The thought of my daughter going away to a summer intensive program is scary. I need months of mental preparation and just when I am ok with the thought of sending her away, then the practical awareness kicks in and keeps me awake at night. How do we prepare? What does she need to pack? What are the requirements? What do I need to buy? These are only some of the questions running through my head.
So I decided to share with you 8 crucial things I came up with that helped me kick off summer intensive packing plans, and ultimately getting some zzz.
A great travelling bag is a must! Even though my initial thought was one bag would be plenty, I could not resist getting both of these amazing Vera Bradley luggage bags. One is bigger, and it has an amazing shoe portion, the other fits in an overhead. So if her luggage gets lost on an airplane at least she will have her smaller bag with her. (Scroll to the bottom for Picture)
Shoes galore! Apparently during the summer classes are not only intense but long also, which means shoes will wear off faster. According to a recent Instagram poll, 52% (24 responses) of dancers said they bring 3 pairs of pointe shoes to their summer program, the rest said 2. A couple of dancers indicated that they buy a 4th pair while at the program. So this means a stock up on pointe shoes is a must. As for flat shoes, I decided that 2 pairs will have to do. Also keep in mind that most schools have jazz classes so at least one pair of jazz shoes will be required.
Stitch Kit! You cannot forget a stitch kit! Ribbons will fray, because if your dancer is anything like mine, procrastination and stitching in a hurry is their motto. Staying true to their motto will also cause elastics to pop off, so having a stitch kit or two is best to keep you sane.
Leos! Most programs require black leos, so one for each day is what I initially thought. This is easy for a one-week program, or maybe even two (if you have a mild addiction to leos like me), but for a program longer than two weeks this is an overkill. That is when you have a talk with your dancer about hand washing leos after classes.
Tights! I have a confession…I loathe dirty tights maybe even more than ripped tights. That stain is all I see, so I think it takes away from how hard a dancer is working. Clearly accidents happen, but I always tell my daughters to have an extra pair in their bag just in case. I think tights are like leotards, if you can afford one for each day, go for it! Otherwise, a bit of soap in the sink isn’t going to kill anyone.
Bobby Pins! If your house is like mine and you look around it hard enough, you will find bobby pins everywhere and be set for any length of a summer intensive program! I see bobby pins everywhere and it drives me crazy. I see them in my car! I feel them on my feet as I get out of the shower! I find them in every drawer in the house; yes, that includes the utensils drawer! I find them in my car! I find them in my mom’s car! I find them in my husband’s car! I find them under my pillow…anyway you get the point! I challenge my kids to organize their hair stuff and tell them whoever finds the most bobby pins around the house, gets to pick a movie for our movie night! I also have stashes of bobby pins that nobody knows about, because the day when I cannot find a single one is upon me!
A Ballet Journal! Summer Intensive is a great experience especially when meeting new friends and teachers. Dancers can and should learn a lot in a new class, just by trying to adapt to the new style of teaching. Some dancers get nervous about the new feel of the class with everything altered around them. Seeing other dancer’s abilities and work ethic can be intimidating so having a journal is a great way to keep track of corrections, compliments, names and anything else that would help with having an enjoyable experience. I always say to my girls, wherever you go (competitions, auditions, summer intensives, clubs, birthday parties) make sure to meet at least one new person and write at least one thing you learn each day. This helps always have an open mind
First Aid Kit! I left this as the last one on the list, not because it is least important, but quite the opposite. This is the most important thing for your dancer! All balletparents know their amazing dancers and their needs. So, plan on having enough band aids, toe tape, gauze, alcohol wipes, icy hot packets, pain and allergy relief medicine, scissors blunt ended, safety pins, Neosporin, tampons and sanitary pads, Kinesio Tape, tweezers, nail clipper. This is a good enough start for me. Feel free to customize to your dancer's needs.
Comment below if you would like to see our FULL SI checklist or if you have one please feel free to share!
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