10 essentials every adult dancer needs

For adult dancers, having all the essentials is important to feeling well-prepared and confident in class. Whether you are coming in for one class or taking multiple back-to-back classes, a good dance bag will be your key to success. 

Here are the top 10 must-haves we’d recommend so that you can feel ready to move at DanceWorks Indy:

  1.  Water bottle. While this may seem obvious, we recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to keep you hydrated throughout class. Dancing is a workout, and your body needs water to perform and recover. At DWI, we have a water fountain near our bathrooms intended for water refills only.
  2. Dance shoes. Another seemingly obvious one, but always ensure you have the right assortment of dance shoes—even backups. If you take multiple dance styles, you’ll thank yourself later when you find that you are prepared with all the proper footwear, especially in case you want to spontaneously drop in another class from time to time. (Plus, as a pro tip, you might even consider having a separate mesh bag to air out your shoes after your night of classes to keep your dance bag smelling fresh!)
  3. Massage balls. A good ball relieves muscle tension, reduces soreness, and improves blood circulation. There are many different types, ranging from firm to soft, and we’d recommend having one of each. This includes a combination of spikey balls, tennis balls, and lacrosse balls—all useful for targeting your tight areas. Utilize these before/or after class for the best results. 
  4. Foam roller. Similar to a massage ball, foam rolling helps to protect the muscles and prevent injuries. An effective tool for before or after class, you can apply a foam roller to any tense part of your body. You’ll be sure to feel improvements in no time!
  5. Knee pads. A quality knee pad will be your best friend. If you plan to take a class with floorwork or pliés (the bending of the knees), we’d  suggest wearing knee pads to support your joints. Online dance suppliers sell gel pads designed specifically for dancers, which provide cushioning in the knee without limiting range of motion. Heels and contemporary are the classes we most often see folks utilizing knee pads.
  6. Warm-ups. Layered clothing is essential to keeping your body warm. Think anything like leg warmers, large sweatshirts, long pants, socks, or wrap tops. Wear these pieces into class, take them off once you start to warm up, and put them back on once class ends. By doing so, you’ll notice a difference in your muscles and recovery.
  7. Journal. Having a dance-specific journal on hand can allow you to jot down corrections or set goals during class. When you are dancing, your brain is constantly working, so writing down notes will ensure you retain the information. Dance journals are particularly helpful during showcase seasons for choreography retention and notes.
  8. Good camera. Oftentimes, dancers can improve tremendously by watching themselves on video. We would suggest always having your phone on hand to capture footage of what you learned in class. You can use these videos to monitor your growth and build an archive of your dance journey. It’s also fun to post your combo videos on Instagram to celebrate your hard work (always remember to tag @danceworksindy so we can share your stories!)
  9. Hair supplies. It is always important to keep your hair out of your face when dancing, so have a stash of extra hair ties, clips, bobby pins, headbands, etc. You never know when you’ll need to redo your hair, especially during more high-impact workouts like our cardio classes. If you’re going from class to drinks on a weekday or headed to brunch after a weekend class, it can also be nice to stash some dry shampoo (and while not hair-related, maybe some deodorant, too!) in your dance bag as well.
  10. Tiger balm. This tried-and-true is an ointment that provides a cooling and heating sensation to the tight muscles in your body. Aimed to soothe soreness and stiffness, rub this onto the parts of your body that need extra love and relief after a dance class.

By having everything you need for dance, you will soon find ease as you join us at DanceWorks Indy. We promise your toolkit will not only help you survive through class, but also keep you on the dance floor for many more years to come. So get to shopping and packing your bag, and we’ll meet you at the studio soon!

PLUS, we also have DWI-branded duffel bags and makeup bags available for purchase in the lobby. Mention you’ve read this article to receive 20% off your purchase.

For more questions, please email info@danceworksindy.com. To sign up for classes, buy our two-week unlimited pack today!

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