Pack Like a Pro: Essential Items for Your Summer Dance Intensive
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Are you headed off to a summer intensive this year? Staying in the dorms or away from home for the first time?
It's such an exciting leap, but before you head out, a ton of prep work goes in behind the scenes to ensure a seamless transition.
One question many dancers struggle with is: "What should I pack?".
The answer to this question will largely depend on whether you're staying with a host family or in the dorms. Your intensive should provide a packing list for all of your dancewear and other essentials specific to that site. They'll also probably include some things NOT to pack (like candles or a toaster).
It will also depend on whether you are driving or flying. Especially if you are flying, there are some things you will need to wait to get until you arrive (such as liquids or any larger items). If you are driving, you have a little more flexibility!
It’s a good idea to check in with your roommate (if you have one) and coordinate on any larger items. For instance, one person can bring a mini fridge and another a microwave (if these are items you’re allowed to have!).
One thing I always recommend? Pack more pointe shoes than you think you'll need. The sheer volume of dancing you're doing combined with the humidity of summer guarantees you'll be flying through shoes more than usual.
Keep reading for my recommendations to make dorm living a little smoother!
Laundry Essentials
For many dancers, a summer intensive is the first time they are tasked with doing their own laundry! Don’t go in blind - get with your parents or an older sibling and learn the ropes ahead of time!
✨ A collapsible laundry hamper. It folds up for travel, keeps all your dirty leotards contained, and is easy to carry to the laundromat.
✨ Power sheets laundry detergent. They are much more compact than a huge bottle of laundry detergent. Easy to transport and less waste at the end of your intensive.
✨ I also swear by Tide Sink laundry packs. Perfect for washing a few pairs of tights or leotards in your sink in between your big trips to the laundromat.
✨A drying rack is also great to have on hand, especially since many of us hang dry our tights and leos. Of course, you can always hang them around the room on your furniture (that’s what I did!), but if you have space, this is much nicer.
Shower Essentials
Most summer intensives have a communal shower area - a shared space that everyone on the same floor uses to shower.
✨ Your feet are one of your most precious assets as a dancer - bring shower shoes to protect yourself from germs or bacteria.
✨ This collapsible shower caddy is perfect for holding all your shower essentials and easily folds up to stick in your suitcase.
✨ A robe is a good idea to throw on after your shower so you don’t have to worry about getting dressed in the community area while people are waiting or trekking around in your towel.
Recovery Essentials
Summer intensives are just that - intense. Now more than ever is the time to invest in some quality recovery tools to keep you dancing at peak performance.
✨ A collapsible foot bath is going to come in clutch. Your tootsies will be dying for an Epsom salt bath after long days in the studio and most dorms don't have bathtubs.
✨ Your massage tool of choice! Whether it’s a lacrosse ball, a foot roller, or a full massage ball set, have something on hand to roll out tight muscles.
✨ I swear by my massage gun. I have a history of tight calves (leading to injury), & this tool single-handedly prolonged my career.
Dorm Essentials
✨ You never know what the temp will be like in the dorms - I recommend throwing in both a small fan AND an extra blanket so you can be comfortable no matter what.
✨ Slippers are a must-have for common areas - trust me on this!
✨ A deck of cards is great to have on hand for downtime at the dorms.
✨ You’ll have a lot to process in a short period at an intensive - make the most of your investment by writing everything down in a journal at the end of the day (or between classes!)
✨ A first aid kit will definitely make you friends in the dorms!
These are a few of my key recommendations based on years of summer-intensive experiences as both a dancer and an RA. If you’re looking for even more of my favs, I've compiled all my recs here!
Here’s to an amazing summer of growth dancer!
Meet the Author
Caitlin Sloan is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.
She danced professionally for nine years with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet (now Mareck Dance). Caitlin has taught at schools all over the Midwest, most notably serving as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Youth Company Director for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet.
Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Follow @thebrainyballerina on Instagram for your daily dose of dance career guidance and inspiration.
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