As you discover different types of dance, make sure you know the essential accessories every dancer should own—what’s crucial to one dance style may not be important to another. Get your dancing shoes ready, and start gathering the right gear!
Reliable Dance Shoes
Of the many accessories you’ll need for dance, your shoes are the most important—depending on the style, they allow you to make swift or delicate movements with ease. If you’re new to the art of dance, some of the most popular shoes worn include:
- Irish dance shoes
- Ballroom dancing shoes
- Ballet Slippers
- Pointe Shoes
- Jazz Shoes
When you buy your shoes, take time, and don’t be afraid of spending a little extra cash. While cheap shoes may look promising, they’ll wear out quickly, ruin your feet, or both.
Additionally, make sure you purchase the appropriate shoes for your style and dance level. For example, if you’re new to ballet, you’re not ready for pointe shoes. Likewise, jazz shoes won’t work if you’re getting into the world of Irish dance.
Expert Dancer Tip
Like any shoes, your dance shoes may feel tight when you first buy them, so you will need to stretch them out. Try wearing a thick pair of socks and walking around the house in them or investing in a shoe stretcher. New shoes almost always feel uncomfortable, so stretch them to prevent blisters when dance practice rolls around!
Comfy Practice Clothes
Have comfortable athletic wear for practicing so that you can warm up your body and learn new choreography comfortably. You may want to have a separate pair of shoes strictly for practice to keep your performance shoes looking great!
A Beautiful Costume
One of the essential accessories every dancer should own is a costume! For each show, you’ll need a new outfit. Depending on your class, your teacher may supply it, and you’ll need only pay. However, if you compete, you may need to track down and purchase your costume.
Typically, a dance costume includes:
- Leotard
- Skirt
- Tights
- Tutu
- Shoes
Sometimes, this includes a wig for complex hairstyles, as well as arm and leg warmers. For example, if you’re an Irish dancer, you may need to wear a wig since the hairstyles are complex, and styling takes time away from practice—not to mention, nobody likes to sleep in curlers.
A Great Dance Bag
Every dancer needs a bag to carry all their equipment to practice, recitals, or competitions. Before you run out the door for dance class, make sure you pack yourself the following:
- Water bottle
- Healthy snack
- Deodorant
- Brush and hair ties
When you have a recital or competition, you’ll also want to pack your costume and any needed accessories. Packing the essentials keeps you prepared for dance; you’ll move around a lot and will need plenty of food and water to keep your body nourished, so you can continue doing what you love.