What's in an Aerialist’s Dance Bag? with Fiona Tang

The glamour, elegance and extravagance of aerial arts does not come without preparation and practice. Spiralling down from the ceiling to unravel what lies in her dance bag is Hong Kong’s very own aerialist, Fiona Tang.

What do you put in your dance bag for a rehearsal? And for a performance?

As an aerialist who specializes in aerial sling (hammock), the hammock is my dance floor. Our apparatus is vertical and we literally have to hang from it , so grip is essential for solid moves. I always make sure to have rosin (grip powder designed for aerial hammocks) in my bag no matter what. Regardless of whether I am rehearsing or performing.

I also keep my back warmer in my bag at all times as certain movements can cause silk burns around the waist. Having a back warmer handy removes any discomfort from performing these movements and provides the body with ample protection. Next, I like to keep a tripod in my bag especially for rehearsals, as it is not easy to spot yourself through mirrors since you are either spinning, or upside down. We fundamentally rely on the video playback to check our alignment and movement.

Lastly, for performances, I will have my makeup bag, an extra pair of tights and a hoodie with me to keep warm in between sets. Since we usually wear bodysuits for performance and accidents do happen, spare tights are crucial to have on hand.

What’s the one item in your bag that you could not live without, and why?

My headphones. Listening to music allows me to visualize my movements when I don't have access to an aerial space or when I am just travelling. The downsides of practicing