Holiday Gift Guide to Support the Whole Dancer
by Ashley Mowrey
Happy Holidays! The decorations are going up, lights are being hung, and plans are being made...but if you’re anything like me, you’re still scrambling to pick out the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Gifts that are thoughtful, practical, and that they’ll love.
That’s why I’ve made this holiday guide with gifts that will inspire and nurture your dancer’s mind, body, and soul!
Let’s check it out!
Gifts $20 & Under
Help your dancer develop a healthy mindset with these Affirmation Cards from Notably Paper Company. It includes 54 cards, space to write their own affirmations, and a wooden stand to display a card. Your dancer could even throw them in their dance bag to read before auditions, performances, and competitions!
Stock up on tights from Aurora, the “#1 most inclusive athletic hosiery and apparel brand”. With a wide variety of colors and sizes, you’ll find exactly what your dancer needs. They even have a “shade quiz” to help find your match!
Is your dancer’s bag always a mess? Or maybe they’re constantly forgetting something for class? Snag this Packing Guide from The Brainy Ballerina, Caitlin Sloan to help them stay organized in the new year. This could make a great stocking stuffer! And be sure to check out her other products such as a Guide to Stage Makeup and Exercises for Pirouettes!
Gifts $20-50
Empower your dancer with Chloe Angyal’s book Turning Pointe, How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet from Itself. In this thought-provoking book, Chloe explores dancers’ deep love for ballet while also confronting the very real problems in the dance world such as power imbalances, racism, and harmful beauty and body standards.
Keep your dancer hydrated with this cute leak-proof water bottle from Forever Dancers. It will even keep liquids hot or cold for hours!
Support your dancer’s feet and ankles with Apolla Performance Wear’s ankle compression socks. With their patented design, these socks will help your dancer train longer and stronger!
Gifts Over $50
Gift a Membership to Dancer Fitness to level up your dancer’s strength and performance! Created by Apolla Blog Contributor and Doctor’s for Dancers Specialist Katie Groven, this program isn’t just for dance instructors. Through her membership, dancers get exercises and training plans to increase their strength, endurance, and flexibility. You can get your dancer a whole year of membership for only $79.99!
Inspire your dancer with the gift of a Broadway musical! Now that live theatre is back, this is a great opportunity for your dancer to see professional dancers in action and start dreaming about what their future could look like. Check out which shows are coming to a theatre near you here.
Ready for your dancer to ditch the harmful diet mentality and learn how to restore their relationship with food while also learning about nutrition and wellness? Gift your dancer a package of virtual sessions with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Kristin Koskinen who works with dancers on performance nutrition with a non-diet approach!
There ya have it! No matter which gifts you go with, your dancer will love it and feel so supported. Have a great holiday season!
Chat soon!
Ashley Mowrey is a Mindset Coach and Educator for dancers, helping you calm the mind and body, cultivate self-confidence, and create inner strength. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Arkansas, is an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, a Whole Person Certified Coach through Coach Training World, a trained facilitator in Tara Mohr’s Playing Big Leadership Program, a specialist for Doctors for Dancers, and a blog contributor for Apolla Performance. Ashley has recently joined the faculty for Embody Dance Conference. There she will lead workshops for all age groups, including parents and teachers, on mindset skills. She is also a Team Member of Dancer, 360, and a contributor to their upcoming book. Ashley trained as a competitive dancer out of Dallas, TX, before teaching and eventually directing a company and dance studio in Fayetteville, AR. During those years, she felt drawn towards the dancer’s mindset and the need for training and tools in the dance community to foster mental health and well-being. She sees clients in-person and via Zoom all over the country and travels (in-person and virtually) to studios for customized group workshops. Ashley has also been featured on the Pointe to Rise Podcast, Dance Studio Amplified Podcast (Ep. 14), Dance Boss University Mastermind guest presenter, and episode 58 of Dance Boss Podcast. Head to her website for more information or her Instagram for free tools and resources to help you build a healthy mindset to navigate the dance world at your best.
