Stage Makeup
It is easy to associate the word "makeup" with beauty. That is the primary purpose of makeup and the way it is marketed to us as consumers every day. This fact leads many parents to ask us "Why does my child need to wear makeup for the stage anyway?!"
We want to start off by saying wearing stage make-up has very little to do with trying to look beautiful on stage. Children are beautiful as they are and we all know that. The true purpose of stage make-up is to be able to see a performers facial features on stage under the bright, bright stage lights.
By highlighting dancers’ facial features, it makes it easier for the audience to see their smile, their emotional expressions, and be able to read their lips better when/if they sing during their performance. It’s an important and long-standing tradition in the community for dancers to include stage makeup as a routine component of their costumes.
Young children oftentimes are too excited about the upcoming show to sit still for very long or they may have sensitivities toward the application of makeup. Therefore, it can be tricky to apply it properly the way we are instructing below. CLICK HERE FOR OUR INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VERY YOUNG CHILD.
What You Need
Foundation & Concealer. Foundation worn on stage should be slightly darker than a "true match."
Neutral Eyeshadow pallet
Black or Brown Eyeliner.
How to Apply
Black or Brown Mascara
Pink or Red Blush
BRIGHT RED lipstick
Exceptions:
HOT PINK Lipstick if wearing a pink costume.
BROWN Lipstick if playing a male character
1. Apply Foundation all over face with concealer under eyes.
2. Apply a medium color from your eyeshadow pallet all over the eye lid
3. Apply a darker color from your eyeshadow pallet in the crease of your eye and outer side of the eyelid.
4. Apply a lighter color from your eyeshadow pallet to the brow bone to create a highlight
5. Blend eyeshadow well where the different colors meet to create a more natural looking transition.
6. Apply eyeliner along the top of upper lid, creating a small wing slightly upwards. Apply a very thin line from the wing to the middle of the bottom lid.
*liquid vs. pencil eyeliner? Liquid eyeliner looks better on stage, but takes more practice to be able to apply well. Pencil eyeliner is easier to apply but creates a dull line that is not always seen well under stage lights.
7. Apply mascara to the top and bottom lashes.
8. Apply blush to the apple of the cheek and slightly upward toward the temple
9. Apply lipstick. Applying a matching lipliner before applying lipstick is optional and helps keep the lipstick looking neat and the edges of the lips looking sharp.
This is a great video explaining EVERYTHING about stage makeup.
NOTE:
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We do not endorse the products mentioned in this video. Use the makeup that works for your personal tastes and budget.
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This video goes into great depth about stage makeup. While following ALL these steps would be perfect for a professional dancer, it is not necessary to follow every single one of them for a once-a-year recital experience. Follow the basic principals of the technique and feel free to skip the less critically important steps as you see fit (eg highlights, contours, eyelashes, etc).
How to Apply Makeup to a Very Young Dancer
It is not worth ruining an exciting recital day if a very young child will not let you apply stage makeup. Our advice is this: Stick to the basics, and apply what will be allowed.
The most important parts to focus on are eyeshadow (one shade on the lid), blush, and lipstick.
Through the years, as the dancer gets older and matures, you can slowly introduce more "tricky" parts to the make-up application process, like foundation, eyeliner and mascara.