The 6 Best Dance Bags for Class & Competition
Are you even a dancer if you don't have a bag for dancing?! Kidding... Of course, you are! But, if you haven't gotten one yet, we're here to help!
All jokes aside, dance bags truly are necessary for dancers of all ages, levels, and styles of dance - more than you might think. Plus, they're a huge part of studio culture.
Here, we have a list of the best dance bags on the market and how to choose what's right for you.
Why Do I Need a Specific Bag for Dance?
Dance requires a lot of stuff and keeping everything organized can be a struggle.
Most dance classes happen back to back in various styles. So, in one evening, you might need leotards, hairpins, and pointe shoes for ballet class, baggy pants and sneakers for hip hop class, and heels and a skirt for ballroom class.
Then, to competitions, you're bringing a bunch of costumes, hair and makeup supplies, shoes, and accessories.
Not to mention, all these dance shoes and clothes can get pretty sweaty and pretty stinky. You'll want to make sure everything stays separate and has enough room to breathe.
Long story short, you can't use any old gym bag as a dance bag.
Types and Styles of Dance Bags
What kinds of bags are there to choose from for dance? Let's take a look.
For Dance Class
A dance bag you'll use for class doesn't have to be extensive. They'll be smaller and easier to carry, with room for a few pairs of shoes and a change of clothes.
You'll want your class bag to be durable and made with quality materials since they're often the bags you'll use the most.
Plus, mesh pockets that allow your shoes to breathe will also come in handy.
For Competition
For dance competitions, you'll need something a bit bigger. After all, they'll need to fit all your makeup, costumes, shoes, accessories, and snacks for those long days and nights.
Garment bags for costumes are popular among dancers at competitions too and something with garment racks is perfect. More on those later.
Travel/Luggage Dance Suitcases
If you're serious about dance, you probably do a fair bit of traveling to conventions and competitions. Having the appropriate travel dance bag is essential.
If you're traveling by plane, you'll want to pack all your dance essentials like shoes and costumes in a carry-on sized bag that you can keep with you. You won't want to turn up to a competition without the things you need after the airline misplaced your luggage.
However, even if you're not traveling far, suitcases made with durable material and wheels are helpful if you have a ton of dance stuff for performances. So, it's something to consider.
For Kids
Dance bags for children are usually smaller, a little more colorful, and a whole lot more fun. You might have your child's dance bag embroidered with their name and be sure they're not too heavy for their little bodies to carry.
Duffle Bags
Duffle bags for dance are one of the most popular styles for its versatility. Hold it by the handles or use the longer strap to carry over the shoulder.
Also, duffles often feature various compartments to keep your shoes, clothes, and hair accessories separate and organized. Plus, they offer easy access to things like your wallet to pay for classes.
Backpacks
Dance backpacks are another popular style as they're easy to carry around, especially if you have a full day of taking classes, moving from one room to another.
Backpacks are often healthier for the body as well since the weight is more evenly distributed. However, to get these benefits, you have to wear the backpack properly with both straps on each shoulder.
Totes
You might also choose a tote-style bag although these are probably the least popular style. They're less versatile with only the long strap option for carrying.
Plus, totes generally aren't outfitted with as many compartments as duffles and backpacks.
How to Choose the Right Dance Bag
Now that you know what kinds of dance bags are out there, take some time to consider what actually makes one amazing. Here's what you should think about when choosing a dance bag for class or competitions.
Purpose
When shopping for a dance bag, think about the purpose you'll need it to serve.
Will you be using this when you take classes or when you go to practice? Is this bag for dance competitions? Do you need a bag to hold your costumes? Will you be storing smelly shoes in this bag?
Size and Space
Bigger isn't always better and, again, it's important to understand what you really need in a dance bag.
A smaller dance bag that is easier to carry, organize, and use are better when you need a dance bag for class. Even if you have a ton of shoes and dance clothes, you can swap things out each day to only bring exactly what you need.
For competitions and recitals, however, you do need a bigger bag. There's a lot that goes into preparing for a competition or performance and making sure you have room for everything you need is essential.
Keep in mind that you may need more than one big bag for dance competitions, traveling, and big performances.
Weight
Sure, a new dance bag you've got your eye on may be durable and high-quality, but if it's super heavy, that won't really do you much good.
Go for lighter bags with soft, even meshy material versus hard, heavy bags. Pointe shoes, tap shoes, sneakers, character heels - all that weight can add up pretty quickly. Don't make things heavier with a heavy bag.
Color
What color do you want your dance bag to be? You might think about the colors of your studio. Maybe you want a dance bag in your favorite color.
You'll be using your dance bag a lot - especially your class bag. You might want to choose darker colors that won't show dirt as much and, if you like lighter colors, save them for your competition bag.
Brand
There are certain brands that know what they're doing when it comes to dance gear like tights, dance shoes, and a proper dance bag. Top dance brands you can trust include:
- Capezio
- SoDanca
- Bloch
- Energetiks
Sports brands like Nike, Lululemon, and Adidas are also solid choices. Plus, your dance studio's store is likely to have some great brand recommendations. We'll share more information on our favorites below.
Material
High-quality, durable, breathable - that's what to keep in mind for the material that best suits a dance bag.
Choose something waterproof that won't absorb odors and a bag with mesh compartments is a huge plus. Bags that are easy to clean are also encouraged.
Comfort
How comfortable is the bag to carry? Are the straps built strong without putting much strain on your shoulders and hands? With that, are the straps adjustable? How does the material feel on your skin?
Design
How a bag is designed counts for a lot. It might have all the bells and whistles, but if the design is clunky and inefficient, it could cause more annoyance than anything.
Do you prefer a bag with zippers or clasps? Do you like velcro or loathe it? Are the compartments difficult to reach? Are the pockets in an awkward spot?
Compartments
The best kind of dance bag has lots of compartments. It's helpful to have a spot for everything.
For example, sweaty shoes might stay in the outside mesh pocket. Clothes are separated from your dirty street shoes. Hairpins have a zippered compartment where they won't get lost. There's a spot for your phone and wallet.
Of course, there is such a thing as too many compartments. But it should definitely have a few to keep everything organized.
Racks
That's right. Some of the top-rated bags for dancers have clothing racks attached.
Usually starting out in a rolling suitcase-style, these bags can be transformed into a costume rack, perfect for hanging garments that you don't want to get wrinkled. The rack gets lifted out of the bag and it's a great one-size-fits-all solution.
Rolling Wheels
For particularly heavy loads, a rolling dance bag may be the answer. Often the best dance bags for competition have wheels since you'll be bringing so much with you.
Instead of handling five bags that you have to carry all at once, try one big bag with rolling wheels and your class bag for all the smaller essentials.
Embroidered and Customized
For dance studios, all kinds of dance gear may be the perfect opportunity to customize.
Feeling like you're part of the team with a custom dance bag that has your studio colors and logo is a fun way to match your friends and is a common part of dance culture.
Embroidery is also common, especially for kids and teens. When everyone from your studio has a matching dance bag, it's nice to have your name on the outside to prevent grabbing the wrong one after a tough ballet class.
Top Dance Bags
Now, with all that in mind, let's explore the best dance bags for ballet, children, adults, and competitions.
Best Dance Bags for Kids
For many dancers, it's common to have started as early as age 2. They're super tiny at such a young age so it doesn't make sense to carry around something bigger than their bodies.
Here are a few ballet bags that may be great for kids, both when they first start and as they get a little older.
Boahulu Toddler Ballet Dance Bag
If your little one is heading off to their first dance class, these toddler dance bags are as cute as they are effective. In a backpack style, you'll be able to pack everything they need in this dance bag for ballet and send them on their way.
- Large main compartment with zipper
- Smaller compartments inside
- Great, small size for tiny dance shoes
- Quality design and material
- Perfect for 2 to 6 year old first-time dancers
- Only available in girly styles
- No shoe compartment
As your dancer gets a little older, this bag offers a bit more space. It's made of Denier and polyester and has a detachable strap that's super versatile.
- Lightweight
- Durable and well-made
- Detachable strap
- Perfect for 6- to 10-year old dancers
- Separate compartment for dance shoes
- Great size to hold everything you need including a water bottle
- Only available in pink or purple
Best Dance Bags for Adults
Whether you're a professional dancer, a dance teacher, or you take adult salsa classes as a hobby, these options are great for any dancer.
We've included both a duffle style and backpack style to help you make the best choice based on personal style.
Capezio Rock Star Duffle Bag
Capezio is one of the top-rated dancewear brands. This bag has it all, made from 100% polyester in a sleek design. It's perfect for professional dancers and casual dancers alike.
- Includes a large, oversized mesh pouch
- Padded handles
- Zippered shoe compartment
- Wire port to charge electronics
- Hooks that can hang your bag to a barre or rack
- Durable and well-made
- May be too pricey
Like we mentioned earlier, athletic companies are also known for making gear that can become the ultimate dance bag. This large MIER backpack made for basketball players has a lot of space and special pockets for your water bottle, clothes, dance shoes, and more!
- More than enough space for a class bag
- Comfortable and supportive straps
- Large water bottle holder
- Mesh compartment (made for a basketball) is great for dance shoes
- Too big in size for a child and could be too big in size for some adults' liking
- Only comes in red and blue
Best Competition Dance Bags
Performances, recitals, and competitions call for a totally different kind of dance bag. These unique bags are the best choice when you need to pack all your dance stuff in an organized, reliable way.
Closet Trolley with Garment Rack
This competition dance bag starts as a large rolling suitcase and transforms into a garment rack with a large bag underneath. It's durable, sturdy, and perfect for dance competitions for years and years.
- Made with Denier
- Large size fits up to 20 costumes, 10 pairs of shoes, and all hair and makeup essentials
- Tons of compartments and pockets
- Ability to lay your costumes flat in the bag to avoid wrinkles
- Additional garment bags are recommended for clothes and costumes
- May be too pricey
Here we have another large dance bag with an attached garment rack, although this one is slightly cheaper. It's easy to use but you won't be able to fit as many items in this version. However, it's a good budget alternative.
- Fits up to 7 costumes and all other competition essentials
- Many compartments and pockets
- Additional garment bags for dancers are recommended for clothes and costumes
- Under $150
- Not as sturdy as more expensive versions
Best Overall Dance Bag
When deciding on the best over dance bag, we went over all the considerations one should make when attempting to make their final decision.
We're thinking about its purpose and design, size and weight, color, brand, and materials, as well as comfort, compartments, and whether it meets a dancers' ultimate needs, both in class and beyond.
Although every dance is different, we narrowed it down to the best overall dance bag.
And the winner is...
The Capezio Rock Star Duffle Bag!
We love this bag and it's clear that dancers love it too. When you break it down, this is truly one of the best dance bags for class and, although it's more on the expensive side, it's built to last.
Going through each consideration, this Capezio dance bag is a clear winner.
It serves its ultimate purpose as a high-quality dance bag with all the necessary compartments and perks. Dance teachers will love the wire port so they can charge their laptops. It works well for competitions too since you can use the sturdy hooks to hang in next to your costumes.
Its ample size gives any dancer enough space to pack what they need for class with the compartments that allow your dance stuff to stay organized, but also to give your sweaty shoes and clothes a chance to breathe.
It's lightweight and easy to carry. The black material is sleek and won't show as much wear and tear. The Capezio brand is highly respected and well-trusted, and its comfortable handles only add to the appeal.
It's designed with dancers in mind and with both zippers and clasps, you'll find that each pocket and compartment makes sense from beginning to end.
Although it doesn't have a rack attached, it may be more of a class bag than a competition or travel bag. But, it's a great companion to your bigger competition bags and can definitely be used as luggage if you'd like.
Plus, feel free to take it somewhere to get embroidered for a custom touch.
In Summary
And there you have it. Our ultimate guide to choosing the best dance bags on the market. Whether you're headed to class or to nationals this summer, which dance bag will you go with? Don't leave home without it!