What Every Contemporary Dancer Needs! Plus recital & Christmas gift ideas

This brand of sock was mentioned by almost every dancer I spoke to.  One told me “I hate wearing socks, but I actually love these, I don’t feel like I’m falling over because they give me stability”.  You can get a “barefoot” version (with no heels or toes)

or the full-foot version:

And for after class, nothing soothes your sore feet like these moisturizing socks with vitamin E and lavender:

For warming up and staying warm, these “garbage bag” pants are my top choice.  You can get them as full pants (Note that these are going to seem huge when you get them.  Dancers like to roll down the waist and roll up the ankles to achieve the desired fit):

Alternatively, you can get shorts.  When my daughter injured her groin muscle, these were perfect, since they kept the injured area warm, but she didn’t overheat:

If you just need to warm the lower portion, you can’t go wrong with these leg warmers:

If your dancer needs to roll around on the floor, they might prefer some with a little more padding:

This brand was the top choice because it’s not sticky, but it stays on better than other brands, so you end up using less of it: 

If you prefer something in fun colors, you can also get a giant pack with a ton of options:

OK, your dancer definitely already has a water bottle, but does your dancer have THIS water bottle?  If not, you’re about to meet the new love of your life.  This bottle is aluminum, so it keeps water cold longer, but it’s also straw-less.  No straw means nothing to lose and less to clean.  Additionally, I find that ALL straw-lidded water bottles become leaky at some point.  But I know water bottles with screw-off lids can be annoying to open and close when you just want a quick drink.  That’s why this bottle is so special!  The lid screws off, but once it’s unscrewed, it’s held in place (closed or open) by a magnet, so it doesn’t open too easily (like if it tips over) and it also doesn’t flop in your face when drinking – bonus!  When you’re done with class, just screw the lid down tight and it’s dribble-proof forever.  Of course, there’s plenty of room for fun stickers, too. 

Several dancers I spoke to told me that they only use this kind.  They have the perfect amount of elasticity to pull up hair and they don’t cut off the circulation when you put them on your wrist.  They also last a long time, so you end up buying fewer (and are being less wasteful – you’re welcome, Mother Earth!)  It’s also nice that they have a unique look, so you never have to worry about your dancer’s elastics getting mixed up with others.

And who doesn’t love a cute scrunchie?  These fun hair holders have zippers! Yep.  Tiny pockets to hide keys or cash.  So even if your dancer doesn’t wear them, they can be a great place to hide extra money without it floating around in their dance bag where it’s easily lost or stolen.

These powdered greens are a great way to get all the vitamins and minerals they need – in a form that is quick and easy to access.

Don’t forget recipes!  Here’s a great collection of quick fix recipes specifically for athletes.

And to start the day out right with a fast, healthy breakfast, you can’t beat smoothies, but no one wants the same smoothie every day, so how about a whole book of ideas?

The number one favorite roller at my daughter’s studio.The Stick – It’s firm enough to help with deep massage, but has some give so it won’t damage muscles.  It’s also narrow enough to help your dancer access hard-to-reach areas. The individual rollers make sure it slides smoothly and never pinches.

This set of balls makes sure your dancer always has the right tool to roll out feet, or anything that needs a circular motion.

If your dancer doesn’t have a foam roller yet, this one is a great choice.  It’s small enough to carry to class, competitions, and shows.  The texturized areas help give a deep massage to your dancer’s back and feet.  And they are also useful helpers for stretching and strengthening.

Pain relieving ointment.  A little of this goes a long way!  I love it because it’s not messy and it comes in small, strong containers that are easy to toss in a dance bag, but won’t break if they’re stepped on.

Arnica is another of my favorite pain relievers.

Epsom salts are a tried-and-true muscle relaxer.  Before my daughter headed out for an intensive a couple of years ago, her dance teacher recommended this body scrub with Epsom salts and we’ve kept some on hand ever since.

If you do have a tub to soak in, you won’t go wrong with this bubble bath that contains Epsom salts as well as lavender.  I’m getting more relaxed just thinking about it!

One more way to relax – at the end of the night, after rolling out and taking a warm shower, smooth on some lotion that has pain reliving menthol as well as soothing eucalyptus.  I love using this before bed because it doesn’t leave me feeling greasy; just light and clean.

Or skip the menthol and just bask in the soothing scent of eucalyptus

Contemporary dance is all about learning to connect your mind and body.  This guided journal helps your dancer grow as a performer, as a choreographer, and as a person.

For more ideas on journals check out our resource page here!

A poster of Martha Graham, the mother of modern dance.

A fascinating book of interviews where contemporary choreographers talk about their work.

A book of gorgeous photographs of contemporary dancers.

Images of Alvin Ailey dancers.

Matisse’s famous painting “The Dance”.

Does your dancer already have everything he or she needs?  Take a favorite photo of your dancer and turn it into a paint-by-numbers.  It even comes with the paint! 

This one is great because the blending cup doubles as a travel bottle, so you dirty fewer dishes when packing for breakfast (or lunch or snacks..) on the go!