WHAT TO PACK FOR COMPETITIONS

The following list is provided here as a guideline to help you prepare for comp weekend. Not all items are required for every dancer so please don't feel like you need to go purchase every single item on this list. Read it over and see what might apply to you. If you're not sure, please ask us.

Pro tip: Include your dancer when packing for comp! Let them help make sure they have what they need so they can learn to be responsible for it in the future.

1.   All Costumes 

• Tights

• Shoes

• Earrings

• Hair pieces

• Accessories

• Body Liner/Undergarments (if needed)

• Props (if needed)

• EXTRA TIGHTS

2.   Warm ups & Clothing

• A complete change of clothes (don't forget underwear)

• Team Jacket

• Leotard or dance top/bottoms for improv/dance downs (if needed)

• Dance booties/Slide on shoes

3. Make Up

• All required team make up (eyeshadow, lipsense, earrings - see more info on the Hair and Make Up tab)

• Makeup remover/wipes

• QTips/cotton pads

• Eyelashes & glue (back ups, too) (if needed)

• Mirror

4. Hair

• Hairbrushes and comb

• Bobby pins and hair pins

• Hair ties that match dancers hair

• Hair nets and bun makers (if needed)

• Small clear elastics (if needed)

• Gel, mousse, hairspray, pomade

• Spray bottle for water

• Flat iron (if needed)

5. Toiletries

• Deodorant (clear/non showing) (if needed)

• Baby wipes (sooo useful)

• Feminine hygiene pads/tampons/etc (if needed)

• Braces to support any known/previous injuries (if needed)

6. First Aid (the studio brings all of these items for dancers to use but feel free to pack your own if you'd like to)

• KT tape in skin tone/Ace bandage 

• Instant ice packs

• Oral medicine (Tylenol, ibuprofen, pepto, allergy)

• Bandaids variety sizes in skin tone or clear

7. Miscellaneous

• Static guard spray

• Tide-to-go pen or shout wipes

• Travel Steamer

• Blanket & small pillow

• Wireless speaker

• Ear buds/headphones

• Travel phone charger

• Plastic grocery bags (wet clothes/garbage)

• Nail clippers, clear nail polish, nail polish remover

• Safety pins

• Sewing kit

• Scissors

• Zip ties

• Lint roller

• Sharpie

• Kleenex

8. Organization

• Pop up laundry basket

• Foldable hanging rack or Diva dolly case

• Hangers w/ pants clips

• Hanging clear pocket organizer (hanging bag)

• Clear page protector w/ list of your dancers routines in order.

• Small folding camping table

• Make up case

9. Snacks

• water!

• Small, quick, not messy, non staining snacks (think: dried fruit, nuts, pretzels, etc)

• Mints

COMPETITION SCHEDULES

Approximately 5-7 days prior to the competition weekend, the comp will send us a schedule so we know which day and time our pieces will perform on stage. Once the schedule is sent to us, we will post it to the hub and send it out via email.

Because the schedule isn't sent until a few days prior, it is often difficult to plan ahead for time-off of work and hotel room needs. We recommend planning to be at competition both Friday night and Saturday night of comp weekend and booking a room for both. When the schedule comes out, if your dancer doesn't need to be there until noon on Saturday (for example), then you can cancel the hotel room for Friday night. If you need help arranging plans, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

PLEASE KNOW - even though your dance is scheduled to perform at a certain time, comps can easily run ahead or behind schedule. Dancers should arrive at the venue AT LEAST 2 hours prior to their scheduled performance time, just in case. Please be flexible with timeframes and don't make other plans that require firm time schedules that weekend. 

Oftentimes, we plan to run through each dance together in the hallway prior to performing to make sure everything is fresh in the dancers minds. If you plan to leave the competition venue, please check with a GLDA Staff Member to make sure we won't be needing your dancer soon. Or better yet, leave them with us or another dance parent when you leave! 

THINGS TO KNOW THE DAY OF COMPETITION

• Please arrive at the venue at least 2 hours before performance time. Dancers should be dressed and 100% ready 1 hour before performance time. We always do a team warm up and run through choreography before performing.

• Dancers should wear their GLDA  jacket over their costume before and after performances and always during awards.

• No dads/brothers etc in girls dressing rooms. 

• Be careful of taking photos in dressing rooms. Dressing rooms are shared with other studios and will be crowded, please make the best of it and respect others and their belongings.

• Competitions do not allow photos or videos from the audience during performances. We could get disqualified if you are caught recording dance routines. You ARE allowed to take photos or videos during awards ceremonies.

• Pack non-messy snacks and water only. Make sure dancers wear their jacket over their costumes while eating.

• Be prepared for things to change and be flexible if they do. Just remember that if you are calm, your kids will be calm. All it takes is one person that is acting flustered and nervous to get the dancers all worried. If you are calm, the kids will have so much fun.

• Your dancer is anxious and nervous. This is a new experience for them and they’re feeling stress that they may never have felt before. That stress WILL come out of them somehow (being grumpy, throwing a fit while you’re trying to do their hair/makeup, lashing out about something that doesn’t matter). As a parent you need to be ready for it. And if you’re ready for it, you’ll be prepared to respond without lashing out and making it worse. Yes, they are children and need to behave. But they are also children who are learning how to navigate new emotions!! Teach them how feeling nervous is normal, and teach them how to combat it. Give them a break on hair and makeup, or let them call another family member to tell them how excited they are. Pack a calming item like a small toy, coloring books (no markers), cards or tablet.

• Please remember that your number one job for your dancers is to be their cheerleaders! Let us be their coaches and trust us to do our jobs. Once your dancer comes off the stage, love on them and tell them how fabulous they looked! Don’t point out something they may have missed or forgotten. Make them feel how proud you are of them.