When it comes to a long dance competition weekend, it can feel like you’re packing for a month away from home instead of a few days! As we enter competition season, it’s a good idea to have a checklist of your must-have items when you prepare for these events.
Port Orange dancers may not have to travel far to attend competition, but by having everything you need packed and ready, your comp weekend will go much smoother!
The Obvious Necessities – Costumes, Tights, Shoes
Hopefully, it goes without saying for Port Orange dance parents that you need to pack the necessities for dance competition – costumes, dance shoes, and dance tights. But what in the world to store them all in?
If you’re new to the competitive dance world, you may not have heard of Dream Duffel. Dream Duffels, or any similar products, are the best way to transport all of your child’s costumes, shoes, and accessories in one rolling bag.
Dream Duffels expand into mini-closets that can accommodate several costumes. There are pockets for shoes, and some models even include a mirror or a stool!
In addition to shoes, costumes, and tights, you may also want to invest in a portable steamer and a sewing kit.
A steamer will quickly and easily freshen up wrinkled costumes, and a sewing kit will come in handy when an inevitable rip occurs.
To be extra prepared for those long competition days, also consider these items:
- Butt glue and clothing/body tape – sometimes a safety pin won’t cut it, and you need to bring in the butt glue to keep a piece of clothing in one place.
- Warm-up clothing – dancers need to stay warm between routines, so be sure to have your favorite sweatpants and zip-up hoodie on hand. Competition venues are always cold!
- Towel – you never know when you might need a towel to soak up sweat or provide a softer place to sit in a dressing room.
- First aid kit – while most competitions will have a first aid kit backstage, it doesn’t hurt to have your own small arsenal of pain relievers, band-aids, and disinfecting wipes
Hair Accessories and Products
In Port Orange dance studios, you may be used to having only one hairstyle for dance class, like a simple bun. But at competition, you may be asked to change up your hair throughout the weekend to match the different routines.
Hair products that you should always have on hand are:
- Bobby pins
- Hairpins
- Hair clips that match your hair
- Hairnets that match your hair
- Hairspray and gel
- A brush and a comb
- Spray bottle of water
- Rubber bands
You may also want to invest in a curling iron and hair straightener, depending on the styles that your dance routines demand.
Makeup
You can’t go on stage without a full face of makeup at a dance competition, so don’t forget about your face! Be sure to purchase the brands suggested or required by your Port Orange dance studio.
Important cosmetic items for dance competition include:
- Foundation
- Powder
- Lipstick and lipliner
- Blush
- Mascara
- False eyelashes
- Eyeshadow
- Eyeliner
Making a comeback recently are Caboodles, the retro cosmetics cases many of us grew up with. A cosmetic case that can store all your makeup and hair accessories will be very useful at competition to keep everything organized!
A Few Things You Might Not Have Thought of To Bring To Competition!
Dance competition weekends can be long, stressful, and exhausting – as well as incredibly fun! To make your weekend the most enjoyable, there are a few things you might not have considered packing.
Snacks
Often, dance competition venues have either very few food options, unhealthy food options, or no food options at all! Bringing healthy snacks from home can save you money, time, and frustration during the weekend. Most venues will allow outside food in the lobby, but be sure to check the rules at each event.
Dancer favorites include clementine’s, grapes, bananas, pretzel rods, and snack mix. Also, bring your reusable water bottle and keep it full, as hydration is key for a great performance!
Good Luck Charms and Comfort Items
Especially for first-time competitors from Port Orange dance studios, a good luck charm and a comfort item will calm anxious nerves during the long weekend.
Many dancers love to bring plush blankets, favorite stuffies, and fidget toys to stay calm and occupied backstage before performing. Be sure to designate a friend or parent to hold these items while the dancer is on stage!
Technical Accessories
Dance competition venues are notorious for not having enough outlets for charging phones, and terrible cellular service. Many dance parents bring a power strip with multiple outlets and USB ports so they can be sure their devices stay charged throughout the day.
Dancers love to be able to run through their dances with music, so it can be helpful to have a Bluetooth speaker on hand as well as headphones to listen to their songs.
It’s also handy to have a copy of your solo song available on your phone as a backup in case the music doesn’t work at the venue. Bringing a backup piece of music is often up to Port Orange dance teachers, but in the worst-case scenario that their second copy doesn’t want to play, having another copy of your song is helpful!
By thinking ahead and preparing for competition weekend, you will set yourself and your dancer up for a successful event. Happy dancing!
Check out more Dance Performance checklists here!
