GUIDES
What to pack for a dance camp: a practical list
Clothes for several classes a day, shoes, looking after your body and the things everyone forgets: a practical packing list for a week of dance.
· by UTOPIC · 5 min
A week at a dance camp is nothing like a weekly class. You dance morning and afternoon, sometimes at night too, and in between you eat, rest and go again.
So your bag needs to be packed for long hours of movement and little time for laundry. This list works for almost any urban dance intensive.
In 30 seconds
- One T-shirt every 1 or 2 classes and one pair of trousers every 2 to 4 days: we work out your bag below.
- Your usual trainers and, if you can, a second pair.
- Water, sunscreen and sports tape: your body works all week.
- If the intensive films the classes, don't worry about phone space; to film yourself, bring space and a power bank.
First things first: how much you'll dance
To work out how many clothes to bring, start with the hours. This is what the last UTOPIC Summer Camp looked like:
- 7days of camp
- 23classes in the week
- 90 minper class
- 4classes on a full day
UTOPIC III timetable (31 August to 6 September 2026).
- Day 12 classes
- Day 24 classes
- Day 34 classes
- Day 42 classes + battles and showcase
- Day 55 classes (with the Night Collab)
- Day 64 classes
- Day 72 classes
Same timetable. Evening activities come on top.
Clothes: one T-shirt every one or two classes
You don't need an outfit per class. Count one T-shirt every one or two classes and one pair of trousers every two to four days. Here's how a full day works out:
A full day, hour by hour
10:00 · First class
T-shirt 1 and the day's trousers. Turn up with water and your body awake.
11:40 · Second class
If your first T-shirt is soaked, change it; if not, it'll last another class.
13:10 · Lunch and rest
Shower, hang your clothes to dry, feet up.
17:00 · Third class
A dry T-shirt for the afternoon, with the morning already in your legs.
18:40 · Fourth class
The same one or a fresh one, depending on how much you've sweated. Same trousers all day.
At night
Jam, bingo or showcase: comfy everyday clothes, because there's dancing then too.
On a four-class day that's two or three T-shirts, and one pair of trousers lasts the whole day (and then some). Put in the days and classes of your intensive and you'll get your whole bag:
Work out your bag
About 3.3 classes a day
For 7 days and 23 classes, pack:
- 16 T-shirts: 1 every 1-2 classes
- 3 pairs of trousers: 1 every 2-4 days
- 8 pairs of underwear: 1 a day plus 1 spare
- 8 pairs of socks: 1 pair a day plus 1 spare
- 2 hoodies or light layers: To warm up and stay warm
- 4 comfy everyday outfits: For the evenings: 1 every 2 days
- 2 pairs of trainers: 2 from 3 days on, to swap them
- 1 pair of flip-flops: To rest your feet
- 4 small class towels: 1 every 2 days
- 1 reusable bottle: Refill it between classes
We count 1 T-shirt every 1.5 classes, 1 pair of trousers every 3 days and 1 pair of socks a day, rounding up. With one wash halfway, clothes for just over half the days will do: one extra day so the washing can dry.
Starts with the UTOPIC III timetable: 7 days and 23 classes.
Tip
23 classes don't mean 23 T-shirts: at one every one or two classes, that's 16. And if you can do one wash halfway, 10 will do. Thick cotton gets heavy when it's wet and takes ages to dry.
What goes in the bag
Shoes: two pairs are better than one
Your usual pair.
The trainers you already dance in, not a brand-new pair.
A second pair.
So you can swap them and let them dry.
Something open.
Flip-flops to rest your feet between classes.
Heads up
A full week is a bad time to find out that new trainers rub. If your style uses specific footwear (heels, for example), try it before you travel.
Looking after your body
Your body works all week. This is what's worth packing:
Reusable bottle.
You'll drink far more than usual.
Sunscreen and a cap.
And sunglasses, if the camp is in summer and outdoors.
For your feet.
Sports tape, blister plasters and foot cream.
Knee pads.
If you're doing floorwork or breaking.
Your medication.
And a cream or gel for sore muscles, if you use one.
For sleep.
Earplugs, an eye mask, whatever works for you.
Good to know
Rest is part of the training. With up to six hours of class on a full day, sleeping well is what lets you dance the last day like the first.
If you’re missing something
- View on Amazon
Blister plasters.
They go over the blister and protect it from rubbing.
- View on Amazon
Sports tape.
To tape your toes and protect the spots that rub.
- View on Amazon
Knee pads.
Padded and made for dance, for floorwork and breaking.
- View on Amazon
Earplugs.
Foam ones, to sleep well even if you share a room.
- View on Amazon
Eye mask.
To sleep in the dark even when light gets in.
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Your phone and the routines
If the intensive films the classes, don't worry about having space on your phone. But if you want to film yourself dancing the routines afterwards, it's worth bringing free space and a power bank.
For filming yourself
- View on Amazon
Power bank.
So your phone makes it to the last class if you’re filming.
As an Amazon Associate, UTOPIC earns from qualifying purchases.
Our tip
We love it when you enjoy the experience and forget about your phone, at least in class. Watch, listen and dance: the video can wait.
Documents and money
What depends on each camp
Before you close your bag, check what your pass includes. Some camps are all-inclusive; at others, accommodation and food are separate.
Depending on what your pass includes
| If your pass… | Add to your bag |
|---|---|
| Includes everything | Nothing else: this list has you covered |
| Doesn't include accommodation | Whatever your accommodation asks for: sheets, towels… |
| Doesn't include food | Food for the first few days and kitchen basics |
At UTOPIC Summer Camp
- Your pass covers every class and activity of the week. Accommodation and food are separate.
- If you book with 50 %, the rest is paid in cash at check-in.
- The UTOPIC IV venue is announced on 20 December: anything that depends on it, we'll tell you then.
What you can leave behind
Your whole wardrobe.
With clothes that wash and dry quickly, you need fewer than you think.
Clothes you'd hate to ruin.
Anything you don't want to stain or tear.
Valuables.
Anything you won't use.
