Dancer Gifting! - by - Sadie Wilder
 Follow Sadie Wilder on Instagram @tinydancersadie
Photo- Stacey Ketchman Photography
Everyone appreciates receiving a thoughtful gift. But, what do you buy for dancers?
I’ve been dancing for 5 years. I’m currently a 2nd year student in my Dance Studio’s Intensive Study Program and 1st year student on the competition team. My mom and I enjoy giving to others; especially my dance friends. It brings us great joy to put a smile on someone’s face with an unexpected gift.
Special occasions that I have given my dance friends a gift are at recital, the first competition of the season and at Christmas. My mom and I have narrowed it down to what we feel works in regards to gift giving to dancers or friends. We need to know some key information about my friends such as: what’s their favorite color, do they have food restrictions or allergies, what are their initials (first, middle and last name), what size they wear in clothing and shoes, and where do they like to shop. Knowing this information about my friends has helped me gather some of the most thoughtful and personalized gifts for them.
I think buying accessories for dancers is a great idea. Accessories can include personalized water bottles, a personalized compartmentalized snack container, a personalized cape or button down shirt to protect your costumes during makeup and hair changes, personalized iPod or phone covers, personalized big dance sister and little dance sister shirts, personalized makeup case, and I also love giving personalized clothing and shoe stickers from Mabel’s Labels to help my friends easily identify their items.
If you do not have time to personalize, that’s okay! I have some other great ideas that incorporate their favorite colors, favorite places to shop and food that fuel them before any performance.
Some of my favorite “go to” gifts that are not necessarily personalized are filling a bucket, basket or bag with favorite things such as: snacks (be sure to know if your friends have allergies), hair elastics, nail polish, bath bombs, scented lotions, stuffed animals, pillows and blankets make great items to rest your head on during long dancing days, lip balm, makeup cases, loofahs, hand sanitizers, candies, sunglasses, flip flops and a beach towel, a set of fun colored pens and a journal, a framed photo of you and the friend you buying a gift for, or a couple $5 gift cards to their favorite places make a great “gift card bouquet”.
Gift giving brings me great joy! I hope that this gift giving guide has been helpful to you in finding the perfect gift for your dance friends.
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