5 Reasons You NEED Professional Stage Makeup!
Every year a new crop of young eager dancers perform on competition stages all over the world and so there will always be the question, “why do I have to wear stage makeup?” and “how dark does it need to be?”. Dance moms ask me these questions ALL THE TIME because they feel that “makeup is makeup” and stage makeup seems to be yet another “special” item to buy and add to the bottomless dance bag. (the bottomless dance bag-now, that’s a great product!)
Are there really good reasons for buying and using professional stage makeup or is the studio owner/director/choreographer just trying to pull one over you?
Before we discuss, take our poll:
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If you are a competitive dancer, college level dancer, or professional dancer you need to be wearing professional stage makeup for the following 5 reasons:
1) Distance between the performer and the audience - When I am sitting in the audience, I am too far away from you to see what is going on in your face unless you enhance your features with makeup. Your makeup actually needs to be dark enough for your features to be visible to the first 8 - 12 rows of the theater. Many street makeup brands do not intensify when layered - they stay one color no matter how much you put on. Professional stage makeup is versatile because it is highly-pigmented so that you can wear a little or a lot, depending on how you much you apply - the less you apply, the lighter it is - the more you apply, the darker it gets.
2) Intense stage lighting - Stage lighting can really “flatten” your features and take away all of the dimensions that help the audience see your facial expressions clearly. Most street makeup brands are limited in their amount of pigment and just cannot get dark enough to be seen under stage lighting. Great professional stage makeup will be highly-pigmented so that it can be seen under colorful, intense stage lighting - it won’t disappear when the lights hit you.
3) Decorative costuming - Your performance makeup is part of your costume. If you were to put on a long evening gown, have your hair in an up-do, put on your high heel shoes and then put NOTHING on your face, you would look like you were missing something. Your face would be overshadowed by your outfit and would look drab. We NEVER want our costume to overshadow our face. EVER! Professional stage makeup is primarily earth-toned colors to adapt to every costume change, every lighting situation and every skin tone.
4) Sweat-factor - When we are performing on stage, under intense stage lighting, dancing our butts off, we will sweat (and as I used to tell my dancers - if you are not sweating then you are not working hard enough!). There is nothing more uncomfortable than having a bead of sweat roll down into your eye while you are dancing and having your eye sting like crazy because all of your eye makeup is now IN your eye - making it tear even more - smearing mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow - all while you are ON STAGE! Many street makeup brands are either NOT sweat-resistant or are chemically altered to be “long lasting”. You are eating chemicals (in lipsticks) and absorbing them into your skin. High quality, professional stage makeup will be naturally sweat-resistant and will not irritate sensitive eyes or skin.
5) Protect the skin - Professional stage makeup should be highly-pigmented, hypo-allergenic (no known allergens used), non-comedogenic (non-clogging to the pores, so no break outs), and as NATURALLY sweat-resistant as possible.
Hey, guess what, you are in luck…JAM cosmetics professionally designed performance makeup kits are ALL THAT!!! And more!!!
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About the Author
Jessica Dupont is a former Professional NYC Dancer and Makeup Artist. She owns JAM cosmetics, which is a line of ULTIMATE performance cosmetics for dancers and cheerleaders. JAM specializes in dance makeup, cheer makeup and is known for their beautiful half lashes and step-by-step video tutorials.
Find out 4 secrets the pro’s use AND 3 things you NEED TO KNOW to look gorgeous and stand out from the crowd, by getting Jessica’s free dance makeup e-Guide NOW at www.JAMcosmetics.net.
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T.kimbrough says:
September 13th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I do agree with all that was said above. I don’t just agree because I learned it in class but I agree because that’s what happens to dancers all the time. I agree that stage makeup is healthier and more reliant than regular street makeup.
Dominguez K. says:
September 14th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
All of the reasons above i agree with. The reason i agree with the most is wearing stage make-up in order for the audience to see the performer.Just as we talked about in class if the performer has to much make-up on then from the front row seats that performer might scare the audience. If there is not enough make up though the audience in the back can not see the performers face and it may look like to them that she has no face. One reason i think should be added is the performer wearing the make-up to cause effect. If the play is dramatic u dont want a blah looking performer and if the play is calm and seren you dont want a performer to have in your face make-up.
Z. Garcia says:
September 14th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I do agree with all of the reasons above. It was explained really good and nothing was left out (as far as i know). Also I strongly agree with reason 3 and 4 because when it comes to costumes and their make-up peaple are always going to be curious to look at your face to see the completion of the out fit.
brittany duncan says:
September 15th, 2010 at 4:49 am
the 5 reason you need stage make up are used to highlight your face so that when u are on stage the make up accents your face its not used to make you look like a clown these 5 steps are to help bring out your features so when u are on stage u look as your supposed to i do agree with what is said above not just because i learned it but beacuse its any everyday use for girls allover and i myself have experienced it to
I madaire says:
September 16th, 2010 at 8:59 am
i agree with allthe reasons above of why you need stage make up and also highlights your face. i know this from what i taught in class and also from what i seen at performaces.
cole,v says:
September 16th, 2010 at 9:02 am
well all of the reason i agree with because when your preforming people looks at your face. so if you do not wear any make up your face will look flat.
P.Owens says:
September 16th, 2010 at 9:06 am
i agree with the reasons stated above , because when in the performing arts . Its better to have on makeup too bring atention to your face.
D.Sheridan says:
September 16th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Everything that was mentioned in this article I totally agree with. Stage make-up is one of the most important accessories that an artists needs to look flawless when they preform on stage. As mentioned in the article, when you sweat your skin soaks in all the chemicals. The most important reason to me would have to be that stage make-up is sweat resistant and more healthier for your skin, making this very convenient for stage performers.
ashley mcnamara says:
September 16th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
i agree that a pro dancer needs pro makeup on, on stage because without it they would be plain janes, theres no attraction to dancers like that. they need makeup to bring attention to their faces.
H.Andrea says:
September 20th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
I totally agree the reasons stated above. Everyone wants to be seen when preforming on stage no matter what your doing . Not just that your to far way but the lighting too. And I believe that stage make up is the life saver on this one. You also what something to go with your spectacular outfit on stage. The most important wearing makeup to protect you skin and doesn’t get all over your face when moving around and sweating.