Shop:
Shen Yun Creations
Artist Fashion
Shen Yun Collections
Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • The Performance
    9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
    Classical Chinese Dance
  • The Company
    Our Story
    Artists
    Challenges We Face
    About Shen Yun
    Performing Arts
    Symphony Orchestra
    Press Releases
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Blog
  • 5,000 Years
    Chinese Dance
    Music
    Vocal Music
    Shen Yun Costumes
    Digital Projection
    Shen Yun Props
    Stories and History
    Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • FAQ
  • Newsletter Support Employment Search
    English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Pусский
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Buy Tickets What's New
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tickets
    What’s New
    Menu
    • The Performance
      • 9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
      • Classical Chinese Dance
    • The Company
      • The Company
      • Our Story
      • Artists
      • Challenges We Face
      • About Shen Yun
        Performing Arts
      • Symphony Orchestra
      • Press Releases
    • Videos
    • Reviews
    • News
    • Blog
    • 5,000 Years
      • 5,000 Years
      • Chinese Dance
      • Music
      • Vocal Music
      • Shen Yun Costumes
      • Digital Projection
      • Shen Yun Props
      • Stories and History
      • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • FAQ
    • Shop
      • Shen Yun Creations
      • Artist Fashion
      • Shen Yun Gift Shop
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    What Makes Us Unique?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Employment
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    Language
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Pусский
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
      Blog
      Back Blog > What’s in a Dancer’s Bag?
    The contents of fellow dancer Chelsea Cai's little blue duffel bag.

    What’s in a Dancer’s Bag?

    It was a typical Sunday, 8 am, and my first task was braving through the elevator rush hour. This is when 80 performers with the same schedule call for the hotel elevators at the same time. Finally in the lobby, I then briskly walked out of the hotel, coffee in hand, and made it onto the bus just in time without being late and holding everyone up.

    I plopped into my seat, arranged myself comfortably and let out a long exhale. It was time to savor that good cup of Joe. Mmmm... so aromatic... After half a sip, I jolted back with dismay—in my rush I had forgotten about creamer and sugar! Desperate, I wailed to my seat partners, hoping they somehow carried the ingredients. I was faced with an empathetic shake of heads, until, from a few seats back, I heard a sound of hope—and that hope was Chelsea Cai.

    “Diana? Did you say you needed creamer?” said our principal dancer. “I also have milk and honey powder if you want.”

    She walked up and flapped open her duffel bag, revealing a personalized grocery aisle of gourmet powders, avant-garde crystals, and delectable chocolates. We all gaped at her with surprise, for the things she offered in her duffel bag were out of the norm. With a sheepish smile, she said her “extra baggage” as a necessity; an energy sustenance vital to her demanding dance roles. We did admire her enthusiasm for coffee and milk, but with only a small suitcase and duffel to live out of for five months, we never thought of those items as a priority.

    Our signature blue duffels carry the many essential we deem necessary as a Shen Yun dancer. After going around and inquiring with my fellow dancers about the things they used most often, I came up with this list of items we would never be caught without.

    Here are the top nine things you are bound to see in our bags:

    Papaw cream: Fermented papaya may sound like a total turnoff, but Shen Yun dancers swear by this. Introduced by our Australian members, this multipurpose cream heals our cracked heels, marley floor burns and self-inflicted scratches (catching your foot next to your head is not that easy!).

    Dry shampoo: With a busy schedule, we often cram a shopping session or dine-out after a show; this is where dry shampoo comes to the rescue—our ponytail-bound kinks and sweat-laced locks are instantly smoothed out!

    Hairpins and clips: A girl’s best weapons to execute a sleek, tight bun. We always have an abundant supply of bobby pins, elastics and scunci clips—all stored in dainty soap tins and pretty little pouches.

    Pocket Swiss knives: A must-have European souvenir, the Swiss knife is a staple in every performer’s bag. Loose threads, frayed handkerchiefs, split-ends, stubborn tags... can all be done away with using this functional tool.

    Dancewear: We ditch the tutus and leotards—the key for us is low maintenance, which means shirt and pants. If it’s black, slim-fitted and breathable, it counts as dancewear. Sometimes, an extra set is very helpful when we’re soaked with sweat from intense training.

    Tiger balm: In humid areas like Taiwan, it’s always a good idea to carry this popular Chinese household item, for those pesky mosquitoes have no mercy! Similar to the celebrity-praised Rosebud Salve, its strong smell and invigorating after-effect also serves as a wake up call when feeling drowsy on a long bus day.

    Journal: This year, we do things a bit differently. For a healthier, proactive lifestyle, we Shen Yun performers have agreed to go smart device free. That’s right, no iPhones, Androids, or tablets! We’ve broken free from hyper-dependency on the internet and, as a bonus, have grown closer as a team. And we’ve discovered that old-fashioned notebooks are a great convenience. Whether it’s capturing a burst of ideas, jotting down newfound revelations, or making a to-do list, the classic notebook never freezes. Apple is out and Moleskine is in. This is also a great opportunity to perfect our fonts!

    Zhuan Falun: One of the most treasured items we possess, Zhuan Falun is an enlightening book that can always restore peace in our stressful, hectic lives. It instructs us to abide by the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance and has by far, changed our lives.

    Chocolate: We agree with Chelsea on this one; chocolate does give us that extra kick of energy that we sometimes seek. During a two-hour-long training session, we are often seen smuggling squares of Ghirardelli into the studio.

    After journeying the different corners of the globe, we have determined these are the most functional, practical items for our fast-paced, on-the-go way of life.

    What’s in your bag? Do you have any tips to share?

    Diana Deng Blogger

    Diana Teng

    Dancer

    View all posts

    March 7, 2016

    Comments
    verification

    Previous

    An Udumbara Surprise

    Next

    What I’ll Miss About Australia
    Most Recent
    • Parallel Figures BONUS: Ye Xian and Cinderella
    • Famous Parallel Figures 10/10: Marco Polo and Zhang Qian
    • Being Daddy on the Road
    • Famous Parallel Figures 9/10: Leonardo da Vinci and Lu Ban
    • Famous Parallel Figures 8/10: Wang Zhaojun and Helen of Troy
    Most Popular
    • All
    • News
    • Blog
  • 1 Artist Spotlight: Elsie Shi
  • 2 Artist Spotlight: Chad Chen
  • 3 Artist Spotlight: Angelia Wang
  • 4 Photos from Tour: Exploring the Swiss Alps
  • 5 Photos from Tour: Sunshine and Rainbows
  • 6 Q&A with Dancer Seongho Cha
  • 7 Photos from Tour: From Seaside to Stage
  • 8 Q&A with Soprano Rachael Bastick
  • 9 See You on the Flip Side
  • 10 Q&A with Principal Dancer Miranda Zhou-Galati
  • Show More
  • 1 Artist Spotlight: Elsie Shi
  • 2 Artist Spotlight: Chad Chen
  • 3 Artist Spotlight: Angelia Wang
  • 4 Photos from Tour: Exploring the Swiss Alps
  • 5 Photos from Tour: Sunshine and Rainbows
  • 6 Q&A with Dancer Seongho Cha
  • 7 Photos from Tour: From Seaside to Stage
  • 8 Q&A with Soprano Rachael Bastick
  • 9 See You on the Flip Side
  • 10 Q&A with Principal Dancer Miranda Zhou-Galati
  • Show More
    Show More

    Tags

    • Artist Perspectives
    • Life on Tour
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifehacks
    • Coffee Culture
      Shen Yun logo golden
      Shen Yun logo golden

      Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

      About
    • Shen Yun Performing Arts
    • Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
    • Challenges We Face
    • Shen Yun & Spirituality
    • Meet the Artists
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Press Releases
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Videos
    • Latest & Featured
    • About Shen Yun
    • Meet the Artists
    • Reviews
    • News & Blog
    • News & Reviews
    • Featured
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Explore
    • Chinese Dance
    • Music
    • Vocal Music
    • Shen Yun Costumes
    • Digital Projection
    • Shen Yun Props
    • Stories and History
    • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • Shen Yun Creations
      Artist Fashion
      Shen Yun Collections
      Friends of Shen Yun
      Tian Yin Music Store
      Guestbook
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    Shen Yun Performing Arts Official Website Artist Fashion Shen Yun Collections Friends of Shen Yun Copyright ©2022 Shen Yun Performing Arts. All Rights Reserved.
    Contact us Terms Privacy Site map