Curating the perfect assortment of holiday gifts to offer in your retail store can be a monumental task. Every year, pop culture trends and social media influence what young dancers want to receive. Odds are, whatever teens were asking for last year is old news by now. Stocking the must-have brands and collectible items of the moment can make or break your Q4 sales.
Of course, there are essentials that you must have in stock for holiday shoppers, too—tools that support a dancer’s training, like rollers, stretching bands, and tights. These items are evergreen, but you can re-merchandise them into holiday displays to draw the attention of gift shoppers.
How can you deliver the most shoppable selection of gift items for dancers? We went straight to the source, asking dancers in pre-professional programs what they really want to receive for the holidays this year. Read on for their most coveted items, from must-have dancewear to fun extras, plus some of their favorite seasonal dance memories and traditions that make this time of year truly special.
What small, meaningful item would make your training life easier—and make the perfect gift?
Charlotte Lamonaca
American Dance Collaborative
My Bloch shoe organizer is super-helpful for keeping each pair of my shoes in separate compartments and easy to find at competitions.
Vivienne Robillard
Houston Ballet Academy
I’d love RubiaWear Lilac Garden legwarmers.
AvaGrace Mazuchowski
Houston Ballet Academy
Warm-up tools like balls and rollers are always needed.
Sophia Reass
Ballet Chicago
A gua sha is an amazing tool that I use to release tension in my muscles and massage out any sore spots.
Sophia Ruiz Hernandez
Houston Ballet Academy
Long warm-ups or a leotard.
Audrey Lamonaca
American Dance Collaborative
My Nanna gave me a small pink accessory bag with ballerinas on it. I keep extra hair ties, Band-Aids, ChapStick, and things like that inside.
What is at the top of your holiday wish list this year?
Eduardo Román López Cervantes
Houston Ballet Academy
I’d really like new shoes, to be a better dancer, and Jellycats.
Charlotte Lamonaca
American Dance Collaborative
Custom tap shoes from Rubén Sánchez would be magical.
Benjamin Smolin
Houston Ballet Academy
Men’s Yumiko tights.
Sophia Reass
Ballet Chicago
I will probably always have books at the top of any wish list! Whether it is a YA fantasy or a biography of a dancer, literature is a constant source of inspiration in my dancing.
Owen McCarroll
Houston Ballet Academy
Soccer jerseys.
Vivienne Robillard
Houston Ballet Academy
A Hatch alarm clock.
Do you have a favorite holiday performance memory?
Jonah Bowie
Houston Ballet Academy
When I was 9 I performed the Russian dance from Nutcracker at a school show. The whole company was cheering me on from the sides.
Charlotte Lamonaca
American Dance Collaborative
Performing in the Kids for Kids charity holiday show and helping bring in toy donations was one of my favorite memories.
Sophia Reass
Ballet Chicago
For the last two years, I had the honor of performing as Clara for Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker. I was always in awe watching the company dancers perform Act II. Getting to sit onstage and watch them dance really felt like I was transported into the Land of the Sweets.
Jamison Whitley
Houston Ballet Academy
My favorite memory is from my first Nutcracker. I was 7 years old and got to dance with Clara center stage.
Do you have a favorite holiday tradition with family or friends?
Sophia Reass
Ballet Chicago
My family and I would watch The Nutcracker together when I was younger. Once I started performing in it myself, we would always go get dinner at a burger joint to end the special evening. As many dancers probably can relate to, this tradition of a good burger and fries quickly became my favorite way to refuel after long performances.
Kinley Brewer
Houston Ballet Academy
My favorite holiday tradition is driving around looking at Christmas lights with my family.
Audrey Lamonaca
American Dance Collaborative
I look forward to looking for the studio elf each day before class.
Diego Sanchez Matamoros
Houston Ballet Academy
Just spending time together.
Libby Basile is a former editor for Dance Retailer News and a specialty-retail storeowner based in Cheshire, CT.