8 Dancesport Competition Must Have Items You Should Never Leave Home Without

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Has it ever happened to you? There you are, at the competition, and wishing you had had the foresight to bring that one magic item? The one thing that is not on any “essentials” list, yet it seems pretty essential right at that moment? Well, after decades of travelling the world and competing, we’ve compiled our own list of dancesport competition must have items we wish we’d never left home without. It would’ve been nice for someone to tells us these ahead of time! But… that’s precisely what we’re doing for you.

If you want to get more tips and advice from the weathered competitors behind SK Dancesport, make sure to subscribe to our email list, to the right, and take the next step in upping your #dancerslifestyle game! Without further ado, here is our list of the 8 dancesport competition must have items we can’t compete without!

1. A Handheld Mirror

This is a must! I’m not talking about a tiny compact mirror. I’m talking about the type of handheld mirror they give you at the barber shop so they can show you the back of your hair. Sometimes the lighting in hotel bathrooms is so bad, it makes more sense to curl up next to a lamp with your handheld mirror and do your makeup there. Other times, it would be impossible for boys to perfectly smoothen out their hair without seeing it from the back. And of course, taking that handheld mirror to the ballroom with you for makeup touch ups and to make tying one’s bowtie easier is unmistakable. Whatever your reasons, spend the extra $7 and buy yourself a handheld mirror. Or, get one on Amazon by clicking on the picture!

2. Face Wipes

Face wipes are a lifesaver. The best use for them is cleaning up fallout from that dusty black eyeshadow while doing your makeup, but the uses are so much more varied! Boys like to keep face wipes around in order to clean off the collars of their shirts from makeup buildup. They’re a great way to quickly clean gunked-up tanning cream from between your fingers. And girls, they work great to slowly wipe away all of that strong eyeshadow before attacking the rest of your makeup. This is a definite one out of my list of competition must have items. I recommend the ones in the picture above!

3. Elmer’s Glue

Ever wonder how we glue those rhinestones into our hair? Elmer’s glue, of course! That glue from your school days can also be used for smoothing down difficult flyaways. And the best part about Elmer’s Glue is that it’s water soluble, which means it comes out in the shower. Click on the picture above to get your own little tube of glue. 

4. Castor Oil

Whatever you do, just don’t drink it! Unless, of course, you’re massively constipated. But seriously, don’t drink it. Castor Oil has three main functions in the world of ballroom dancing. First, applying Castor Oil to the bottoms of your suede-soled shoes helps maintain the vitality of your soles, while simultaneously making your shoes sticky. If you happen to be a Rhythm or Latin dancer, this is a far better way of giving your shoes some grip instead of stepping in water. Just coat your shoes with oil the night before so the oil has a chance to sink in, then give them a good brush before the comp.

Furthermore, castor oil is a wonderful trick for removing makeup. Smear a bit of castor oil on your eyes and use that face wipe to take all of that makeup right off. The third benefit of castor oil is its healing properties for hair, skin and nails. It’s a natural emulsifier that will help keep your hands and eyelashes moisturized. A word to the wise, though: keep that bottle of castor oil in its own, dedicated plastic baggie. Otherwise that oil goes everywhere! Out of my list of competition must have items, castor oil probably has the most uses. Click on the picture above to order a bottle for yourself!

5. Vaseline

Like castor oil, Vaseline has a myriad of uses. Male dancers like to rub a bit of Vaseline on the inside edges of their patent leather shoes in order to prevent their shoes from sticking while dancing. If you happen to be a competitor who suffers from dry teeth, resulting in your lips sticking to your teeth when you smile during competition, rub a bit of Vaseline on your teeth and that should keep that issue from happening. Don’t laugh, it’s a thing! And lastly, Vaseline works amazingly on chapped lips. Get a little travel tub of Vaseline by clicking on the picture above.

6. A Ball: Golf, Tennis, or Spiky!

All of that dancing can result in sore, aching muscles in the feet, legs, back and neck. Keeping a golf ball or a tennis ball in your bag doesn’t take up a lot of weight or space, but it can work wonders in alleviating knotted muscles or working out balled up tension in the feet that can lead to Morton’s Neuroma. Stick it under your arch and roll those babies out! Trust me, you’ll thank me.

7. A Scarf

Believe me, those ballrooms get cold. Keep a scarf around to wrap around your neck or lower back when you’re sitting in between rounds waiting for your next heat. It will help combat stiff neck and back muscles.

8. Flip-Flop Sandals or Slippers

The last thing you want to do when you’re done competing is put on a pair of tight, uncomfortable shoes. Especially when your feet are throbbing. We always keep around a pair or flip-flop sandals or slippers to wear to and from the ballroom. We also slip them on in between rounds, in order to give our feet a rest. You don’t need to thank me. Your feet will do it for you.

Have You Tried Any of These Dancesport Competition Must Have Items?

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve tried any of these yourself. Even better, what would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments section below!

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