Dance competition are in full swing and while our young dancers are excited and basking in the moment, dance moms and dads are busy pulling our hair out. Just about every performance brings the frantic rehearsal schedules and the constant concern of what to take to the dance competition, there are times that you feel as if you could be preparing for a journey across the country and still turn out failing to remember something pretty important. Follow these tips to ensure that you have exactly what your little dancer needs for the competition.
Basics: Pack the obvious stuff first, as these are the items that you are in all likelihood to forget about as you work on the smaller details. The dance competition basics vary from dance studio to dance studio, but these are the across the board necessities.
Dance Costumes
Tights (extras of each color needed)
Dance Shoes for Dances
Jewelry (only if part of costume)
Advanced: These are typically the pieces that you stress over and still fail to remember. As your child progresses with dance, the list will grow longer, but this will get you started.
Hair Brush and Comb
Extra Hair Pins
Extra Hair Nets
Hair Spray
Hair Gel
Extra Elastic Hair Bands
Stage Make-up
Parent Essentials: These are typically the things that will help you through the stress filled day. I highly recommend these objects to be included in any dance parent’s strategy.
Coloring Books and Crayons-Great for keeping small children occupied between performances
Bandages- Clear bandages for blisters
Snack foods for you and your dancer
Water for your dancer (safe drink when dressed up in costumes)
Wet Wipes-Perfect to fix make-up smears and to clean up little fingers after snacks
Needle and Thread for quick costume repairs
Safety Pins for even quicker costume fixes
Oversized Shirt for little children-Changing rooms are crowded and frequently it is much easier to change little children under an oversized Shirt.
Nail Clippers
Camera-most competitions have policies about photography, but you’ll want a few shots
backstage.
Try to arrange these objects into separate bags; doing so will prevent you from needing to dig through so many things to find what you need. Use one bag for hair and make-up items, another bag for amusements and snacks, and a garment bag for costumes.
On the day of the dance performance, don’t forget to bring the most crucial thing: Patience. Your child will probably be enthusiastic, but that can quickly change to nervous feelings. Be calm and try to remember that these performances are supposed to be for your dancer’s enjoyment, do not let your stress level spoil it. Be encouraging and cheer your child on, hopefully youll have to pack for this adventure many times!