Wearing the appropriate clothing and accessories when taking dance classes is important for more than one reason. They can help you learn to your best capacity, so make sure you get an idea of what are the dance basics beginners need. When it comes to specifics, every studio may differ, so you can check with your teacher before you start the classes to determine what exactly you need to begin with.
But when you’re about to get ready for your first dance competition, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. If you’re constantly feeling like you’re going to forget something, the most important thing you need is your costume. You need to make sure you have the costume and the accessories that go with it together in the same place. To achieve this, you’ll need a garment carrier and a great costume organisation.
If you ask any experienced dancer, they’ll probably tell you that having a costume bag can make things much easier, especially when preparing for competitions. Competitions always bring stress and tension to a dancer’s life, so one must look for ways to calm down and feel confident.
Why a Good Costume Organisation Matters?
When transporting costumes, every dancer needs to keep everything together, keep the costumes safely covered and ensure they don’t get wrinkled. Garment bags are a great solution that can help you make moving costumes between your home, the dance studio, competitions and recital halls easy and convenient.
They are sturdy bags designed to keep your costumes organised. Most of them come with small pockets where you can keep any jewellery or hairpieces that go with your dance. They help you cover and protect your costume in transit, so you should choose a garment carrier that will keep your costume looking great and ready to wear.
Quick changes in the dressing room are an inevitable part of dance competitions. Labelling your garments is a simple and effective way to put the most important info you need in a visible spot on every garment bag you’re carrying or choose a clear, see-through one, which is perfect for packing up after a performance.
If you’re a ballet dancer who has to cart her tutu to and from recitals and competitions, you may opt for tutu bags. They’re specially made bags to help you carry your tutu around and keep it clean and protected all the time.
So, having the right organising tools is essential to eliminating delays and confusion in the dressing room before a dance class or a competition. It will help you focus only on the most important part of your dance journey – always learn more and perform your best.
Tips on How to Keep Your Dancewear in a Good Shape
Whether practising or performing, you have made a significant investment in your dancewear, so it makes sense that you would like to protect and store it the right way. But before putting your dance apparel in a costume bag, make sure you took proper care of it as learning how to clean them can help you save money in the long run.
Dance Costumes
Most dance costumes can be washed by hand in cold water using mild detergent. However, it’s important to read the cleaning direction carefully and follow them as instructed. After washing it, you can roll your costume in a towel to remove excess moisture and dry flat or hang it to air dry. Placing it in direct sunlight is not recommendable as it could cause fading. If your costume is made of sating, leather, velvet or chiffon, then it’s best to use a professional dry-cleaning service.
Dance Shoes
The most important thing to consider before cleaning your dance shoes is the material they’re made from. If they have suede soles, you can clean them with a suede brush after every wearing. Canvas shoes, on the other hand, can be placed in a mesh bag and washed in cool water on a gentle cycle, while for leather shoes you’ll have to use a leather cleaner to keep them looking good as new.
Tutus
Tutus are significant garments for ballet dancers and the biggest challenge when washing a tutu is to prevent crushing. If the tutu has a metal hoop, it should be removed before washing and if there’s added trim it should be removed as well, to prevent fading.
Leotards
Leotards are usually made from high-performance materials and need special care to maintain their stretch and structure. You can wash most of them by hand or on a gentle cycle, using a gentle detergent. Make sure to use cold or warm water, but never hot. Fabric softeners can build-up on the fibres and make your leotards less breathable, so you may want to avoid using any. Also, avoid drying them in a dryer, instead, hang your leotards in direct sunlight or near a heat source.
Tights and Leggings
Tights and leggings should be hand washed in cool water using a gentle detergent. If you need to wash them in a washing machine, then make sure to place them in a mesh bag and then add them to the washer. Use a gentle cycle and once the washing’s done, air dry them away from direct heat.
