Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Welcome to the ULTIMATE ballet equipment list perfect for adult beginners! This list is some of my must-have favorites for women and men. You can use many of these accessories at home or in a studio. Check out the table of contents for a quick overview of everything included.
Ballet Equipment List for at Home
After 2020, many of us realized that practicing ballet at home is possible and easy. Even though we are now in 2022, you may still be practicing barre workouts at home virtually or using online classes to supplement in-studio time. If I had to pick my top 3 recommendations to get you started at home they would be:
Top 3 Picks
- Portable ballet barre
- Stretch band
- Dance Floor
These three things will get you through a variety of dance classes without having to shell out a lot of money for a Marley floor that you have to place somewhere permanently. Let’s dive into my favorite options for each category.
Best Ballet Barre’s
When you are shopping for a ballet barre there are a few things you want to look at like price point, quality, reviews, adjustability, and color.
My favorite budget pick is the Umeken 4-foot ballet barre. This barre has almost 800 reviews on Amazon and is well loved. It’s great because it is adjustable, very sturdy, and is at such a great price point! You can buy it here.
My #1 top pick is the Artan balance barre. It comes in many different beautiful finishes that give the metal a grain look. There is an option to buy one with a real wood barre if that is something you are interested in. Overall this portable ballet barre is my favorite because of the quality and price point.
If you are looking for a more sturdy barre and have the space at home, then a mounted barre is the way to go!
Vita Vibe makes a beautifully classic ballet dance barre that ranges from 3ft up to 40ft. It is very customizable depending on your space and has a 5-star rating on Amazon. You can learn more about it here.
Dance Stretch Band
One of my favorite tools is stretch bands! I love using a stretch band for warming up my feet before class, stretching, and also for a variety of strengthening exercises. Stretch bands are not created equal and I have some of my favorites listed below.
I’m sure you have heard of The PlumStretch band and for good reason! It has thousands of reviews on Amazon and is a favorite for beginner adult ballet dancers. It is really versatile and also comes with a booklet full of stretches to do with the band.
This band is good for stretches, but it is not great for feet strengthening exercises.
An all-time cult classic for stretching and strengthening bands is Theraband. If physical therapists use them, then you know they are good.
Some really great thing about therabands is that they come in different levels. As a ballet beginner, this is great because you can start with an easier band like the yellow one and gradually move up to tougher resistance as you build strength. You can shop therabands here.
I personally don’t have a door stretching band yet, but it is something that I really want to get because it uses a pulley system to help you get deeper in a stretch.
Also, it is a very functional form of stretching because you are standing. What better way to get higher arabesques than stretching in the correct form. The band I have been eyeing is The Main Dancer. They have great reviews for quality and ease of use.
Portable Dance Floor
A portable dance floor is a great alternative to buying a full dance floor for your house. They are very portable and great for pointe shoe work and jumps.
One of the best portable dance floors you can buy is Dot2Dance. They are a small business that creates very durable dance floors that is perfect for the adult ballet beginner.
They also work on any surface including carpet or even grass. It comes in 16, 24, and 32 inches. I would go with the 32 inches even though it is a little more expensive, you will be working with a wider area and it is still very portable at that size. You can shop them here.
If you are on more of a budget and don’t have a big space, I recommend getting an interlocking dance floor kit. These are great because they aren’t permanent so you can move them around and they are very easy to set up. I love this option on Amazon because it comes in different wood grain colors and sizes. It isn’t as high quality as the Dot2Dance but is a great alternative if you are just starting out.
Fun Extra Ballet Equipment and Supplies
The items listed above are some of my must-haves for the adult ballet beginner who is looking to uplevel their home studio space but I wanted to include some fun extras that I really enjoy for my practice.
PBT Equipment
I absolutely love cross-training with PBT classes and you really do need to have the equipment to get the full goodness out of the class. If you are looking to add this awesome workout to your routine then here are some accessories you will need.
PBT Ball
There are two different types of balls that you need.
A big ball and a small pilates-type ball.
The big ball that you get depends on your height. I love this one on Amazon because you can buy it depending on the size you need which is super helpful. I’m 5’4″ and I have the 65 cm ball option.
For your small ball, you will want a 9-inch pilates ball. This ball has almost 5 stars and over 10,000 reviews and has lasted me forever. It comes in a bunch of cute colors but you can always go with the classic ballet pink. You can check it out here.
PBT Theraband
You can use the Theraband as I mentioned above but I do like to have a wider band for the PBT classes because of all the specific footwork. I really like these ones from Amazon because they are almost 6 inches wide which makes keeping your foot in the band way easier.
Massage Ball
Lastly, for your PBT classes, you will need a massage ball.
But honestly you need this ball because it is the best thing ever.
I roll out my feet almost every day and it has made a huge difference in my feet articulation (aka prettier point). It has even helped me have more foot flexibility for plies.
I 100% recommend you get one even if you don’t take PBT classes.
I absolutely love my Yoga Tune-up balls. I have had them for years and I feel like they will never die. They are very sturdy and high quality.
If you have a bigger budget and want something that’s a little easier to manage then The Worm is also a great option.
I know the name is a little weird but I use this thing everywhere on my body. It’s great for rolling out your legs, back, and even neck. Plus since the balls are all together it’s a lot easier to manage and keep them where you want them to stay. You can buy it here.
That’s it for all the equipment you need for PBT classes but I also have a few more pieces of equipment I want to mention to you.
Turning Board
A turning board is exactly what it sounds like. This small piece of equipment helps you turn. This is great if you are still getting the hang of turning. I personally haven’t used one yet but it is on my list to try.
This pirouette board is the longer rectangle style that is very popular. You place one foot on the board and away you go. It can help improve your spotting, core control, and using the correct speed.
Another option is using a mini circle turning board. This one from American Dance is great because it comes with two boards. That way you can either be practicing turning with one or use both to help turnout.
When using a turnout board, I would make sure to stay close to your barre to help you keep safe.
Foam Roller
This just makes me happy thinking about foam rolling. This is a must-have for any dancer but especially if you are an adult ballet beginner like me.
As an adult, we have some TIGHT muscles. We often are sitting a lot or in weird crunched positions as we take care of kids, pets, and all the things.
Foam rolling is great because it helps break up fascia tissue and can improve flexibility over time! Plus, it just feels really good.
There are a lot of different foam rollers out there, but my favorite is the Amazon Basics. They get the job done for a good price and come in a couple of different lengths.
If you really like muscle torture, then you get The Original foam roller with trigger point knobs on it. It targets a lot deeper into the muscle and is for people with higher pain tolerance.
Dance Bag
I consider a dance bag a fun extra but personally don’t own one because I only take classes at home. If I had a studio near me though, then I would definitely be getting a cute bag.
One of the bags I’m always drooling over is Claudi Dean’s Pro Bag. It is so classically pretty and has all the features that a dancer could need. The detailing is next level and I am completely obsessed with it.
Dance Shoes
This goes without saying that if you don’t have dance shoes yet then you need to get some! Having well-fitting shoes not only feels good but can help improve your technique and strength. Check out this article for some of my favorite shoes for adult ballet beginners.
Or you can take this quiz to find the best shoe for YOU! 👇🩰
Leave a Reply