Home
General
Feis
Practice
      Tips
      Dance Bag
      Drills
      Stretches
      Routine
      Injuries
      Motivation
Fun

There are few things more annoying than being hot and tired at class, reaching for your water bottle, and realizing it's not there. I hate that. You probably do too. So, here is a list of things you need in your dance bag to avoid moments like that.

Shoes I know, this seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it's easy to overlook the obvious.

Blister protection See my Practice Tips section for more on this.

Water Buy a big bottle and refill it from the tap instead of buying a new one every time. It's less wasteful and less expensive.

Pen and paper These come in very handy when you want to write down some pointers from a teacher, or directions to the next feis, or your new best friend's phone number. Just generally a good idea.

Band-Aids Because you'll never need them until you don't have them. NOT to be used as blister protection!

Spare change In case you need to make a call or keep your hands in fists while dancing.

Ponytail holder, brush, pins, etc. The long-haired among us need to keep our hair out of our faces and necks.

A healthy snack Think pretzels, granola, or cereal. NOT Cheez-ee Frittered Globs of Goodness or some such fat-ridden thing. The point is to burn calories, not to gain more.

De-slippery things Duct tape should work for practice, but if you don't want to use it for a feis, don't practice in it.

Ankle brace, knee brace, athletic bandages, etc. Bring the braces if you need them. The athletic bandages come in handy in case of a twisted ankle.

Instant ice packs These can be found in the first aid section of your grocery store or pharmacy. They come in very handy in an emergency or if you want to soothe sore muscles.

Extra socks In case your forget yours, or as a loaner.

A towel Have you ever read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? If not, then you should, if only to understand the importance of having a towel with you. Besides the galactic reasons, a towel can be very useful for mopping up sweat. Gross, huh? Trust me, it can be a necessary but distasteful function, especially in the summer or during pre-Oireachtas practices when you have to do your reel seven times in a row. Just remember to wash your towel after each practice!

Keep your bag packed and ready so you can grab it and go if you're running late. A zipping bag is best because it keeps things from falling out.