Inside This Post: I’m a dance teacher. Here’s a checklist for what I prep the night before and pack in my dance bag in the morning for a full day of dance. These items are not just for dancing, they also help me feel good and stay refreshed throughout the day, so take out what doesn’t apply to you and add in what you like.

Ok girls, let’s get our day ready and make sure we don’t leave the house without our essentials.  This quick guide to prepping your dance bag for the day ahead is my go-to must haves so I’m prepared for literally everything. Let’s get started.

First, make sure you prep this the night before an early, long day.  I hate rushing out the door with the feeling that I’ve forgotten something I know I’ll need later. So, a suggestion I give my students is to print out this list and hang it on the back of your bedroom so you’re always reminded of what to pack before heading out the door.

TIP: If you’re like me at all, I sometimes forget to leave room to make food in the middle of a busy day, so healthy snacks packed the night before makes leaving in the morning a whole lot easier.  I’ve included my go-to’s in my list of healthy snacks to fuel up.

These items are not just for dancing, they are also to help me feel good and refreshed throughout the day, so take out what doesn’t apply to you and add in what you like. Remember, these are simple reminders for being prepared and for putting yourself first.

Dance Bag Checklist:

Dance Essentials:

• leotard / tights / shoes (whatever dance outfit you’ll need)
• warmups
• extra hair ties / bobby pins
• KT tape for strains or injury support
• Tiger balm for strains or sore muscles, (this helps me to be able to keep dancing even if I’m sore)
• water
• headphones
• studio card/class card
• extra socks
• turmeric supplement or some Tylenol

Fuel Up: Healthy snacks to keep me going

• protein bar
• sliced fruit that is easy and not messy to eat (grapes, apple, my fav is mango)
• sliced cucumber (my fav in-between class snack, is refreshing, hydrating and doesnt make me feel full, add hummus if you have a longer break)
• electrolyte water (or coconut water)

Feel beautiful and fresh!

• rose water spritzer for my face
• tooth brush and toothpaste if I’m out all day, have dance, meals and meetings to get to.
• lotion (nice face lotion so you can rinse your face in the bathroom after class, spritz some rosewater and feely clean, hydrated and glowing post workout)
• a little mascara, blush and lip gloss helps too. (One of my glow secrets is Meaningful Beauty Glow serum.)
• deodorant
• perfume or essential oil 
• hairbrush & dry shampoo (a must if I’m going out after dance)

Extras if I’m going out with friends after my dance class:

If I’m planning a date with friends after class I make sure to pack a change of clothes, so I can feel human outside of the world of spandex.

Here is my quick change outfit that makes me look put together but still casual.

• Bra and fresh underwear
• White tee
• Ripped jeans
• Flats or my vans
• Long sweater or jacket
• Scarf

Extras if I’m dealing with super sore muscles and have rehearsals all day:

If I’m going to be in the studio all day, it’s impossible not to feel tired after hours of training. Taking moments in between the day to recharge with good food and water isn’t all I do.

I have a stretching band for flexibility and yoga tune-up balls for self-massage or a small foam roller ball. Anything that you can use to slow down and do some deep massage and stretching will get the blood circulating in your muscles and joints, helping with reducing inflammation and also stress relief

I hope you enjoy your day out and about and feel prepared and lovely all day long!

If you think of any helpful items that would enhance my dance bag that you like to use, drop them in the comments below so I can try them out! I’ll add them to my “Dance Bag Essentials” list!

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