Stocking Fillers Under $20

Small, useful and a little bit sparkly is the sweet spot. Dancers love anything that clips onto a bag or slips into a pocket.

The Energetiks key rings are $12.95 each: the Dance! Keyring in pink with sparkling diamantes, plus the Dancer Keyring and 5678 Keyring in glossy black enamel. For the pointe dancer, the Pointe Me to the Barre Keyring ($15.95) is finished in rose gold and soft pink glitter, and the Bloch Pointe Keyring ($12.95) is a pointe shoe with a satin bow, in turquoise.

A Rainbow Heart Jewelled Bag Charm ($9.95) adds rhinestone sparkle to any bag, and the Ballerina Notebook ($8.95) is an A5 soft cover with a ballerina cut-out and an elastic strap, ideal for choreography notes and class corrections. Add a Mesh Shoe Bag ($9.95, in black or pink) so shoes can air out between classes, or a Mad Ally Massage Ball ($5) that's small enough to toss in the dance bag for loosening up hips and stretching feet and arches before and after class.

For little dancers, the Ballerina Bracelet ($19.95) is a beaded stretch bracelet with ballet shoe, heart and bow charms.

The Dance Bag Upgrade

A good dance bag is the gift that gets used the most. The Pro Bag 2.0 ($110) from Claudia Dean is one of the brand's most popular ballet bags, with over 12 compartments, a water-resistant exterior, rose gold details and a soft baby pink lining. It's currently available in Academy Green and Acai.

For younger dancers, the Capezio Tutu Sequin Backpack ($37.95) has a 3-D sequined tulle tutu on the front and a metal ballerina zipper pull, while the Eloise Ruffle Dance Bag ($32.95, in Oat) is a lightweight crossbody with a detachable shoulder strap. The Studio 7 Eco-Friendly Mini Duffel ($50.95) is made from recycled plastics and has a ventilated shoe compartment, a drink bottle holder and a phone and accessories pocket, in six colour styles including Rainbow and Fairy Floss.

With concert season around the corner, the Studio 7 Mini Garment Bag ($19.95) is clear so you can see what's inside, with two large pockets for shoes and accessories. And the Mad Ally Makeup Bag ($72, in Hot Pink) has adjustable dividers so every brush and palette gets its own spot. If you'd like a head start on the season, our concert timeline for dance families shows what to sort and when.

Gifts for the Dancer Who Trains Hard

For the dancer who is always working on their turns, the Mad Ally Turn Disc ($50) is designed for practising turns on relevé without compromising technique. It's 13cm across and comes with a small velvet carry bag, so it travels easily to competitions and warm ups. It's available in blue, pink and purple.

Recovery gifts are always appreciated after a big week of classes and rehearsals. The Studio 7 Foam Roller ($30) comes with physio approved massage techniques, and the Bunheads Massage Ball ($13.95) is a silicone ball for rolling out trouble spots. A pack of Bunheads Exercise Bands ($34.95) includes one medium turquoise band and one heavy candy pink band for warming up, toning and stretching. For core strength, balance and posture practice at home, the KySienn ProCore Board ($70) comes in pink. And a bath soak makes a lovely end-of-term treat: KySienn Magnesium Flakes (750g, $19.95) are dissolved in a warm bath for a 20 to 30 minute soak.

For a little dance bag first aid kit, pair Blister Pads ($29.95, 15 pads in a hard-shell case) with a roll of Kinesiology Tape ($24.95, 5 metres, latex free).

And every dancer needs a drink bottle. The Bloch Stainless Steel Drink Bottle ($34.95) holds 600ml, is double-wall insulated and has a retractable sip mouthpiece and straw. It's available in Black and Apricot. For a bit of bling, the Bling Drink Bottle is a hand-blinged stainless steel bottle in blue or silver, currently reduced to $20.

Warm-Ups and Cosy Things

Cold studio floors and early starts call for layers. The Bloch Warm Up Booties ($79.95 for adults, with a children's version at $74.95) were designed with two American Ballet Theatre principal dancers and keep feet warm without taking ballet shoes off. They have a softly padded rip-stop nylon shell, a velcro strap and a non-slip PVC outsole. If you're between sizes, go up a size. Colours and sizes are limited, so it's worth checking before you order.

For layering over dancewear, the Capezio Harmonie Crossover Sweater ($58.95) is an extra-soft rib knit that crosses over into the waistband with no tie, in Black and Classic Blue. The Harmonie Knit Cardigan ($65.95) has a V-front and slightly flared sleeves, in Black. For something sportier, the Energetiks Lara Endurance Jacket ($99.95) is made from dense knit ProForm Luxe fabric with front pockets, thumbholes and breathable mesh panels, and it's proudly designed in Australia.

After class, there's sleepwear. The Energetiks Twilight Ballet Pyjama Set is a satin button-up shirt and shorts with a print of pointe shoes, crescent moons and stars, and it comes with a matching bag. It's currently reduced to $55.95. The Time To Dance Pyjama Set is a soft modal top and wide-leg pants, currently $67.95. Both are available in selected sizes.

Gifts for Dance Teachers

Dance teachers give so much of themselves to their students, and the best thank you is something practical they will actually use.

The safest, most welcome choice is a Showtime Dancewear Gift Card, available from $25 up to $150 and delivered by email. Online gift cards are redeemable on our website only, so if you'd like a card for in-store use, give the team a call on 07 5445 3303.

Teachers spend long days on their feet, so the layers above work beautifully: the Harmonie Knit Cardigan and Crossover Sweater are made for layering over dancewear or casual outfits. The Bloch Stainless Steel Drink Bottle is another winner for a teacher who is always talking, demonstrating and forgetting to drink water. After a full day in the studio, the Studio 7 Foam Roller and a bag of KySienn Magnesium Flakes make a thoughtful pair. For lesson plans and choreography ideas, the Ballerina Notebook is a lovely little extra, and the Dancer Keyring is a small, stylish extra for a bag or set of keys.

If you're a dance teacher yourself, don't forget that Showtime offers a Dance Teacher Discount. You can apply online.

Shopping together as a studio family? Pooling your budget into a gift card is a simple way to give a teacher something bigger at the end of the year.

For the Littlest Dancers

The Mad Ally Ballerina Indi Doll ($34.95) is a 57cm plush ballerina with a three-layered tulle skirt, ballet shoes with ribbon and a floral headpiece in her bun. She's available in Ballet Pink, Lavender and Raspberry. Beatrice Bunny ($29.95) is a 45cm knitted plush bunny in a pale pink dress, in Pink or Blue. Both are made for cuddles, and both look very at home at the end of a bed.

Still Not Sure?

Pop into the store at 1/76 Wises Road, Maroochydore, or call us on 07 5445 3303 and we'll help you choose. Free shipping applies to orders over $100, with some exclusions. If a leotard is on your list, our Leotards 101 guide can help with fit, fabric and style. And if there's a dancer starting pointe, you can book a pointe appointment online.