From Recital to Summer Intensive: How to Prep Your Dancer for the Season Ahead

Recital season is over. The sequins have been vacuumed out of the car (mostly), the bouquets have wilted, and you're still finding bobby pins in places no bobby pin should be. So, what now? Welcome to the weird in-between of the dance year—the lull before the leap—where dancers shift gears from performance mode to training beast mode: the summer intensive.

Summer intensives aren’t just glorified summer camps. They’re bootcamp-meets-ballet-meets-life-skills. Whether it’s your dancer’s first foray into full-day classes or their annual migration to the barre, prepping for this next chapter is kind of like prepping for a road trip through uncharted territory… if everyone on that road trip had sore feet and perfect turnout.

Here’s how to make the leap from recital to summer intensive without melting down like stage makeup under hot lights.

1. The Post-Recital Comedown: It's Real

After the glitter settles and the applause fades, your dancer might feel like they’ve gone from center stage to center couch. Encourage them to reflect on their performance, celebrate their growth, and maybe resist the urge to perform their solo in the kitchen. Again.

2. Packing Like a Pro (Not a Packrat)

Summer intensives often mean living out of a suitcase. Here's a streamlined packing list to keep things light and right:

• Leotards: One for each day, plus a couple of extras. 

• Tights: One per day + backups. Stock up on Body Wrappers tights and undergarments and save big—get up to 25% off when you order 7 or more. Because no one ever said, "I packed too many clean tights."

• Dance Shoes: At least two pairs—sweaty shoes = angry feet

• Warm-ups: Studios can be chilly. Think stylish but not sweat-drenched. Check out Body Wrappers Danceleisure collection for cozy, chic layering pieces that work as hard as your dancer does.

• Toiletries: Blister pads, band-aids, deodorant (bless it), and dry shampoo

• Snacks: Protein bars, trail mix, or anything that won’t turn to mush in a dance bag

• Water Bottle: A big one. Maybe two.

3. Mental Prep: Channeling the Inner Zen

Transitioning from recital to intensive can mess with the head. New city, new teachers, new schedule? It’s like first-day-of-school jitters in pointe shoes.

Help them:

• Set micro-goals (e.g., nail a triple pirouette, or just remember lunch)

• Practice mindfulness (yes, even dancers can meditate)

• Laugh through the awkward moments (because there will be those)

4. Fueling the Dance Machine

Hydration and nutrition are the unsung heroes of summer success. Translation: don't let your kid go full arabesque on nothing but a Pop-Tart.

• Eat real food: carbs + protein + fat = dance fuel

• Snack smart: Greek yogurt, fruit, and nuts go a long way

• Hydrate like it’s their job

5. Gear Check: Out with the Old, In with the New

It’s not hoarding if it’s leotards. But seriously, now is the time to audit the gear:

• Are the shoes broken down? 

• Are those tights still pink?

• Is that leo more "see-through" than "stage-ready"?

6. Embrace the Experience

Summer intensives are where dancers grow, not just in skill but in spirit. It's where they meet lifelong friends, face their fears, and maybe—just maybe—figure out how to do laundry.

So, whether you're dropping them off at a big city campus or a local studio, know this: you're giving them an experience that stretches far beyond the dance floor.