Do you consider makeup as part of your overall look for a performance? I find that makeup can really help enhance a costume! I thought it might be nice to take a tiny departure and share my thoughts on stage makeup as it’s an important aspect to your overall look in performance dance. For dancers, stage makeup is very different from everyday makeup, and there are some differences to keep in mind when you apply it.
General Considerations
It can be hot under stage lighting! You’ll want to use long-wear formulas to help you keep looking beautiful throughout your dancing. Layering formulations (cream/liquid blush followed by power blush) also helps the wear time of a made-up face. These tips will also help keep your makeup fresh through multiple costume changes.
Stage lighting is also very harsh and can make you look washed out. You also want the people in the very back row to see your features. A good stage performance makeup will look over done in natural lighting, and I use darker contour than I normally would.
If you are in multiple pieces, you’ll want a “general” look as opposed to a specific look to a certain costume. Something that works well for a lot of women is a red lip with a smoky brown eye.
If your look is more specific to a costume, consider using colors from the costume to tie the look together. Matching your eyeshadow to your dress color can be very fun!
Step-by-Step Stage Makeup for Dancers
- Start with your base! On clean, moisturized skin, apply a primer. I like Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Follow your primer with a long wear foundation. I really like stick foundation for this, as it has high coverage and perfectly matches as spot concealer. Use foundation on your full face and blend down into your neck. Use this step to apply eye shadow primer as well as any undereye concealer you might use. Blend well!
- If you want to layer your blush/contour/highlight, apply your cream/liquid products before applying a translucent powder. My favorite powder for this is Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. If you need your look to last all day through multiple performances, I recommend “baking” your makeup by using a sponge to press the powder into the skin, wait 10 minutes, then dust/blend the excess off with a brush.
- At this point I like to apply eye makeup. I tend to use matte shadows for performance makeup as the subtlety of shimmer tends to be lost under stage lighting. An easy eye look is to apply a wash of bone or cream colored eyeshadow all over the eyelid up the browbone. Next, work a mid-tone brown over the eyelid and into the crease. Finally use a dark brown in the outer sideways “V” of the eye. Blend well in between each application. Finish the look by applying a thick cat’s eye line of eyeliner; I like to use a brush and Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner for this. Set your brows with your preferred brow product – both pencils and gels work great here. Leave lashes for a later step!
- I return to the face here with highlight/blush/contour powders. I use colors that are a couple shades more extreme that I might use for everyday makeup. This is part of what makes stage makeup so fun! I happen to use NYX Matte Bronzer in medium on my fair skin for contour. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl is beautiful for the stage as well. Any bright blush in pink or coral (depending on what works for your skin tone) will look great on the stage. The bright color you like that scares you a little bit is the right one!
- Apply your lip product. I’ve used several different methods with success, but the easiest for me is a longwear liquid lipstick. I use Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Dancer.
- At this point I will step back and take a look in the mirror from several feet away to see what the makeup might look like. If I need a little more something I can add it now. If it’s good I spritz my face with a setting spray. The Urban Decay one is classic and very good.
- Time for lashes! I really recommend using false eyelashes, but if you don’t like them or are allergic to glue I know people who have used eyelash primer with a longwear lengthening mascara. I use Ardell False Lashes with Duo Eyelash Adhesive. Pick your favorite style, however, I prefer the lashes which get longer towards the outer eye! I’ve used both the clear and the black eyelash adhesive and don’t have a preference.
- If you’re doing a specific look that requires adding rhinestones or other finishing touches, we have reached the very end and this is the time for those!
Helpful Videos
Applying False Eyelashes – if you’ve never applied false eyelashes before, I really like Lisa Eldridge’s video on how to apply them.
Royal Ballet Inspired Makeup Video – Another Lisa Eldridge video (I learned so much about applying makeup from her!). This one is lovely and incorporates rhinestones into the look.
In-Depth Stage Makeup Tutorial – Kathryn Morgan is a pro ballerina who has made quite a few stage makeup tutorials for dancers. You might find this one helpful!
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found some useful information today! You can always find my tutorials on my tutorials page! I know makeup is a departure from my normal posts on costuming or the fiber arts, but makeup is such an important piece of your performance look! Stage makeup for dancers isn’t hard, just different from every day makeup. Plus you get the opportunity to play with different colors that you may not want to wear normally! Have you found a product you really like to use in your performance makeup? I’d really love to know!
