Learn all about all of the dance bag essentials that you need in this post all about what to pack in a dance bag!
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As dancers there are so many different things that we need to pack inside of our dance bags. And if we’re being honest, our dance bags hold a lot of our dance lives inside of them. That’s why it’s even more important to make sure you pack all of your dance essentials in your dance bag.
Experience as a dancer taught me the essentials every dancer needs to pack in their dance bag. I created this post to share what you need to pack in a dance bag
In this post you are going to learn all about what to pack in a dance bag, dance bag essentials, dance bag essentials list, dance bag checklist, and more!
After reading, you’ll know the best things every dancer needs, how to pack your dance bag, and what to pack in a dance bag!
This post is all about what to pack in a dance bag
What to Pack in a Dance Bag
How Do You Pack a Dance Bag?
Every dancer needs to know both how to pack a dance bag and what to pack in a dance bag. In your dance bag you should pack everything you might need for dance classes and rehearsals. This means all of your shoes, clothing, and other essentials for a few hours to a full day of dancing.
The rest of this blog post will go into detail with all of the dance bag essentials you need and what dancers need to pack in a dance bag.
Dance Bag Essentials
Now for the main part of this post, what to pack in a dance bag and dance bag essentials. This part of the post will go from dance shoes, dance hair essentials, dance first aid kits, and more that you need to have in your dance bag.
Dance Shoes
Of course you can’t go to dance class without all of your dance shoes. Make a list of all of the dance shoes that you use and need to go inside of your dance bag. This will help you keep track of what shoes you need to have in your dance bag at all times.
Recommended: Your ULTIMATE Guide to Every Type of Dance Shoe
Dance Clothes
While you might head to dance class dressed most of the time I will never hurt to have extra dance clothing just in case inside of your dance bag.
The following sections will go over the most essential dance clothing items every dancer should have stocked and prepared in their dance bag in case of emergency or when on the go to dance class.
Leotards
Almost every dancer will wear a leotard to dance class at some point in their life. Even if you layer up with leggings, pants, or a t shirt a leotard is a great base layer for dancers of all ages.
Packing an extra leotard inside of your dance bag can be incredibly useful when on the go or if you ever need a spare change of clothes.
Tights
Tights are another essential that you will not regret packing in your dance bag. And if you’re taking ballet class, tights are an absolute must have dance bag essential.
Dance tights can easily rip or get dirty. Thankfully, they are probably one of the dance bag essentials on this list that take up the least amount of space in your dance bag.
Dance Shorts
Dance shorts or just regular athletic/spandex shorts aren’t always a dance class essential but they can really come in handy for any wardrobe malfunctions you might have.
They are also super useful if you have back to back dance classes and don’t really want to wear a leotard and tights to jazz or tap class.
Ballet Skirt
This isn’t always a dance bag essential but it can definitely make ballet class more fun! Add a ballet or dance skirt to your bag for ballet class or rehearsal.
Ballet skirts are an absolute must for ballet dancers and dancers on pointe, however, because they are usually a part of your uniform.
Dance Warm Ups
Finally, for the dance clothing you should keep in your dance bag you can’t forget about your dance warm ups.
Add some extra clothing layers to your dance bag like leg warmers, warm up pants, or even dance booties to stay warm during dance rehearsals.
Related Post: What to Wear to Different Dance Classes
Dance Hair Kit
Having your hair up properly is essential for dance classes. That’s why every dancer should have a small hair kit in their dance bag.
This section will go over the dance bag hair essentials that every dancer needs to have in their dance bag.
Hair Brush
Sometimes you can skip this item in your dance hair kit if your hair is easily tamed without a hair brush. However, there are lots of travel sized hair brushes perfect for your dance bag.
Hair Pins
If you are going to ballet class you are going to need hair pins in your ballet bag. Be sure to have a variety of hair pins in different sizes to put your hair in a bun and secure it neatly on top of your head.
Hair Ties
You can’t do a ponytail or bun without them!
Every dancer needs to have hair ties in their dance bag in order to put their hair up. Strong hold hair ties are usually best for dancers because they keep your hair up longer and make your hairstyles more secure.
Hair Styling Products
If you want to keep the hair wisps to a minimum be sure to keep some good hair styling products like hair spray or hair gel inside of your dance bag. Grab travel sized hair products to fit in your dance bag and save space.
Hair Nets
This dance hair item can be optional for some dancers but I find they help put and keep your hair in a bun. Add some hair nets to your dance hair kit for ballet or pointe class.
Dance First Aid Kit
Dancing can bring constant wear and tear which is why having a first aid kit in your dance bag is a MUST. This section will go over what to put in your dance first aid kit.
Tape
Every dancer that does pointe work knows how crucial tape can be for avoiding blisters and irritation from pointe shoes.
Medical tape can be incredibly helpful for keeping bandages on and protecting your skin from more injuries and scabs.
Bandages
Bandages or Band-aids are an absolute MUST for your dance bag essentials list. Protect any blisters, cuts, or scrapes you might have during dance class and help them heal faster with bandages.
Anti-Biotic Ointment
Help your dance wounds heal faster with anti-biotic ointment. This will also keep any blisters or scrapes you have from getting infected and we all know how dirty dance floors are.
Nail Clippers
Every dancer knows the torture of dancing with toe nails that are too long in ballet shoes or pointe shoes. Even if you get hang nails or break a finger nail having a pair of nail clippers or nail scissors can come in super handy.
Personal Hygiene Products
Dancers sweat a lot. And we’re also human which means we inevitably have to deal with our personal hygiene.
This section will go over the personal hygiene items every dancer needs to carry in their dance bag at all times.
Deodorant
Keep the B.O. at bay with deodorant. I highly recommend spray deodorant for all dancers because it is super easy to apply in a rush and can be used in shoes and other areas. I also find it helpful for deodorizing your dance bag with a small spritz.
Travel Razor
Quickly get rid of body hair (especially underarm hair) with a travel razor. The Venus mini razor has been my godsend and absolute dancer essential on the go and I highly recommend it for all dancers.
Body Spray
Stay extra fresh with some body spray in your dance bag. Body spray isn’t super strong but it keeps you smelling fresh for a long time and can even give you some extra confidence.
Hand Sanitizer
Make sure to fight germs and keep your hands clean with by throwing some hand sanitizer in your dance bag. I recommend using a hand sanitizer key chain or travel bag attachment to save space and easily access it during dance rehearsals.
Deodorizing Spray
This is an extra item that does wonders for keeping your dance bag, clothing, and shoes smelling good and also neutralizing any odors.
Towel
Stay cool and dry by packing a towel in your dance bag to remove sweat. I personally hate feeling sweaty and getting sweat in my eyes during dance class. Which is why having a sweat towel in your dance bag can really come in handy.
Rehearsal Snacks and Fuel
Be sure to stay fueled by packing some snacks and other fueling items in your dance bag. This section will go over some rehearsal fuel and snacks that you might want to pack in your dance bag for long days of dance class or rehearsals.
Hydration/Electrolyte Packets
I swear by using hydration and electrolyte drinks that you can add to your water. They will keep and get you hydrated faster for those long dance routines and rehearsals.
Protein
Protein fueled snacks like trail mix, nuts, cheese, sliced meat, and protein bars are some of the best things that you can pack in your dance bag for mid dance rehearsal fuel.
Water Bottle
Finally, this dance bag essential can’t be skipped. Every dancer knows how crucial packing a water bottle in your dance bag is. Make sure your water bottle is easy to fill and large enough to avoid running out of water mid dance class or rehearsal.
Optional Dance Bag Essentials
This last section of essentials for what to pack in a dance bag aren’t necessarily “essential” for dance class but they can definitely come in handy.
Journal or Planner
Dance class and rehearsals come with a lot of notes and scheduling. This is why packing a journal or planner in your dance bag can be super useful.
Muscle Roller or Muscle Rolling Ball
Avoid sore muscles and help warm up your body before or after rehearsal with a muscle roller or muscle rolling ball. These come in a variety of sizes and shapes for your use.
Dance Conditioning Equipment
In addition to a muscle roller, it can be important to have other pieces of conditioning and training equipment in your dance bag. These might include resistance bands, other exercise and pilates balls, a balance board, or other stretching and strengthening tools.
Bluetooth Speaker
If you have the space or time to rehearse or dance on your own a bluetooth speaker can be super useful. If you are a choreographer having a bluetooth speaker is an invaluable essential to add to your dance bag.
Charger
Finally, be sure to pack a phone charger or even a portable charger in your dance bag to keep your phone and other electronics fully charged for when you need them before and after dance classes.
Keeping Your Dance Bag Organized
Now that you know what to pack in your dance bag, you need to know how to keep your dance bag organized. This section of this post will go over how to pack your dance bag and things you can do to keep your dance bag and dance bag essentials organized.
How Do You Organize a Dance Bag?
To organize a dance bag you first need to make sure you have a bag the right size that can accommodate all of your dance essentials.
Your dance bag should be large enough to accommodate all of your dance shoes at once and all of your dance accessories.
This next section will highlight some of the best dance bags that I love and some accessories and tools you can use to keep your dance bag more organized.
Dance Bag Organization
To keep your dance bag organized you can use a series or variety of smaller bags like cosmetic bags or mesh bags to keep your shoes, first aid essentials, dance hair essentials, and more organized.
There are also bag organizers available for you to use to keep your dance bag organized.
Check out some of the items I recommend to keep your dance bag organized
Picking the Right Dance Bag
There is a lot that goes into choosing the right dance bag. This section will go over how to pick the right dance bag to carry all of your dance essentials and include some of my top dance bag picks for you!
How to Choose a Dance Bag
Now that you know all about what to pack in a dance bag you probably have some idea of what you will need in a dance bag.
Choose a dance bag that can carry all of your essentials and accommodate all of your dance needs.
In addition to what you need to pack in your dance bag you will also need to consider where you will be carrying your dance bag. Do you go straight from work or school to the dance studio? The be sure to choose a bag that you can easily transport with you from place to place.
Look at the features that the bag has such as the straps, pockets, and compartments for organization to help you narrow down the right dance bag for all of your dance class needs.
Dance Bag Recommendations
Finally, this section will highlight some favorite and highly recommended dance bags that you are sure to love.
Gaynor Minden Studio Bag
This popular dance bag is a favorite of many dancers for good reason. With both backpack straps and handles it is super easy to transport all of your dance necessities.
This bag is super durable and spacious with multiple pockets and compartments to organize your many dance bag essentials.
One downside to this bag might be that it can carry fewer dance shoes so I recommend having a separate bag for character shoes and tap shoes if you choose this dance bag or choosing a different bag all together.
Bloch Muti Compartment Large Dance Bag
I know so many dancers that have rave reviews for this dance bag. One review on its product page even calls it the “SUV of dance bags”, and for good reason. This bag includes three shoe pockets, a wet pocket, bottle holder, and a shoulder strap.
This is another great durable dance bag that you can use for everything from dance classes to performances and competitions.
Capezio Signature Tote
This versatile bag comes with shoulder straps that let you wear it over the shoulder or as a backpack. It has multiple inner compartments, a zipper front pocket, and full inner lining.
You’ll definetly be able to pack all of your dance shoes and more in this amazing dance bag.
Vera Bradley Weekender Travel Bag
Nearly every other dancer I know (including myself) has used a Vera Bradley bag as a dance bag at some point in their dance career. And it’s for good reason, these bags are AMAZING.
Not only are they super stylish, they also are very spacious making them perfect for carrying all of your dance class essentials.
More Dance Bag Recommendations
If you want more dance bag recommendations be sure to check out my blog post with 14 more dance bag recommendations you are sure to love at the link below! This post will pair great with this blog post all about what to pack in a dance bag.
14 Trendy Dance Bags You’ll Love
Before You Go
I hope you found some great tips for what to pack in a dance bag in this post along with some other much needed dance bag tips and tricks.
Comment your go-to dance bag essential in the comments below!
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This post was all about what to pack in a dance bag
