There’s no set time of year to start taking a deeper look into your responsibilities and everyday habits, but a change of season is a great time to do just that. With fall finally starting to lower the temperature and change the color of the leaves, it might time for a refresh. Keep your life as crisp as that fresh fall air!
As a dancer, your habits are a little more specific than everyone else’s. When’s the last time you took the time to outline your schedule? How long has it been since you really dug down to the bottom of your dance bag? Grab all of your dance essentials and your planner because it’s time to give these things the attention they deserve!
We’ve put together a list of essential categories for you. All you need to do is dive in and start asking yourself these questions and make changes, clean up, do whatever you need to do to make sure that you’re always at your best.
Dance Bag
Your dance bag goes everywhere with you. Depending on the number of styles and classes that make up your #dancelife, your dance bag could be a massive duffel, or it could just be a backpack. Either way, it might be time for a deep clean. Take some time to take everything out, get organized, wash your bag (and everything in it!), and get ready to go to your next dance class clean and refreshed.
Questions to ask yourself:
- When is the last time you cleaned out your dance bag?
- What supplies need to be refreshed (Bandaids, deodorant, snacks, etc.)?
- Are you organized and ready for classes, casting calls, etc? (How long does it take you to find something in your dance bag?)
- Are there any things you could add (or remove) from your dance bag to make it a more efficient tool?
Dance Shoes
A dancer’s greatest tools are their feet! Part of taking care of your feet is taking good care of your dance shoes. Whether you’re lacing up tap shoes or slipping on turning socks, all of your footwear is important. Taking care of these might be as simple as washing them or as complicated as going out to find the perfect pair of pointe shoes to break in. Either way, having dance shoes that are as ready for class as you are will make a world of difference.
Questions to ask yourself:
- When is the last time you deep-cleaned your shoes (all of them!)?
- Do they all fit?
- Which shoes need to be repaired, replaced, etc.?
Food
Unless you’re meal prepping, you probably don’t know exactly what you’re going to eat far into the future, but you should pay attention to your “meal schedule.” When you have a busy schedule, as most dancers do, making sure that you are leaving time for important activities related to your health, like having well-rounded meals, is essential. Take a deep look at your schedule and think about how you can give yourself the most time to have rewarding meals. Fueling your body should always be a priority!
Questions to ask yourself:
- Are you giving yourself enough fuel to get through the day?
- Does your busy schedule include time for breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks?
Competitions
A successful competition season requires a lot of preparation. From team bonding to costume fittings and makeup to travel, there are a lot of things to keep up with. You might want to sit down and make a list of all the things you need to do before it’s time for you to hit the stage. You might even schedule out some of those tasks ahead of time.
Questions to ask yourself:
- Do you have your schedule somewhere easy to access?
- Do all of your costumes fit?
- Have you gotten the hang of all of those makeup looks?
- Do you feel confident about your routines?
Auditions/Professional Dance
No matter what your future plans are, making a habit of attending casting calls and auditions is wonderful. You gain experience, confidence in your understanding of the industry, and lots of useful feedback. The first step? Think about the kinds of casting calls you would want to attend. Are you interested in musical theater? Or are you focused on being on television? Look at casting calls in the areas of your interest and pay attention to patterns of what people want to see in potential performers.
Questions to ask yourself:
- How fresh are your headshots and resume?
- Do you have music (and sheet music!) prepared?
- When is the last time you went to a casting call? (Practice makes perfect!)
- What notes do you have from previous casting calls that you can put into action?
You know the drill, dancer. There’s always a lot to do! Before you dive into all of these categories, though, there’s one more thing to add to your list. Set a goal to be kind to yourself and others. Getting all of this done is a lot easier with a positive outlook.