No matter what your dance rehearsal plans are, it always pays to be prepared. That’s why I’ve created this post all about what to bring to a dance rehearsal.
As dancers we have to attend a lot of rehearsals, especially as we head into performance season. However, how are we supposed to keep up with everything that we need to bring with us to dance rehearsals? That’s why I’ve created this list all about what you NEED to bring to a dance rehearsal.
You are going to learn about all of the best dance rehearsal essentials that no dancer can live with out in rehearsal. This included dance rehearsal attire, dance rehearsal shoes, personal care items, hair essentials, and more!
After reading this post you will be more prepared than ever to conquer your next dance rehearsal.
This post is all about what to bring to a dance rehearsal
What to bring to a Dance Rehearsal
In this Post
Dance Shoes
Obviously, dance shoes are essential to any dance rehearsal. One thing I have learned in my time as a dancer is that you should always bring EVERY shoe you need to a rehearsal just in case. That means even if the schedule doesn’t say you will be running the one piece that requires character shoes, that you bring your character shoes anyways.
Bringing all of your required dance shoes will save your life sometimes. If you are rehearsing on your own or filming a self-tape, having extra dance shoes will help you out incredibly if you have any extra time and choose to rehearse something else.
You Might Also Like: Your Ultimate Guide to EVERY Type of Dance Shoe
Dance Attire
What to Wear
Most dancers will arrive to rehearsal in their dance clothing. However, it always helps to have extra dance clothing and other options in case you decide to change.
Here are some types of dance clothing you might want to bring to a dance rehearsal:
- Leotard
- Tights
- Leggings
- Dance top
- Dance shorts
- Tank top
No matter what you wear to a dance rehearsal, you want to be sure you can move in your outfit choice and that it matches the style of dance you are rehearsing. You can check out my post all about what to wear for every style of dance for some ideas of what to wear for your next dance rehearsal.
Dance Warm up Clothing
For a rehearsal, having dance warm up clothing is essential. Sometimes in a dance rehearsal, you will be waiting or starting without class. That’s why having dance warm up clothing will save your life during a dance rehearsal.
Here are some warm up clothing items you might want to bring to your next dance rehearsal:
- Sweater/Sweatshirt
- Sweatpants
- Warm up Pants
- Leggings
- Warm up Shorts
- Leg Warmers
- Socks
- Vest
- Jacket
Hydration and Energy
Water Bottle
It is incredibly important to stay hydrated for dance rehearsals. That’s why a water bottle is a dance essential that you can not live without in dance rehearsals.
Healthy Snacks
Sometimes a dance rehearsal can go through some mealtimes or just feel really long. If you tend to get hungry during rehearsals, bring some healthy snacks like granola bars, protein bars, or fruit to help you stay energized for hours during a dance rehearsal.
Personal Care Items
Personal care and hygiene are big parts of out lives as dancers. Therefore it is extra important to have everything you need in this area at a dance rehearsal. This section will go over all of the personal care needs to have during a dance rehearsal like towels, deodorant, emergency kits, and hair essentials.
Towel
As someone that sweats a lot, a towel is by best friend. A towel is important to have during a dance rehearsal to quickly wipe down sweat whenever you need to. Some towels are even designed to help you cool down.
Deodorant and Body Spray:
We all know that sometimes us dancers can get a little sweaty in rehearsal. That’s why you are going to want to pack some deodorant and maybe even some body spray to stay fresh during your dance rehearsals.
I happen to love spray deodorant because it is super easy to put on if you are in a rush during rehearsal and easy to use.
First Aid and Emergency Kit
It is essential to have a dance first-aid or emergency kit for every dance rehearsal. This will be helpful to quickly fix any cuts, scrapes, or blisters that come from the nature of dancing.
Here are some items you should have inside your dance emergency kit:
- Bandages in multiple sizes
- Gauze
- Antibiotic ointment
- Tweezers
- Athletic tape
- Feminine hygiene products
- Pain relievers
Be sure to stay stocked up on all of your dance emergency kit essentials, because we all know how quickly bandages can disappear from your dance bag!
Hair Accessories
Dancers need a lot of different hair accessories, especially for a dance rehearsal. Make sure to bring a good collection of any hair accessories you might need for rehearsal.
Hair Accessories You Might Need Include:
- Hair ties
- Hair pins
- Bobby pins
- Hair clips
- Hairspray
Check this Out: Everything You Need for a Summer Dance Intensive
Organization and Note-Taking
Dance rehearsals can come with a lot of information and notes. Having somewhere to keep track of all of that and write things down can be very useful. This section will cover items to have in a dance rehearsal to help you take notes and stay organized.
Dance Journal or Notebook
Having a planner, journal, or notebook can be a game changer for dance rehearsals. With one of these many dance rehearsal essentials, you can write down all of your notes, choreography, and even announcements to reference for later.
When I started using a journal and notebook in dance rehearsals to take notes and review choreography I felt so much more prepared and secure as a dancer.
Phone or Recording Device
While it probably isn’t a good idea to use your phone DURING rehearsal, it can be a useful tool to record information and choreography. With the choreographers permission, you might want to film rehearsals and final pieces to review choreography and dance notes on your own.
Recording yourself and sometimes others can be a very useful tool to have when reviewing and working as a dancer.
Optional Items for Extra Comfort
This final section has a few extra items you might want to bring with you to your next dance rehearsal. These items are not essential for your next dance rehearsal but will surely give you some additional comfort if you have them in your dance bag.
Extra Dance Shoes
If space allows, I suggest bringing extra pairs of dance shoes. Especially if your are having any sort of ballet or rehearsal on pointe.
Having extra shoes in case of any emergency or that one pair of shoes is just not working that day can really pay off in your favor.
Training Equipment and Stretching Tools
In your dance rehearsal bag, you might also want to have some warm up tools to help you stay conditioned in rehearsal.
These tools might include:
- Exercise or “Therabands”
- Exercise balls
- Tennis ball
- Muscle roller
Post-Rehearsal Cleanup
Once your rehearsal is over it is important to clean and tidy up your space. Leave every area cleaner than you found it. This will also help for a successful future rehearsal and ensure the next person to use the space has a great experience.
Before You Go
I hope you found these dance rehearsal essentials helpful for all of your dance rehearsal needs!
Comment your dance rehearsal must haves and items you always pack in your bag for rehearsals!
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This post was all about what to bring to a dance rehearsal
