A good dance class bag should first contain your dance shoes in a shoe bag, a suitable outfit, water, a small towel, and blister treatment. The rest depends on the style of dance and the occasion: a weekly class doesn't require the same bag as a weekend workshop or a social dance night. Here is a checklist you can adapt, with the most common things people forget.
The essentials, whatever your dance
- Your dance shoes, stored in a fabric shoe bag or a breathable shoe bag. They should never be used to walk to the studio.
- An outfit you can move freely in, and a spare top if you sweat a lot.
- A water bottle. Dance studios are often warm, and you drink less than you think during a class.
- A small towel for your face and neck.
- A hair tie and hair clips.
- Clean socks for the journey home, especially if you dance barefoot or in dance shoes.
If you take public transport, arrive in street clothes and change there. You'll protect your shoes, and you won't feel cold when you leave in a wet t-shirt.
The foot care kit, the one you always forget
An improperly treated blister can ruin several weeks of classes. A small pouch is enough:
- special blister plasters (hydrocolloid type) and a few regular plasters;
- protective tape to protect an area that is rubbing before a blister forms;
- a small nail file: a nail catching in a half-pointe shoe or a heel can quickly become painful;
- a few dressings and a small antiseptic;
- for high heels, ball-of-foot pads if you already use them.
Good habits to avoid friction are detailed in our guide to avoiding blisters when starting dance.
What to add depending on your dance
| Discipline | To add to your bag |
|---|---|
| Classical dance | Half-pointe or pointe shoes, spare tights, bun kit (pins, net, hairspray), thread and needle for elastic |
| Ballroom and Latin dance | Brass brush for suede soles, heel protectors if the floor is delicate, lower second pair |
| Salsa, bachata, kizomba | Spare top, deodorant, small fan for hot nights |
| Tango | Milonga shoes in their shoe bag, small comfortable pair for the journey home |
| Modern jazz, hip-hop | Clean dance sneakers reserved for the studio, knee pads for floor work |
| Tap shoes | Small screwdriver to tighten the screws on the taps |
The case of the suede sole
If your shoes have suede soles (ballroom, Latin, salsa, tango), the brass brush belongs in your bag. Two or three passes before class will restore grip to a sole that has become smooth. The technique is explained in our guide to the brass brush for suede soles.
Drinking and eating around class
For a one-hour class, water is usually enough. For a two-hour class, a workshop, or a social dance night, plan a snack that is easy to eat and won't leave your fingers sticky: a banana, a drinkable compote, a handful of dried fruit, or a cereal bar.
Avoid anything that melts in a warm bag (chocolate) or leaves your hands greasy, as you will be holding a partner's hand right after. Eat before or after class instead of during.
For a social dance night or a workshop
- A second pair: a lower pair for the end of the night, or a spare pair if a strap breaks.
- Two or three spare tops for salsa or kizomba, where you dance one after another.
- A charger or a power bank for your phone, useful if you are filming a demonstration with the teacher's permission.
- A plastic bag or a waterproof pouch to keep wet clothes separate.
- A sweater or jacket for leaving: the body cools down quickly after exercise.
For a workshop far from home, our guide to traveling with your dance shoes explains how to transport them without damaging them.
How to pack your bag properly to protect your shoes
- Separate the shoes from the rest: sole dust dirties clothes, and damp clothes damage leather.
- Do not leave the pair in the closed bag after class. Take it out when you get home so it can air dry, away from a radiator.
- Place the shoes with heels at the bottom of the bag, heels down, to prevent them from piercing or marking the rest.
- Empty and air out the bag every week: sweat accumulates in it faster than you think.
Which bag to choose
A medium-sized sports bag is enough for a weekly class. Useful details: a separate compartment for shoes, ideally ventilated, an inside pocket for the foot care kit, and a material that is easy to clean. For dancers who carry several pairs or a competition outfit, a larger bag with a garment bag becomes more practical.
Missing your basic pair? Depending on your dance, see our dance half-pointe shoes, our salsa shoes, or our dance sneakers. Delivery is free from €50 when purchased in metropolitan France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
What should I put in my bag for my first dance class?
A comfortable outfit, water, a small towel, a hair tie, and clean shoes reserved for the studio. If you don't have dance shoes yet, ask the teacher what is allowed for the trial class. Add a few plasters, just in case.
Should I come to class wearing my dance shoes?
No. Suede or leather soles wear out very quickly outside, and they bring dust and gravel onto the dance floor. Carry your shoes in a shoe bag and put them on there.
How to prevent dance shoes from smelling bad in the bag?
Take them out of the bag as soon as you get back and let them air dry, away from a heat source. A fabric shoe bag breathes better than a plastic bag. Wash or air out the bag itself regularly, where moisture accumulates.
Should I bring a second pair of shoes?
For a one-hour class, it is not necessary. For a social dance night, a workshop, or a competition, a lower or spare second pair is useful if a strap breaks or if your feet get tired.