How to Apply Stage Makeup for Dance Performances

What Applications Make the Best Impact on the Audience

Jun 9, 2009

The purpose of stage makeup is to allow the audience to see the performers and their facial expressions. If not made up, stage lighting could blank out a dancer's face.

For a dance recital or competition, the performers should look like themselves, but "more". If makeup is not applied correctly, or is not used at all, spotlights and other stage lighting will create a white effect on the performer's face, and the eyes and mouth will not be seen by the audience.

Foundation should be applied first. If a dancer is light-skinned, he or she would want to use a foundation that is slightly darker and pinker than the natural skin tone. Those with darker complexions should try to match their skin tone with the tone of the foundation.

Highlighting the Face

In order to look healthy and tanned, use blush or lipstick to make a small streak across the forehead, along the tops of the cheekbones, down the ridge of the nose, and across the chin. Blend all the streaks into the foundation with a finger or a makeup sponge. Choose a red which, when blended, most accurately reflects the dancer's natural coloring. Think of creating a "kissed by the sun" look, but not sunburn.

If the dancer has a slightly weak or small chin, add a white streak toward the top of the red streak on the chin, and blend well. If the chin is a bit prominent, then you will not need to add the white streak.

Children's cheekbones are generally not as defined as adults' cheekbones, so you may want to use a white streak above the red on the children's cheekbones in order to enhance them. A streak of darker makeup, well-blended under the cheekbone, will also make it stand out.

Lipstick and Lining

To make lips more prominent, use a pencil to outline around the mouth, in addition to putting on lipstick. You may also add a narrow white streak on the upper lip, above the dark outline. You will want to use brighter lipstick than daily wear, in bright red or burgundy tones.

For the eyes, strongly outline the brows and use eyeliner to emphasize the upper lids. Extend the crease at the outside corner of the eye with eyeliner to make the eye appear larger, and use a smaller eyeliner line for the lower lids. Use natural colors for eye shadow, like brown or dark purple, but add a streak of a bright color in the center of the eyelid above the pupil (preferably blue) to make the eye appear more open.

Practice your makeup techniques before the day of the performance. Dress rehearsals also give you an idea of what will work best with the colors of the stage your are using. Remember, dancers should look like more "enhanced" versions of themselves onstage, not plastic doll versions of themselves!

The copyright of the article How to Apply Stage Makeup for Dance Performances in Ballet/Jazz/Tap Dance is owned by Terry Finch. Permission to republish How to Apply Stage Makeup for Dance Performances in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.