Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Competition Dance Bag Must Haves
39
items As the mom of a competitive dancer, I need to be prepared for everything at a competition! Here's what goes in our bag.
Sections
4
Bags + Accessories
Hair + Make Up
Must Haves
In Case of Emergency
Bags + Accessories
These things should help make your life significantly easier.
This is the best bag I have found. I love the size, the sturdiness (honestly, this is a bag that will last 10+ years) and their customer service. If something DOES break, they have repair options so you don't have to get a whole new bag.
Black Dream Duffel® - Large
I wear this proudly at every competition. I stock it with extras of everything, safety pins, bobby pins, mini hair spray, sewing supplies, etc.
Zodaca Black Oversized Fanny Pack, Crossbody Bag with Adjustable Belt Straps Fits 42-54 Inch Waist
Some people prefer the plastic garment bags, but I like these best. The plastic ones stink to me! It's perfect because I can see the costume, but it also has pockets to put all the shoes and accessories in.
Kernorv 43" Dance Costume Bags, 3 Pack
All those little bits and bobs that you need to bring with can easily get swallowed by your giant bag. I like to use an organizer like this to keep all the little things neat and easy to find.
Freegrace Hanging Jewelry Organizer - 50 Pockets
Hair + Make Up
Such a huge part of competition, make sure you're well stocked!
Depending on your studio, you may have hair changes. But even if you don't, you never know when something like this will come in handy.
BEACHWAVER Co. Curling Wand - Pink Sunset - 1.25"
Beyond hair changes, a good straightening iron with a low setting can also be used for last minute wrinkles if you don't have a steamer. Just be aware of the fabric as some are plastic and will melt!
CHI Digital Flat Iron - Rose Gold - 1.25"
We always keep a good amount of hair ties in our bag. You never know when one will break or get lost.
scünci No Damage Elastic Hair Ties - Browns - All Hair - 20pcs
These little guys come in handy over and over. My daughter has thinner hair so I actually use them in securing her bun form.
scünci Polyband Elastic Hair Ties - Clear - 500pk
Great for hair changes.
UNbrush Mini Detangling Hair Brush
This is perfect for smoothing hair into a pony or bun to help with fly aways.
Cantu Narrow Wood Updo Bristle Hair Brush - 1ct
If you're changing parts, the point at the end will be a must have to make it straight.
Conair Volume, Lift, and Separate Fine-Tooth Tail Combs - Black/Teal - 2pk
Ok, I KNOW this seems weird, but it's a dancer's trick! KY is the ultimate hair gel. It is a beast at keeping fly aways slicked back, but it's water based so if you have a hair change you can brush through it and it won't be all flaky like wax sticks...
K-Y Jelly No Fragrance Added Water-Based Personal Lube - 2oz
We prefer this hair spray. It's just the right amount of hold to keep things in place without getting crunchy or leaving flakes when we do changes.
Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Hairspray - 8.25oz
This is the case we have for all the make up. It easily fits everything and is easy to pack.
Relavel Travel Makeup Train Case - Black
If you're doing make up at the comp, you're probably doing it in a classroom or gym where there are no mirrors. This is very helpful for kids who are doing it themselves.
FUNTOUCH Rechargeable LED Travel Makeup Mirror
I cannot stress this enough, get good make up brushes!
EcoTools Luxe Eye Makeup Brush Kit, 6 Piece
We love eco tools brushes because they are soft, but still tough enough to give good coverage.
EcoTools 6-Piece Makeup Brush Set with Case
My daughter wants to get her make up off ASAP after performing. We like to use these cloths because they just need water to remove even tough dance make up. That means one less thing to worry about spilling but is still super easy to keep well stocke...
ERADE YOUR FACE Makeup Remover Cloths - 4 Ct
These are great for all kinds of touch ups. You can even use them with hair product to make sure the little wispies are all well taken care of.
300 Disposable Mascara Wands Eyelash Brushes
These hair pins are superior to anything else you'll find. Their grip is amazing and we don't end up with bent pins like we do with a lot of the cheap ones.
MetaGrip Premium Bronze Hair Pins - 175 Count
Definitely grab a pack of these to stick in your bag. Nothing worse than messing up just a tiny dot of make up and then having to redo a huge section in order to fix it. These allow you to do precise touch ups.
200PCS Precision Tip Cotton Swabs - 4 inch
Hair nets are an essential! Just make sure you get the right color.
Fandamei 20PCS Hair Nets & 40PCS Hair Pins Set
Even if your kiddo isn't doing ballet, they will likely end up in a bun form at one time or another. Just make sure you get the right hair color.
Teenitor Donut Hair Bun Maker Set - 7 Rings
Must Haves
These come with us to every comp!
ALWAYS have at least one pair of back up tights per dance.
Capezio Women's Ultra Soft Transition Tight
Seems like an odd choice, but we have needed paper towels at almost every comp. Whether it's a water or coffee spill or wet shoes from the weather, we're always glad to have them in the bag.
Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels - 1 Triple Roll
My favorite tumbler! It's an affordable price for a 40oz (about $10 cheaper than a stanley) and has a straw option which is key. We always use straw mugs at comps to reduce the risk of smudging make up or spilling water on costumes.
Roadtrip Tumbler 40 oz - Starry Night
This is one of my favorite things to have in the bag! When your dancer comes off stage, toss all their accessories and shoes in the bin and go through it to reset after the comp is over. It will save so much time and stress.
Sterilite 15qt Clear View Storage Bin with Latch Purple
We use these to store all the earrings and keep them organized.
Juvale 3 Pack Bead Storage Organizer Box with 36 Grids and Removable Dividers - Plastic Container Tray for Craft and Jewelry
Great for accessories and other bits to keep them separate in the bag.
Bins & Things Multi-Compartment Craft Storage Organizer Box with Dividers, Blue
Great for getting any lint off those costumes before going on stage.
Scotch-Brite Lint Roller Value Pack - 140 Sheets
There is basically no privacy in the dressing rooms. These are the covers that my daughter prefers at the moment. They are good for about 3 uses each and won't show even under skin tight costumes.
Hollywood Fashion Secrets No-Show Concealers
If you're child is starting to develop, these are a step up from the petals. Just make sure they are applied well so the edges don't show.
Hollywood Fashion Secrets Silicone Coverups
We always pack a thin blanket. We put our duffle on it and then use it to mark the space in front of it. This allows us to have dedicated space to set out accessories and shoes for quick changes.
Bedsure 100% Cotton Waffle Throw Blanket
In Case of Emergency
We use all of these more than I'd like…
e600 dries pretty quickly and is a great all purpose glue for just about anything from rhinestones to earrings!
1.0 fl oz Glue with Precision Tips Clear - E6000: Water-Resistant Craft Adhesive, Dries Clear, Ideal for Shoes & Art Projects
We've had to use this more than I'd like. Mostly for lipstick stains, but we also had a girl get a bloody nose on a white shirt right before a performance. The Tide To Go pen took it right out!
Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Pen - 0.33 fl oz
If you notice a run in tights starting to happen and you don't have a spare, a quick dab or clear polish will help prevent it from spreading.
essie Speed Setter Top Coat - quick-dry - 0.46 fl oz
Another item that I've had to use more than I'd like. It's amazing the amount of things that can happen. Usually, it's from bloody toes or a scraped knee.
Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit - 80ct
ALWAYS carry a sewing kit! Last year I was resewing a button that fell off as we were walking towards the stage. I was grateful to have everything I needed in easy reach.
JUNING Portable Sewing Kit with Case
A good supply of safety pins is essential. Pin those zippers to prevent them slipping or maybe pin a belt together so it doesn't come undone or it could be pinning pants to a leotard so they stay uniformly in place. Last year, we had a zipper complet...
Fiskars 75pc Craft and Quilting Safety Pins: Steel Silver Sewing Needles for Quilting & Multipurpose Use