Top 10 Items Every Serious Dancer Should Own:

(Click each image for more information)

People often ask us if we sell or recommend any other complimentary dance products.  Although we specialize exclusively in making high-quality TurnBoards, we thought it would be helpful to put together our list of The Top 10 Items Every Serious Dancer Should Own.  Enjoy.

10. THERA-BAND RESISTANCE BANDS ($5)

A resistance band is one of the least expensive, yet most beneficial items you should own.  Thera-Bands are great because they can be used for multiple purposes, including flexibility and strength resistance exercises.  Stretching is such a critical aspect of staying healthy and injury-free; do it daily!

9. Trigger Point Foam Roller ($38)

The Trigger Point foam roller is our favorite foam roller in the marketplace today.  It is great for working out the pains in your IT Bands, calves and back.  This particular foam roller has enough support to work the deep kinks out, but it's not so hard that it hurts.  Unlike other foam rollers, this one is compact and portable, making it very travel-friendly. 

8. WORKOUT MAT ($20)

Ballet dancers need strong core muscles to perform lifts, stabilize the torso during leaps, and to facilitate graceful stretching and bending during dance routines.  Dancers also require considerable flexibility and extensive range of motion, especially in the back, hips and ankles.  A good workout mat is the perfect compliment to assist you with all of your floor workouts, ranging from planks to lying quad stretches.  Considering how much time you'll spend on the floor, it's important to have a comfortable mat so you can focus on your flexibility and core strength.

7. The StretchPRO ($35.95)

Dancers sometimes lose foot flexibility in the arch; consistent stretching with a quality foot stretcher will help you maintain that strong arch.  There are a lot of good foot stretchers in the marketplace, but you don't have to spend $150 on the most expensive ones.  The StretchPRO is the perfect low-cost foot stretcher!   

6. Gel Toe Pads ($12)

Toe pads let you feel the floor while still protecting your toes.  The gel is remarkably comfortable, and these last a while.  Toe pads can help relieve blister pain, and many dancers add a little baby powder to minimize sweating.  An inexpensive addition to your dance bag.

5. The tigerband ($29.95)

Increase flexibility and strength! Increase your flexibility and range of motion, strengthen key muscles, and warm up your arms, legs, and feet before rehearsal or competition.  Inexpensive and highly effective, this is something every dancer should use on the regular.

4. Portable Ballet Barre ($100+)

Okay, so this is a little on the expensive side, but the portable ballet barre is a great purchase for any serious dancer who wants to continue practicing outside of the traditional studio.  The double barre is preferred over the single, as it will better assist you with stretching, port de bras, grand plies, etc.  Get one of these for your home studio and see your flexibility improve.

3. NALGENE BPA-FREE WATER BOTTLE ($10)

Even mild dehydration can affect your performance.  Staying hydrated is extremely important to a dancer's performance because the first signs of dehydration are fatigue and poor balance.  Experts recommend that dancers should drink about 2 cups (16 ounces) before beginning a workout, then drink 5-10 ounces every 20 minutes or so.  This means that your reusable water bottle should be your constant companion in the studio or backstage.  Drink up!

2. The Perfect Ballet Slipper ($15+)

Find a slipper you LOVE.  Don't cut corners here; make sure you are comfortable and get to know your feet very well.  Some slippers are better suited for narrow or wide feet, so test a variety of different slippers.  If you are a more advanced dancer and use pointe shoes, there are flexibility considerations.  Stiff shoes are more difficult to break in, but they typically provide better support.  Flexible shoes are easier to break in, but they tend to wear out sooner.  Ask Cinderella, she'll agree...there's nothing like the perfect fit!

1. The turnboard pro ($59.95 - $69.95)

Okay, so you knew a TurnBoard would make it onto our Top 10 List.  The TurnBoard PRO is the ultimate training tool, combining the classic TurnBoard design with breakthrough technology.  The TurnBoard PRO comes with a FREE downloadable app, and the app measures the dancer's turns, speed, and overall form.  As you turn on the TurnBoard PRO, the app automatically calculates your personal Turn Score. This next generation TurnBoard is truly one of a kind!

Amazon has their own list of dancer must-haves.  Check it out here.

(Did we leave something good off our list? Please share your feedback with us on Instagram.)