Gift ideas for dancers

So many people struggle with ideas for gifts, but with dance lovers there’s such a variety of gift ideas, for Christmas, birthdays, or just because. With Christmas approaching I wanted to pull a guide together of gift ideas for dancers – with ideas for yourself or the dancers in your lives.

When buying gifts for dancers, don’t forget to think about the style of dance they’re interested in. For ballet fans, there’s a multitude of gifts and products out there.  Line dance fans have more options than ever as the trend grows with all the line dancing on TikTok nowadays. For social dance fans, specific gifts may be less obvious, but general dance inspiration covers a lot of genres. After all, if you’re a dancer, you’re a dancer.

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Here’s a gift guide with various ideas for dancers that can cater to their needs, interests, and passion for dance.

Gift ideas for dancers

Dance themed clothing and accessories

• Leotards, dance tights, or leggings
• Dance shorts or skirts
• Dance shoes – upgrade a current pair of shoes or choose a custom pair. I’m a big fan of Fuego* low tops, or for classic latin and ballroom that can be customised try Supadance or IDS* (IDS link should give you a £15 discount)
• Dance bags or backpacks designed for carrying dance gear
• Hair accessories like bun covers, hairpins, or headbands
• Dance-themed t-shirts, hoodies, or tank tops – try Etsy* for some great fun designs
• Otherwise high street stores like M&S, Matalan, Sainsbury’s have all had cowboy boot themed t shirts and sweatshirts in this season. Try Vinted for alternatives from previous seasons
• Dance-themed jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings, dance charms) – try Not on the High Street or Etsy
• Dance-themed socks or leg warmers

Training Tools or equipment

• Resistance bands or stretching straps for flexibility training
• Foam rollers or massage balls for muscle recovery
• Balance boards or wobble cushions for improving stability and balance
• Tap floor board – try Harlequin floors, Amazon* or try a DIY version.
• Portable ballet barre for home practice

Dance books and DVDs

• Books on dance technique, history, or biographies of famous dancers
• Inspirational books or motivational resources for dancers
• Instructional dance DVDs or online courses
• If they love a dance movie, why not try and find some of the relatively unknown dance movie dvds. There’s probably more obscure dance movies than you can imagine are still available (and I’ve probably got quite a few of them in my collection).

Technology and Gadgets

• Fitness trackers or smartwatches to monitor activity and progress
• Bluetooth headphones or earbuds for downtime
• Tablet or smartphone stand for easy access to online dance tutorials

Workout and Self-Care

• Yoga mats or pilates equipment for cross-training and flexibility
• Aromatherapy diffusers or wax melts for relaxation
• Massage or spa gift certificates for post-performance pampering
• Inspirational wall art or posters featuring dance quotes
• Dance-themed calendars or planners

Personalised Gifts

• Custom dance-themed water bottles* or tumblers   
• Personalised dance journal or notebook for choreography notes and reflections
• Design your own personalised wrapping paper, or look out for themed versions to buy (I found cowboy boots Christmas gift wrap in the Range).
• Cloud word dancer prints*  
• Create a playlist (audio or video) of musical dance memories you can share with them.
• Personalise an airpod case* with dance images or quotes  

Christmas specific dance gifts 

• Dancer tree decorations* – try Gisela Graham or garden centres for good quality ones in various colourways and poses, although I bought a really nice one from The Range.
• Nutcrackers 
• Cowboy boot or hat ‘baubles’ – The Range had a few this year, otherwise Amazon has lots of variety
• Look out for Nutcracker tins of food gifts. I’ve seen some lovely tins and gift boxes in B&M and Home Bargains (the latter with biscuits in). And they’re reusable so great for gifting and keeping for storage afterwards.  

Other gifts

• Disco ball – look out for different sizes and styles. You can also get disco ball style balloons!  
• Vintage dance posters – from word art to photography to impressionist art, there’s something for every dance lover  
• Hollywood style mirror with lights  
• Line dance passport – I spotted someone sharing these on Facebook (US only, but you could make up your own). Some classes stamp these on attendance at classes or workshops. For social dancers going on lots of weekenders and travelling a lot to dance, something like this could be a great gift.

Gift Cards and experiences

• Gift cards to dancewear stores, dance studios, or online dance resources
• Streaming service subscriptions for online dance classes or performances
• Tickets to live dance performances or workshops, but if you’re looking for Christmas events make sure you book tickets early (some even as early as the previous year).
• Vouchers to tour a theatre – try the Royal Opera House in London, but local theatres may also run them on occasion. 

Personalising the gift to match a specific dance interest will show that you’ve put thought into choosing something meaningful.

What other dance gifts would you gift dancer friends?