I have been on tour with Star Systems this year, and had the opportunity to judge the 2008 National Championships in Nashville, TN.  As dancer/makeup artist and owner of JAM cosmetics (THE professional makeup line designed for dancers), I felt compelled to write and talk about the TOP 10 PERFORMANCE MAKEUP MISTAKES that I saw on stages all over the country.

Number 1

MISTAKE:  No Eyebrows!  When there are no eyebrows, we lose the emotional expression of the face.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow in “Flirty Me” with an angled brush to add natural, water resistant color to eye brows to enhance and frame the eyes for stage.

Number 2

MISTAKE:  Black pencil eyeliner on the inside of the lower lash line.  On stage, it makes the eyes look smaller.  This is a great makeup technique for TV, fashion shows, print ads, and in person but not for stage performances.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics White Highlighter Pencil on the inside lower lash line and on the outside corner of the eyes to open and brighten the eyes.

Number 3

MISTAKE:  Black liquid liner under eye and too far to inner corner.  It closes up the eye and can give the appearance of dancer being “cross-eyed”.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadows with an angled brush to add natural water resistant color under outer third of lower lash line

Number 4

MISTAKE:  Dark contour color that is too high on the crease of the eye and too far in towards the nose.   The eyes look like big emotionless, black holes.  This is also why the “Smokey-eyed look” does not work on stage.

FIX IT:  Make sure contour color does not go so high up that it collides with the eyebrows.   Use an eye shadow brush that is angled (JAM cosmetics 7 piece brush set) to add natural water resistant color to crease area focusing on the outer half of the eye.  Blend, blend, blend!

Number 5

MISTAKE:  No foundation worn for stage performances.  Makeup that is worn without a foundation looks blotchy when you get sweaty and as the competition day goes on.

FIX IT:  Foundation creates a clean, matte surface for the makeup to be applied to.  Using a lightweight, mineral oil free/non-comedogenic, water resistant foundation like, JAM cosmetics Perfection Liquid Foundation, will keep makeup looking smooth and clean all day long - without breaking out!   Less touch-ups are needed with a good, professional foundation.

Number 6

MISTAKE:  False lashes that are too big and/or too thick.  When the stage lights come down from the top, big lashes create a shadow under the eyes making them look sleepy, heavy, and closed up.

FIX IT:  JAM cosmetics Dance Makeup Experts recommend Elise Faux Half lashes as the lashes are half size (no pinching of the skin in the inside corners of the eyes), and the focus of the lashes is the outer third of the eye.  This creates a sweeping motion lifting the eye to an almond shape - which is the look we are going for.

Number 7

MISTAKE:  Incorrect makeup colors used for stage makeup.  Just because we see a look on TV, does not mean that it will work for stage.  When a performer is on TV, the makeup is done as if that person will be standing in front of you - which, they will be - on your TV screen.  The makeup is not done for a distance of 50 -100 feet with intense stage lighting.

Foundation

• Pink toned foundations can look “ruddy” under stage lights.  Use warm toned foundations to keep skin looking healthy

Eye Shadows

• Light Purple disappears under stage lights
• Dark Purple and Dark Blue often turn black on stage.
• Baby blue - just because something is “in fashion”, does not mean it translates and works well for stage.  In the 70’s, when stage makeup was first developed, Baby Blue was a “fashionable” color.  That is why is was so often used by dancers then.  It was NOT used because it was the BEST choice for stage makeup colors for the eyes.

Lips

• Purple/hot pink lips - To keep is simple…BAD MAKEUP IS DISTRACTING.  If your lipstick stands out more than you’re dancing - it’s distracting!

FIX IT:  Stick to neutral, earth tones that bring out the natural beauty in the dancers face.  JAM cosmetics Dance Makeup Kits are designed to be the perfect color combinations for stage for all styles of dance.

Number 8

MISTAKE:  Too much blush/sharp line for blush.  This makes the dancer look older, more mature.

FIX IT:  Make sure you are using neutral rose toned or neutral pink/peach toned blush colors like JAM cosmetics “Superstar” or “Idol” to work with all different skin tones on a dance competition team.  And as always…blend, blend, blend!

Number 9

MISTAKE:  Not enough makeup.  Because of the intensity of the lights and the distance from the performer to the audience, the facial features lose their dimension - they “flatten” out without enough makeup on.

FIX IT:  When you go into a new theater/auditorium, do a “makeup rehearsal” before you perform.  Have someone go out into the audience and look at you on stage to see if we can see all of the emotion and dimension in your face.

Number 10

MISTAKE:  Lipstick that is TOO red.  Lipstick that has a “clown-like” look can be distracting to the audience/judges.  This is a very OLD style of stage makeup.  It is just not PRETTY.  I actually heard a studio director say specifically that he prefers a “hooker” red.  My question, “Is that what we are going for?”  Can’t the girls look gorgeous on stage and NOT wear “hooker” red?

FIX IT:  Most red lipsticks can be toned down by adding a neutral tone underneath them.  This gives the red color some depth and looks stunning on stage.  Try JAM cosmetics Warm Brandy or Mocha Mauve lip liner over entire lip under red lip stick.   Using your lip liner over the entire lip will give the lip stick even more staying power.

Please feel free to post any questions/comments or email any questions to: Info@JAMcosmetics.net

So there you have it…now go forth and do great makeup!

Jessica Dupont, www.JAMcosmetics.net

Tags: Dance Makeup, Recital Makeup

This entry was posted on Friday, November 28th, 2008 at 7:11 pm and is filed under Ballet Makeup, Basic Makeup 101, Dance Teachers & Moms, Hip Hop Makeup, Jazz/Competition Makeup, Modern Dance Makeup, Young Dancers Makeup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tags: Dance Makeup, Recital Makeup
Posted on November 28, 2008 in Ballet Makeup, Basic Makeup 101, Dance Teachers & Moms, Hip Hop Makeup, Jazz/Competition Makeup, Modern Dance Makeup, Young Dancers Makeup |