A Dancer's Wish List 2025

Here we are again, on the cusp of mid-winter madness. 

I mean, the holidays!

We’re all feeling the pressure these days: our budgets are squeezed, our time feels precious, and the days certainly feel shorter. And while we want to celebrate our respective holidays, we don’t just have the time/energy/money to make all the things happen.

So in my annual effort to shave a little worry off the top of your Ginger Bread House O' Stress, I’ve compiled my list of items a dancer really, truly, deeply wants to receive this holiday season. If you’re a dancer, send this list to a loved one and rest assured your holiday stocking will be filled with something you truly desire.

And if you’re a dancer’s loved one, stick to the list, and I promise you, the smiles and joy will follow. And on a side note, I have no affiliates with any of these products and make no money off of the recommendations. I just love them!

I’ve had so many requests that I can’t NOT talk about Gus - IYKYK. Many dancers struggle with anxiety but don’t have room for a weighted blanket. That’s where someone like Gus the Wonder Sloth comes in. Gus is a weighted stuffed animal made by Hugimals, and they’ve got a very cool range of animals if sloths aren’t your thing (I also think the Koala is eminently huggable, plus also they now have a RED FOX AND I’M DYING). I love that not just the bodies, but the arms and legs, are weighted, giving a unique amount of feedback. I use Gus for sessions as a prop, proprioceptive feedback, and more. My dancers use him as a friend, confidante, and fellow struggler during sessions. I guarantee, you need one of these! AND Hugimals is giving you ten percent off your purchase (excluding Hug Babies and Hugcessories) with code DANCE10. (Love the Chorus Line reference there)

 Still in the sensory AND travel category, I’m in love with this leisure set by Rhone. A dance mom turned me on to them and they are so comfy yet also stylish! Perfect for a day of travel, or a theatre day, or really just any day. Ridiculously soft and comfy.

Travel is, as always a big concern, whether it’s for an audition, a summer stay, or part of a tour. Here are a few travel-related goodies sure to help smooth out the bumpy wheels of life on the road:

 First up, the travel card charger. It’s about the size of a credit card, and yes, I know there are chargers and outlets everywhere now, but sometimes you’ve been filming in a studio for hours and your battery is low and the angle you need isn’t anywhere near an outlet and . . . you get the picture. Very reasonably priced and comes in a variety of colors (I love the red one, but the yellow is also cool) so there’s a match for every dancer.

This little speaker packs a decent punch and takes up an itty bit of space. I love this for clipping on a belt while hiking, using to rehearse a variation in a hallway in a pinch, and even singing in the shower (it’s waterproof!) Throw it on by the hotel pool after a show, and you’ve got a chance to blow off a little steam. And again, comes in a variety of colors!

 And as far as travel goes, consider putting together a travel-size set of whatever they love to do that ISN’T dance. Perhaps a little crochet kit. A couple puzzle books.A small set of measuring cups for cooking.  A subscription to the New York Times’ puzzle app. Do they like to paint? This little travel watercolor paint set takes barely any space and is incredibly easy to use. The important thing is to nurture that side of them that doesn’t involve dance.

 My friend The Brainy Ballerina recently found this keychain dongle holder and it’s so helpful! A great stocking stuffer for the dancer who works in multiple studio spaces and can never keep up with her dongle adaptor. I know it seems like a small thing, but it will be a lifesaver!

 Speaking of the Brainy Ballerina, I really love this digital workbook she’s put together: The Intentional Career Handbook for Dancers. Easy to buy online and download to work through anywhere, this handbook is really helpful when you’re trying to figure out what you really want out of a career - and how best to get what you want. For the Bodies In:Motion community, she’s offering you 15% off with code. Easy to gift from far away, and super helpful in navigating a career without clear  guidelines for advancement!

In the practical-but-powerful category, one of my dancers currently touring with Chicago said her whole dressing room swears by this makeup remover after a show!

And for post-show, pre-show, or any time you need to do a little maintenance, I still LOVE the Hypervolt Go 2 massage gun. It’s lightweight but still has multiple heads, easy to charge, and perfect for working out the knots. Best part? Be sure to add the heated head, sold separately but attaching to any Hyperice massage tool. It sounds frivolous but IT IS NOT. I am a convert for sure.

And a final item in my self-care section, the Warmies neck wrap. I love that it’s so soft, and filled with lavender for a calming scent, and easy to microwave. At the end of a long day at the studio, throw it in the microwave before you drive home and place it at your lower back for the drive. Or under your thighs. Or across your neck. You get the picture! Portable recovery and sooo soft.

And last but not least, no wish list of mine is complete without BOOKS!

 Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster is a wonderful part memoir, part crafting how-to. Giving us glimpses into her life, she also reveals how having something OTHER than performing helps keep her human. Sound familiar?

For all you Pilates practitioners out there, Pilates and Conditioning for Dancers by Royal Ballet’s Pilates instructor Jane Paris is a goldmine. Packed with instructions and pictures and advice, the book is helpful for anyone in Pilates. And yes, that is Nela on the cover of the book.

 And finally, for our younger dancers, consider dance diva Debbie Allen’s book Dancing in the Wings. Based on her own experiences as a child, the book looks at a dancer craving the spotlight - but not at the expense of dimming herself.

That rounds out my list for this year! I’m always eager to hear from you, though, about your hidden gems and new finds. What would you add to this list?