To learn more about dance competition hair check out this post
Here is a list of some dance competition hair essentials you might want to pack:
- Hair brush
- Comb
- Smoothing brush
- Hair gel
- Hair spray
- Bobby pins
- Hair clips
- Spray water bottle
- Hair nets
- Hair ties
- Hair wax
Check it all out with a mirror!
You can’t forget to pack a mirror (or two) to make sure all of your dance competition looks are stage ready.
I recommend packing a portable mirror like this one to travel and easily do your competition makeup in darker spaces.
Mirrors like this one can also be hung up and used to check your entire body as you get ready to go onstage.
Recommended Post| Dance Stage Makeup Mastery: 10 Tips for a Spotlight Worthy Look
Part 3: Staying Prepared for Every Dance Competition Emergency
When it comes to getting ready for a dance competition you have to be ready for a variety of last minute emergencies and scenarios.
This section will go over a few optional but still very important items you’ll want to pack just in case. You never when know these items might come in handy during a dance competition emergency!
First Aid Kit
You can not leave for your next dance competition without this. Even just having some extra band aids can help you avoid all sorts of dance competition crises. Before your next competition buy a small first aid kit or put one together.
Here are some items you’ll want to have in your dance competition first aid kit
- Bandages
- Medical tape
- Gauze
- Rubbing alcohol
- Tweezers
- Asprin or Ibuprofen
- Anti biotic ointment
If you want a basic First-aid kit that’s already put together I recommend this one on Amazon
Sewing Kit
Having a sewing kit for last minute costume tears can save your life. You can buy a sewing kit that is already put together for you or make your own.
What to have in your sewing kit
- Scissors
- Thread
- Needle
- Safety pins
Travel Steamer
Just in case your dance costume doesn’t air out properly, pack a travel steamer to remove any wrinkles or tame the tulle on your costumes before you go onstage.
Check out this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED travel steamer on Amazon
Body Tape
Body tape and body glue can be incredibly helpful for managing uncomfortable costumes or costume pieces. This way you won’t have to worry about anything slipping or moving around onstage when it isn’t supposed to.
Check out some of my recommendations below
My favorite body tape for dance costumes
Best roll on body glue for dancers
Part 4: Day of Dance Competition Essentials
This final section will include all of the best things you’ll need to be sure to pack for your dance competition the day of. These items will keep you happy and healthy for a full day of dancing and competition.
Phone and Device Charger
Dance competitions can be long days and weekends. That’s why having a device charger in your supply of dance competition essentials can be life-saving.
In case there aren’t many places to plug your cord in, try bringing a portable charger. I have some of my favorites linked below, and they even include the cord!
Portable charger power bank with built in cable
Headphones
Stay busy and focused by plugging in your headphones during your long dance competition days. Use your headphones to practice your routine, listen to music, and just tune out the business around you.
Water Bottle
Don’t be dehydrated all day at your next dance competition and be sure to bring a good water bottle with you. I recommend bringing a stainless steel or insulated water bottle to keep your water cold all day.
You Might Also Like: What to Pack in a Dance Bag
Healthy Snacks
Stay fueled all day at your dance competition by packing some healthy snacks. Pack a lunch box or a small cooler bag to prepare for your day.
Some of my favorite snacks to keep you fueled all day long at your next dance competition include berries, dried fruit, mixed nuts or trail mix, oranges, protein bars, carrots, cheese sticks, and deli meat.
Dance Competition Survival Guide
Finally, The Charming Dancer has created an exclusive dance competition survival guide just for you to help you prepare and stay organized as you get ready for competition.
Type your name and email below to get your complete dance competition survival guide template on Canva delivered to your inbox!
Before You Go
Now you know all about the best dance competition essentials every dancer needs to succeed this year. Comment a dance competition essential that you can’t live without.
If you want more posts to help you on your dance journey, be sure to subscribe to the Charming Dancer below!
This post was all about dance competition essentials
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