How to handle back-to-dance shopping

Is your local dancewear store always packed during August and September? Does your favorite dancewear website constantly crash or have long shipping times when back-to-school hits?  It's not possible to entirely avoid the chaos, but in this post I will explain the best ways to navigate the back-to-dance shopping madness.

What should be on your list?

Make sure you include all the big necessities (think shoes, tights, leos, and other staple items), as well as things like hair nets and accessories that need to be refreshed for the upcoming season. Get a comprehensive list of dress code requirements from the studio and look it over closely before starting to shop. Check off items you already have, and add other ones that you want. You want to be as prepared as possible for the first class of the year, but remember that you can continue to shop and add to your dance wardrobe throughout the year.

When should you shop?

As soon as you are registered for classes and get the dress code list, think about making the shopping trip. It's ok (good, actually) if it's still a month before classes start. You or your child will probably not outgrow dancewear in this amount of time, and you want to be prepared as early as possible. There is always a small chance that a specific item will be back ordered, and you need to leave time for it to come in before classes start. Never place an online order less than a full week before classes start or the order may not make it in time. Never stop by the dance store on your way to your first class.

Make shoes a priority.

If you have a dancewear store near you, make sure you go there to be properly fit for all your dance shoes (this is very important for children, beginners, and all dancers changing to a new size or brand of shoe; if you are very advanced and get the same shoe every time, then ordering online is ok). If there is no dancewear store in your town, see if there are any you could drive to. Think about making a family day trip to visit a dance store. If there is no way you can go to a store, talk to a teacher or experienced dancer before ordering shoes online.

Sometimes dancewear stores can get very crowded during the back-to-school time. Make sure an employee fits your shoes, even if that's the only thing they can help you with. You can probably figure out most other items on your own by examining the tags and packaging.

If you prefer to shop online, it's usually ok to order tights and other clothing items you are familiar with. (If you or your child are just beginning dance, you may want the expertise of employees at a dance store for these items too.)  Just make sure your shoes are professionally fit for the safest and most successful dance experience.

Don't settle; it's ok to come back later.

One major reason to get shopping early is to have time just in case an item is sold out or back ordered. If your studio requires a specific leotard as the uniform, that is the leotard you need, even if the dancewear store is out or the first website you try doesn't have it.  It's ok to shop around. You can usually place orders through local dancewear to pick up later or to be shipped to your home. Never buy an item that does not meet your dress code in place of an item the store is out of.  You need to wait and have the correct uniform.

If you have a young child, it can be tempting to let him or her pick the dancewear. However, even young ones must meet dress codes. Don't let your child pick things that he or she will not be allowed to wear in class. If your child gets upset, it's ok to leave and come back to the dance store another day. Many stores will hold items for later pickup.  You can also place a sneaky online order, then let your child enjoy it once it arrives in the mail without having him or her involved in the choosing process.

If an item is back ordered more than a few weeks, you may not have it in time for class. Check different physical and online stores for the item, but chances are if it is back ordered at one store, it is back ordered everywhere. Let the staff at your studio know about the problem and ask for advice.  As long as the correct item is on the way they will most likely let you wear something else or go without the item (like dancing barefoot).

You won't necessarily need everything every year.

If your child is young, you will probably need to replace his or her entire dance wardrobe every year. This includes all clothing, shoes, accessories, and possibly a larger dance bag. Older children and teens may need new shoes and tights, but still fit last year's leotards and clothing. Adults and older teens only need to replace dancewear that is worn out. Even if nothing needs immediate replacing, I advise getting a few new items like tights (or anything that wears out easily) around back-to-school just for a fresh start to the season. Wearing old holey tights is not the way to make a good first impression with a new teacher and classmates.