Of all the traditions that Christmas holds, my absolute favorite has always been stockings. It was so much fun pulling out random small gifts from my stocking each year on Christmas morning. My family has a tradition of including toiletries in our stockings. So we always got toothpaste, deodorant, and chapstick in our stockings. But I also love how stockings are great for themes, and as a dancer, my favorite was always stocking stuffers for dancers.
I have always thought that a good gift idea is getting a stocking and filling it with small gifts that represent your relationship with the gift receiver. You can theme the stocking to this person’s interests, hobbies, or things you enjoy doing together. This is a great and cheap gift idea for anyone. For your parents, your partner, your best friend, or your teacher. Creating a stocking for your dance teacher full of stocking stuffers for dancers is a fantastic way to say thank you!
For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with dance. I loved the art form even before I started training in it. So I have my fair share of dance-themed gifts. They are by far my favorite. Dance has such an aesthetic that I have always enjoyed. The pink satin and hard work is everything.
So, if you have a dancer in your life, here are some small gift ideas perfect for the dancer, dance lover, or balletomane in your life.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission through these links with no impact on your purchase.
Stocking Stuffers for Dancers that they Actually Need
Although giving gifts isn’t always about what the other person needs, sometimes it can be useful, and that is especially true for dancers. With all the hard work that dancers go through each week, it is nice to have some extra dancers’ essentials laying around. Perfect if they are in a pinch.
Also, sometimes it is nice to give gifts that are useful and you know the recipient won’t put them on a shelf somewhere and forget. Makes gift giving a little more productive, rather than wasteful.
1. Pointe Shoe Sewing Kit
Whether they are just starting out en pointe, or have been en pointe for a while, a nice pointe shoe sewing kit is the perfect stocking stuffer for dancers. This kit from Bloch is the one to get. It includes everything you need to prepare your pointe shoes for performance, rehearsal, or class.
Throw in some extra pointe shoe elastics as well, I promise your dance lover will love and use them!
Click here to purchase from Amazon
2. A Good Waterbottle
Depending on whether or not your dancer already has their favorite water bottle, this would make a fantastic Christmas stocking filler for a dancer.
I am specifically talking about the Hydroflask. My Hydroflask was my saving grace in dance class. Dance is hard, and you definitely work up a sweat. So there is nothing better than taking a sip of ice-cold water in between barre and center, to refresh before the second half of class.
The Hydroflask keeps your water cold for so long, and you can even use it with hot drinks as well. It is great for bringing coffee in the morning, and water in the afternoon. It’s a very versatile gift idea for dancers!
Dancers go through long rehearsals and classes, and they need a water bottle that can keep the temperature of their drinks the way they want it for a long time. The Hydroflask does just that.
The Hydroflask also comes in a ton of different colors, so you can order the perfect color for the dancer in your life!
Click here to purchase from Amazon
3. Ballet Bun Twist Bobby Pins
I swear by these bobby pins. As someone with long hair, I always struggled to find tools that kept my hair in the perfect ballet bun. That was until I started using these twisty bobby pins for buns. They kept my hair up for hours of dance class and they are so easy to use.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
4. No Damage Hair Ties
In almost every dance class, hair out of the face is a requirement. Dancers put up their hair a lot. So it is essential that they use soft, no pull hair ties that will not damage their hair every time they must change from a bun to a ponytail, and then back up to a bun again.
I use these soft cotton ones that are cheap and durable. They will stretch out over time, but all hair ties do. These are much better for your hair, they feel good, and they won’t pull out your hair when you take them out.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
5. Toe Tape/ First-Aid Tape
Dancers are on their feet all the time, changing from pointe shoes to jazz shoes to character shoes in the span of a couple of hours. Their feet are prone to blisters and cuts, which is why it is so important for dancers to have good toe tape.
This tape from Nexus is one of the best. The fabric texture is easy to dance barefoot with, it sticks well, and it protects dancers’ feet from all the dancing they go through every day. It will also stick to sweaty skin, which is very important!
Click here to purchase on Amazon
Stocking Stuffers Danccers May Not Need, But They Want
1. Pouch for Pointe Shoe Supplies
It is easy for dancers to throw pointe show supplies in a ziplock bag or an extra cosmetic back they find at the bottom of their closet. But it is so nice to have a nice pouch to hold all the toe pads, toe tape, and other necessities for doing pointe work.
This would make a fantastic gift for a young dancer who is just starting en pointe. It is a small thing that will put a smile on their face every time they prepare for class. Even if your dancer doesn’t wear pointe shoes, a pouch like this is perfect for holding hair ties, deodorant, and band-aids. All the essentials for a long day of dane.
This one is from Amazon, and they have a ton of different designs. You could even select a non-ballet-themed one as well. Still would work without the adorable ballet design.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
2. Dance-Inspired Necklace
This beautiful sterling-silver necklace would make a fantastic gift for a young dancer. Dance is an expression of the heart, and keeping that feeling close to the heart is everything for a young dancer. This is the time in their training when they are learning about not just the physicality of dance, but the artistry as well.
This is also a fantastic gift to give to say that you are proud of your dancer. Learning is hard, so when you see a dancer making strides in understanding their own artistic expression, a gift to mark that is perfect.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
3. Ballet-Themed Crew Socks
While training, dancers need to articulate every muscle in their foot and to do that, their feet need to be warm. Let your dancer warm up in style in these Degas-inspired socks depicting his famous painting of dancers.
I am obsessed with the subtle color and design of these ballet-themed socks. These would be fantastic to wear before class while stretching and warming up.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
4. Books about Dance
There are so many books about dance. Both fiction and non-fiction, books for all ages, and books about any dance style you can think of.
As a reader, I have always gravitated towards books about dancers and for dancers. I read both fiction and non-fiction books about dance.
One of the most popular fiction books about dancers out there right now is Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton. This is a young adult book series full of dancers and drama. It has even been made into a Netflix series!
For more book recommendations, visit my book blog, Bookish Coffee Blog.
This may not fit in the stocking but you can balance it right on top! Or get a bigger stocking!
Click here to purchase from Amazon
5. Airpods or Bluetooth Earbuds
There is nothing more annoying than trying to rehearse your dance piece or warm-up for class, and the cord to your headphones keeps getting in the way. It is so useful to have some Bluetooth headphones so they can move around the dance studio while still getting to listen to music.
Obviously, the highest quality ones I have used are Apple AirPods. But there are a ton of cheaper options as well that will work, just not as well.
Click here to purchase from Amazon
Creating a themed stocking for someone that is specific to their interests is one of the most thoughtful gifts I can think of. there are so many wonderful stocking stuffers for dancers that they both want and need, this list only shows a few.
Dancers work hard, so when people see and acknowledge that work with a gift, it means the world.
Check out my other holiday gift guides!
Teacher Gifts They Actually Want
