What's in a Hip Hop Dancer's Bag?
With Moses Li
Everything a dancer needs for their rehearsal or class is inside their bag, and having those essential items can either make or break a dancer’s day. Before hitting up the dance floor, professional hip hop dancer Moses Li takes us inside his dance preparation routine by unveiling what’s inside his dance bag!
What do you put in your dance bag for a rehearsal? And for a performance?
Music leads me to various movements, so a pair of headphones and a speaker are essential! I wear my headphones when working on some choreography or to just relax. But when I do my dance practice, I use a speaker because I’ll do bigger movements.
I’ll also bring a pair of dance shoes with me which are lighter and more comfortable than my street shoes. Lastly, I always bring an extra t-shirt and sometimes a towel for those extra sweaty rehearsals, and a big water bottle as I drink a LOT of water.
For performances (especially overseas tours), I will bring those 5 things along with my makeup bag, and a change of clothes to wear after my stage rehearsals. Usually performance costumes are transported by production crew members.
What’s the one item in your bag that you could not live without, and why?
I really want to say my music set because music always fills my day with good vibes. But if we’re literally talking about what I could not live without, then it would definitely be a water bottle, to keep myself hydrated and healthy!
What’s your best packing hack for when you are travelling on tour?
When on tour, there’s often a lot of time spent on standby. So, it’s important to make sure you have things to keep you busy or entertained between rehearsals and shows!
For myself, I will pack a game console for gaming, a converter for watching movies, my own headphones, and a neck pillow with an eye mask for a good rest. All of these help the quality of long journeys and help ease any tension before a performance!
What advice do you have for those who want to be a professional dancer?
Go for it and dance as much as possible by taking classes and setting up your own personal practice. Reflect on yourself frequently. You’ll always find something to learn from others, so watch them dance and show your support and appreciation. Keep yourself motivated by always keeping your intention in mind!
Both mental and physical preparation is so important for dancers. Everyone has their own way of preparing for a class, rehearsal, or show, but we can often benefit from stepping outside our own routine to learn from others. It keeps our art alive, and gives us a fresh perspective on how we can approach our own practice in dance. Until next time, that’s a zip!