BEAUTY TIPS
Recital Make-up, Theme and Competition Make-up

The difference, the looks, the colors and the mistakes to watch for:  

Recital make-up is a look to set off the costume and set the mood of the dance piece.  Those little extra’s capture the era and style of the number.  Whether the dance is 1950’s Grease, a ballet classic, or futuristic pop, it’s the make-up and hair that finishes the look and creates the fantasy.

Here are a few make-up color rules to keep for the next time you create a fantasy face.

Remember the theme of the look. Make-up changes every era just like fashion.

The make-up era looks that set the style in their day:

  • In the1920’s black shadow across the lid and deep burgundy rosebud lips was the choice of every flapper girl.

  • 1940’s liquid liner sweeping up only on the top lid, with rounded rich red lip.

  • 1950’s blue shadow and pink lipstick was the color of the moment. 

  • 1960’s saw heavy lined eyes, white shadow all over the lid and gray shadow through the crease.  The lips are washed out in light beige to keep the eyes the focus.

  • 1970’s blue shadow was back but with frost for the lid and white shadow highlighted under the brow. The face was brightened with pink cheeks and pale pink glossy lips. 

  • 1980’s, the era of excess, saw three colors of bright shadow, heavy brows, and bright lipstick.  Think Cindy Lauper.

When creating a fantasy, the era may not play a role at all; instead you might want to play on the imagination of the audience.  Create magic by defining the character of the piece. 

Fantasy character looks and the colors that make them come alive:

The ShowGirl.  Feathers in the hair, big lashes and glitter everywhere. The brighter the colors the better.

The Spanish Flamingo Dancer.  Heavy black eye liner sweeping up at the corners, red lips, and a spit curl along the side of the cheek.

The Cat.  Whether you choose a lion, a leopard, or a tiger, the drama is purr-fect for a feline fantasy. Use face pencils or greasepaint in black, brown, orange, yellow, white, and red/brown.

Fairy Princess.  A favorite for classical pieces, this look is soft and sweet.  Lot’s of glitter and sparkling shimmers, placed only on the key light catching spots.

Man look.  This look is a suit and tie, hair parted and slicked back, but the face is feminine.  Lips are red or defined with lot’s of gloss, cheekbones contoured and eyes are shaded in browns with thick black lashes.

Make-up to accent costumes:

  • Add rhinestones and glitter to the face in complimenting colors to draw attention to unique costume detail.  Other accents can include:

  • Glitter, sparkling powders, and soft sheen creams and powders.  Three types of light catching products can turn any look into a magical fairy princess or a futuristic intergalactic arrival.

  • Wigs- whether platinum blonde, fire engine red, or a passionate purple wigs can create a new mood in minutes.

The Difference between Recital and Competition/Audition Make-Up:

Unlike recital character/fantasy make-up the competition face is a look that needs to compliment the beauty of the dancer and go with multiple costume changes.  From Classical to Jazz, this look is an audition face that Judges will be scrutinizing as carefully as the dance it’s self.  The make-up color choices are perfect for professional auditioning, where dancers are often video taped and or photographed. 

The competition face relies on neutral colors that easily blend with any color or style of costume and music.

  • Browns are the color of choice and are accented in pinks or peaches. The outer corners of the eye are defined with the deep shade and the crease with the neutral medium tone.  The lid and underneath the brow is highlighted with a cream or soft pink light shadow.  Black eyeliner is often used on the lid and brown liner under the lashes for a softer lining choice. The eyeliners do not meet at the eye corners.  The white pencil is a good eye opener; used between where the two lines meet these are a favorite among ballerinas. Judges prefer False Lashes for a more polished look. Lips are lined in a red/brown pencil and the lipstick of choice is a rose, true red or red/brown. Cheeks are contoured with neutral brown cheek color and flushed with a soft rose or red on the apples. 

  • Personal style is not forgotten for competition make-up.  Little extras like glitter and sparkling powders, when applied sparingly to key light catching areas can add a little more drama and still be appropriate.

Make-Up Mistakes That Spell Amateur:

1.   Remember the size of the audience, the design of the stage lights and set, play a big role in color choices.  With a smaller more intimate audience and standard stage lighting, make-up should show a softer appeal.  With a large audience and strong stage lighting, make-up should be stronger in color and application.

2.   Watch for these mistakes:

Eyes-Undefined brows, eyes lined in black liner from eye corner to eye corner (two black holes for eyes), outdated shadow application.

Foundation- Oily shiny face, foundation that’s to dark

Cheeks-Red cheek apples that look like apples. Blend!

Hair-Loose hair getting in front of the dancer’s face.

3.   The age of a dancer plays a big role in color choices and application technique.  A junior dancer may not need false lashes unless performing with seniors.  Juniors have smaller features that become overpowered easily with colors that are too bold.  Try a softer sheerer red/rose shade for cheeks and lips.  Avoid heavy eyeliner especially in black.  When in doubt always go softer with juniors.

4.   Men/boys should wear make-up to cover redness and blemishes on the skin.  Mascara can be worn to bring out eyes and for more drama a soft brown eye pencil blended in can help define eyes naturally.  Brows are always important as they frame the eyes