The holidays seem to have jump-started early this year - or has the whole year simply raced by too fast? Regardless of the reason, the snowy season is in full swing and people are humming holiday tunes in the middle of Walgreens. If you're like me, your gift shopping is well under way, and pleas for wish lists are rising to a fever pitch!
Whether you're blissfully planning your Thanksgiving feast, wrestling with audition reels, or emotionally preparing yourself for a month of paper Snow in your hair (it gets EVERYWHERE!), know that I've taken care of one item on your never-ending roll call of Things To Get Done: a ready-made wish list, to share with your loved ones and make sure you get what you REALLY want (and not another Nutcracker ornament. Sigh.)
A couple notes here - one, any disclosures/affiliates I have are listed at the bottom. And two, I've linked a lot to Amazon just for ease of finding things. I have no affiliation with them and you can purchase wherever you'd like!
Every year I talk about travel, and this one is no exception. With so many dancers living out of suitcases much of the year, a set of travel workout props would be hugely appreciated! I encourage my dancers to travel with the following:
A small Pilates ball About 8 or 9 inches wide, these balls collapse completely and are easy to throw in a bag and inflate quickly. I can spend HOURS working with one!
A Theraband loop set I prefer lighter weights for bands, since they have progressively more tension to them as you get to your weakest end range. They travel super easily and again can be used for so much!
A jump rope Many dancers don't love cardio (I personally canNOT be motivated to run) but cardio is one area that's often undertrained in dancers. You can jump rope anywhere and again it takes up to no space!
A release ball ALL of my dancers should have a la crosse ball or favorite release ball in their dance bags at all time - make sure your dancer does!
Good ear buds Invest in some ear buds that will stay in place and provide musical motivation while your dancer works out. Make them noise-canceling for long bus or plane rides and you will be the hit of the season.
Check out my little how-to video on putting together a props travel bag here -
Put together a cute travel bag with these gift items, perhaps some yummy body wipes for post-workout, and your gift will have them gushing!
I know I've mentioned these before, but the BlazePod training system is worth another discussion. Pricey? Yep. But I've seen incredible gains in dancers - not just reaction time, but attention span, focus, balance training, and so much more. Dancers swear they notice a difference in the studio after using them! Perhaps consider buying a set for the dance studio or company - you'll be glad you did. The link above will get you 20% off the site!
Buoy drops Hydration and maintaining electrolyte levels can be so important for dancers. I have a few different electrolyte drinks I love, but these Buoy drops cannot be beat for a few reasons! First, they're the cleanest product out there - no additives, sugar, sweeteners, anything. It's tasteless and odorless. Second, it's a little bottle of liquid you can add to ANY drink. So throw it in a dance bag, and add a few drops to your latte, matcha, water, juice, whatever, all day long! Handy to have backstage as well. And finally, hydration is a serious issue for people with chronic illness (think long COVID, POTS, EDS, and other issues) and Buoy gives people with chronic illness a 35% discount all year long. Hard to beat, and makes a great stocking stuffer!
Forme Bra You probably know this as "Taylor Swift's sports bra" but hear me out. I've test driven this thing and heck if it doesn't really work. For all my hypermobile bodies whose backs get so tired, or for wonky shoulders that have trouble staying in, or just for dancers who dance all day and teach all night and whose bodies are TIRED, this thing is really great. Most of my clients have just gotten the basic top and they wear it in rehearsal - while teaching - under clothes on days off - everywhere. Yes, super pricey, but hopefully there are holiday sales to help ease the sting. And it works SO WELL!! Tight and aching backs and necks will thank you.
Lucky Leo No list is ever complete without some new dancewear on it, and every time I see a client in the beautiful original prints from Lucky Leo, I have to pause to admire it. Made in Colorado with whimsical, unique prints, these leotards offer endless possibilities as there are so many ways to customize your perfect leotard! And how cute is that Frosty leo????
Cloud and Victory Speaking of whimsical leotards, Cloud and Victory never fails to make me smile. Well-made, ethically sourced, and another small business, Cloud and Victory proudly features a wider assortment than usual of sizes and uses a diverse group of dancers to model their amazing leotards. I love the stories the designs tell! Added bonus is the sense of humor - check out the tongue-in-cheek t-shirts and dance bags!
Visible Band If you're one of those dancers dealing with chronic illness (see Buoy, above) the Visible band may be a lifesaver. It tracks how much energy you expend, and helps you predict how much you have left for the day. For people who need to choose wisely how they spend their proverbial spoons, this band (and the free app) provides valuable feedback. And reminds you that you're exhausted for good reason, which may help you feel less guilty about falling in bed early some nights!
Online subscriptions are the gift that keeps on giving! Online platforms are a valuable resource for dancers, parents, teachers, and dance staff, and easily accessible anywhere. Some of my favorites:
The Library Aesthetic is a unique content platform dedicated to dancer well-being, inspiration, fitness, and health. The platform brings the knowledge of the world’s leading health practitioners, organizations, syllabus, brands, and coaches across diverse dance-related fields, to be a one-stop platform for dancers, teachers and all those passionate about dance. You can get an individual subscription, but the best value to me is the institutional subscription for studios, companies, clinics, college programs, and more! Buy one institutional subscription and you get access for all staff, dancers, parents, you get the picture.
The Dancer's Guide to Strength from Present Tense Fitness is a cross-training tool intended to help artists train like the athletes that we all know them to be. You'll find almost 50 video tutorials, a sample three-month workout program, and detailed explanation for they choose the exercises they do with the dancers they see in their studio. While not technically an online subscription, it's a purchase and download that equips the dancer to feel confident in pursuing strength training.
Pivot Dancer is a comprehensive platform for dancers and those who love to dance. Unlimited monthly live online classes, a full on-demand library, individual courses for dances and PTs, it's got something for everyone in the dance field! I love that there are so many options for classes, from time of day to length to focus of the session.
Dansebridge by Dance Ready Project is an online, self-paced cross-training program for dancers. A six-week program, it's not just videos - the program includes an individual assessment at the start, check-in calls, an online community, and more. Run by two dance PTs, it's a great program for getting dancers back after an injury or hiatus.
Moving on to my favorite category - books! Even if your dancer isn’t a big daily reader, some of these gorgeous dance books will bring huge happiness to their life. Trust me!
Dance Vision: Through the Eyes of Artists by Joshua Teal is breathtaking in scope. Featuring contributions from photographers from all over the world, "it is a wonderful compilation of contemporary photography, sculpture, illustration, and design accompanied by a short biography and interview with each of the featured artists; all in commemoration of dance and dancers’ bodies." (Jeff Slayton, LA Dance Chronicle)
Teal includes a brief bio and an eye-opening interview with each artist that provides a glimpse into their creative thoughts, methods and aspirations. More than simply a picture book, it's a glimpse into how the artists speak through their art.
Nourishing Dance: An Essential Guide on Nutrition, Body Image and Eating Disorders by Monika Saigal, MS, RDN, CEDS, CDN is written by a dance insider, a registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders (and I'm happy to say, a friend of mine!) This much-needed resource provides research-based, practical approaches to help dancers fuel optimally, nourish a peaceful relationship with food, and nurture more positive and resilient body image. Nourishing Dance provides essential information on nutrition, body image, and eating disorder prevention to help parents, teachers, staff, choreographers, leadership, athletic trainers, coaches, and healthcare professionals contribute to making the dance world a healthier and safer place for dancers.
by Anne Dunkin tells the story of twelve famous dancers – six women and six men – from different parts of the world. Spanning the seventeenth into the twenty-first centuries, each biographical sketch is placed within the subject’s historical and cultural context. Dancers include: Louis XIV, John Durang, Marie Taglioni, William Henry ‘Juba’ Lane, Anna Pavlova, Rudolf Laban, Doris Humphrey, Michio Ito, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Pearl Primus, Amalia Hernández, and Arthur Mitchell. Each chapter includes “Create a Dance” giving readers the opportunity to dance themselves based on each dancer’s style. For kids around 10 through adult, this book is a gem.
Dance Injuries: Reducing Risk and Maximizing Performance edited by Jeff Russell presents a holistic wellness model and in-depth coverage of how to reduce the risk of injury in dance and how to care for injuries properly when they do occur. Written by an international team of experts in the dance medicine and science field, including physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, researchers, and dance educators, Dance Injuries provides an overview of common dance injuries across a wide variety of dance styles. From their extensive work with dancers, the authors provide valuable insight into minimizing dance injuries to maximize dancer longevity. Dance Injuries is richly illustrated with nearly 200 full-color illustrations and 150 photos to help dancers connect with the essential information the book offers. Written by some of the best minds in the field (and people I'm again proud to call friends), this book should be on the shelf of every dancer and dance-adjacent expert.
So there you have it - my Wish List for 2024! Select something from this for the dancer in your life, and you’re guaranteed to see a happy face on a wintry morning!
What would you add? Please share your can't-live-withouts with me!
Disclosure 1: I have an affiliation with BlazePod because I believe in them very much. The link above will get you 20% off your purchase, and also gives me a small percentage.
Disclosure 2: I am a contributor for The Library Aesthetic
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