The Practical Dancer’s Guide to gifts for the bellydancer (and, for the dancer who may not have told their family)

The holidays are here!  Your family may have been asking you for gift ideas – but, you may or may not have told them you dance.  “Outing” yourself is your call; regardless, here are some items they can get you to support your dance habit, that won’t put them on mailing lists they’d rather not be on, and that can stay within a budget.  I have included links for visual aids.  You may find better prices elsewhere

1.     A good wooden drying rack – an all wood rack is best.  This can be used for airing out costumes without stretching them.  If you pick one with a flat top, bedlahs can be stabilized and not slide off.  While metal ones may be cheaper, wood will not rust and stain your clothes.

2.     Luggage dedicated to dance.  Tired of finding glitter on your clothes when you travel for your day job?  (Tired of your significant other complaining about this happening to them?)  Get some inexpensive luggage dedicated to dance clothes.  I started with 2 or 3 totes, later added a duffel that I practically live out of, and eventually added a full size suitcase.  Mine are all black with pink polka dots, so I don’t confuse them with my “regular” luggage.  AND, I can find them easily in crowded dressing rooms.  Look for good quality relative to the price as well as a configuration that suits your needs.

3.     And, while you are at it, perhaps you need a train case to hold that stage makeup separately from your costumes! Not your speed,  they also make toiletry bags.  I have one of these, and it has held up well, packed to the gills, for a few years now.

4.     Jewelry organizers.  I LOVE my Neatnix stax!  I found mine at the Container Store while killing time for a workshop, and I have NEVER regretted the purchase.  The single compartment style is on my own list for this year, as it looks like it will hold those lovely collar necklaces such as the ones from Shiny Sparkly Things!

5.     A foam roller can be a godsend to a tired dancer.  It is a massage therapist and a chiropractor that works on YOUR schedule.  I take mine on the road to workshops if I am driving and it has rescued me from kinks caused by strange beds and air mattresses.

6.     A tripod for your phone.  There is no feedback like video feedback!  If you already have a smart phone, ask for a tripod or stand and turn your phone into a feedback partner!

7.     For those who sew, or need to do repairs, Stanley Levy’s book, Bead and Sequin Embroidery Stitches is a must-have.  Techniques are clearly explained with plain language and lots of images to assist.

8.     If you are a note-taker, a journal or diary can make a beautiful gift that helps you to record notes from workshops, online classes, and personal practice.  Taking notes allows a different part of your brain to work, enhancing your learning and helping you to retain more.

9.     Multibar or scarf hangers can help organize veils and hipscarves in the most cluttered closet.

10. Been collecting back issues of Arabesque?  Want to preserve your vintage collection of Habibi issues?  Ask for magazine storage containers, preferably acid free ones.  They can keep your copies safe, even at the bottom of a closet.

11.  Got snaps? Hooks and eyes? Beads coming out of your ears?  A safety pin collection to make the Bellydance Superstars envious?  Asking for bead storage containers can yield infinite storage possibilities, whether you sew or not.  What you put in them is up to you.  Look for secure clasps and preferably segmented lids that only open one section at a time.

12. Two Faced’s Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, because you really want it ON your eyelids, not IN your eyes!

13.  A magnifying mirror, because eyes seem to fail us in dimly lit changing rooms, after workshops, when we are mature enough to have something to say in our dance.

14. Need to preserve that vintage Abla that you won in an online auction?  Have a Bella to store?  Have non of the above, but still want to keep that costume that TOOK FOREVER preserved nicely?  Ask for acid free storage boxes and protect those investments.

STOCKING STUFFER TIME!  The following items make great small gifts for troupe mates, students, teachers or stocking stuffers for dancers:

15.  An eye mask for the traveling dancer, sleeping in a hotel or at another dancer’s house.

16. And, since the other dancers you may be staying with can be rowdy, how about some ear plugs?

17. Dry shampoo can save you as you scramble from a workshop to a hafla performance, can perk you up between gigs, and ad sticking power to hair for sword work or slippery head gear.  My favorite is by Big Sexy Hair and is small enough to fit in a travel gig bag.

18. Also good for freshening up quickly are Wet Cleansing Towelettes, such as these by Ponds.  Larger packs are good for home, smaller ones can be found in the travel section of drug stores.

19.  BIOFREEZE!  My chiropractor introduced me to this wonder gel and I swear by this stuff.  The roll-on version keeps it off your hands, which is good when you have eczema (like me) or a tendency to rub your eyes.

20. Diaper pins, because so many large safety pins are just plain poorly made.

21. Cover Girl Outlast lipstick.  I SWEAR by this stuff.  “Eternal Flame” and “Ever Red Dy” are my standby colors.  These things go on, stay on, and clean up easily with baby oil.   Let me put it this way: it survives a steak dinner, once dry will NOT stain your veil, and the gloss stick doesn’t seem to trap hair or chiffon.  I am not a paid endorser, just an enthusiastic user.  I love this lipstick!

22.  Fuzzy socks!  Seriously, I won’t travel without them now.  I toss some in my dance bag for workshops and have been saved from frozen toes on cold, vintage floors.  Besides, you want some comfort and pampering after dancing all day, don’t you!

23.  Finally, that bastion of 80’s fashion that you can ONLY get between now and January 1^st, LEG WARMERS!  They keep foot cramps at bay, tame errant flare leg pants, and still let the instructor see your feet.  Wear them without shame!

24. Battling cold hands and still need to play zills?  Arm warmers are your friend!

25. Know someone who takes on REALLY complicated costume projects?  Consider giving labels, whether premade or custom for them to sew in and declare their commitment to the project!