My Son Can Dance

For those of you going off to a summer dance intensive like American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, or any other that lasts a good four weeks or longer, I’ve reposted here the guest blog I wrote for DanceAdvantage.com. Also, here’s a list of items to bring with you (in addition to what they tell you to bring)—in case you are still packing. (Julian and I are on the plane to New York as I write this.)

1. camera
2. umbrellas
3. vitamins, minerals, herbs, and prescriptions (check if you can refill prescriptions)
4. a refillable water bottle
5. all types of dance shoes (if your program has more than one style or you can take classes at other studios; this is pertinent in NYC, LA or San Francisco, for instance)
6. electrolyte packets
7. sun block
8. bathing suit (you never know…)
9. all types of dance wear
10. several pairs of ballet shoes
11. backpack
12. small bag for toting extra stuff
13. a luggage tote with wheels (for carrying groceries long distances)
14. several pairs of comfortable walking shoes
15. nicer clothes for the theater or ballet
16. a jacket
17. a raincoat
18. quarters for the laundry machines
19. soap and shampoo (for at least the first day or two; most apartments aren’t equipped with these items)
20. a laundry bag

You’ll want a good map when you get there as well, if you plan on getting around the city at all. It’s helpful to bring a computer, so you can research things like grocery stores, shows to see, classes to take, etc.

We start with a bang. We are off to see Marymount Manhattan and Juilliard on Thursday and Julian will take two classes at Broadway Dance Center. On Friday Julian is taking a master class with Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Dance’s co-artistic director, at DANY Studios on Friday and then up to Fordham for a tour and information session. Saturday we’ll be at Broadway Dance Center—class with Slam and then up to Steps on Broadway for ballet with Filipov! On Monday, ABT starts. Then I get back down to work.

By the way, despite my suggestion that kids gear up before an intensive, Julian took a week and a half off. He’d danced non-stop and his sprained toe needed to rest. It’s still swollen…and probably will be. But he’s ready to move!

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Tags: list of items to pack, packing, summer dance intensive

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 17th, 2010 at 3:45 pm and is filed under summer dance programs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.