When you’re competing often, it can seem like you’re always in a state of packing or unpacking to travel. Although a competition is usually only a day or two, there are so many critical items to take along, it can feel like you’re packing for a major trip. When you add on travel outside of the country or if you are dancing several styles, the necessary items multiply. Take a look at a few ways to make packing for your dance event easier and less stressful:

1.  Make a list:

If you travel often, having a packing list ensures that you always remember every item. Forgetting even the smallest thing, such as your favorite eyelashes or shoebrush, can take away your focus when you arrive at the comp. You’ll find a security in knowing all your essentials will be with you, so you can keep your mind on your dancing.

Keep separate lists for different trip purposes, such as “Latin Competition Packing List”, or “Pro-am Standard Packing List”. Remember also that you may be attending dinner, an after-party or needing practice clothes depending on the event.

A sample list may look like this-

“Latin Competition Packing List”

• Latin dress
• Fishnets
• Shoes - shoe brush and oil
• Earrings, armbands, hair accessory (specific for your current costume)
• Warm up robe
• Competition make up bag (keep items used only for competition or shows in this bag, apart from your daily makeup products. Include eyelashes and glue, bronzing powder, specialized eyeshadow colors, liquid eyeliner, speciality foundation, glitter, etc.)
• Hair item bag (have a pre-packed bag you leave in your luggage containing bobby pins, hair pins, hairbands)
• Tanning products and applicator (always pack your tanning products in heavy duty zip top bags to prevent accidents while the bag is tossed about on the plane)
• Nail products (a pre-packed bag is also convenient for manicure items. Include tips, glue, polish, and files. A small travel size container of nail polish remover might also be useful.)
• Practice clothes (top, skirt, dance pants, legwarmers)
• Evening clothes (dress, strapless bra, evening bag, shoes, necklace)
• Papers (event tickets, if applicable, NDCA or USA Dance member ID)
• Bag (to take down to the ballroom)

2.  Pre-packed Toiletry Bag

Packing is faster and simpler when you don’t have to scavenge all over the house last minute to find everything. If you’re on the road often, keep a well stocked toiletry bag at the ready in your luggage at all times. When you return from a trip, take time as you unpack to refill or replace items that are used up or are almost gone so you’ll always have a fresh supply while on the trip. Also, keep products here that you use only for competition, such as speciality hair lacquers or sprays and tanning products.

3.  Foreign Travel Essentials

Be sure that you have the proper adapters for any appliances you’ll be taking overseas. Additionally, be prepared with all the proper travel documents, contact information for where you’ll be staying and the competition or event you’re attending. Of course, if you’ll be going somewhere where you’re unfamiliar with the language, a phrase book is a good idea. Plan ahead and figure out how you’ll get from place to place --from the airport to the hotel, to the comp and studio, if necessary.

4.  Carry-on in case of lost luggage

If at all possible, try to pack the very essentials (costume, shoes, grooming accessories) you would need to compete that day in your carry-on. Lost luggage could ruin the whole trip if you should find yourself separated from your competition items. This might be easier for Latin or Rhythm dancers!

5. Electrical

Most hotels will have a hairdryer in your room or upon request from the front desk. You might even check ahead and inquiry directly from the hotel if hairdryers are available. Of course you can be certain you’ll have one if you bring it yourself. Hairdryers specially made for traveling won’t take up much space in your bag.

Call ahead also should you need an iron. Alternatives are a travel steamer, or for slightly wrinkled garments, simply hang in the bathroom during a steamy shower.

6.  Special items

• Laundry detergent:

A small vial of Woolite if you wish to clean your hand washable costumes should you have more than one event spread over a day or two.

• Sewing kit:

The dancers’ sewing kit is a more specialized than the one you might find in a hotel room. Pre-pack a small kit that will be kept in your luggage with needle, thread, skin colored elastics (in case your costume straps break), safety pins of various sizes, thread ripper, and black, nude and white thread in addition to the thread color of your current costume. Also you might include some extra rhinestones, applicator and glue.

NOTE: some glues are considered hazardous products. Check in advance with your airline or the TSA for regulations.

• Pro-am competitors:

Highlighter (to mark your dances in the program), fan (keep cool throughout a busy session of competitions), snacks (to keep you going through a long day of entries), event tickets, if applicable.

With some advance planning, packing for the next competition can be quick and organized allowing you to spend your energy on your dancing.