We all want big, beautiful, expressive eyes, right? So, when applying makeup for dance, or any live performance, the eyes are the key for showing your emotions. Don’t let glowing technique fall flat because of pale, boring dance makeup!

When applying makeup for dance performances, dancers should wear liner, false eyelashes and mascara.

First, let’s focus on EYELINER!

· Apply your eye shadows first in the pattern you love

· Upper lash line: Black liquid liner (waterproof)

· Inside lower lash line: White Highlighter pencil

· Lower lash line: Use a dark brown mineral eye shadow color as a liner

· You can do a tiny “wing” on the upper lash line with your liquid liner.  This is to indicate the “last eyelash” – but no more than a quarter of an inch or so.

· Avoid making long stripes with your eye liner that go all the way to the temples. Avoid connecting the lower lash line to the upper lash line, leave a space between them (no “fishtails”, please) and use white highlighter pencil in between. This will make the eyes look bigger, brighter and more open.

· When applying makeup for dance, DON’T use black liquid eyeliner under the eyes!  Too much and too messy!  If you must, use an eye pencil.

· Also, don’t use black liner on the inside lower lid of the eye – it will make the eyes look small on stage.

JAM cosmetics pressed mineral eye shadow in “Fear Me” is also the perfect eye liner when applied wet with an angled eyeliner  brush.

Next, apply the FALSE LASHES!

· If false eye lashes aren’t currently part of your routine because you find them difficult to apply or uncomfortable to wear, don’t give up on them!  You can learn how to easily apply false lashes here:  Link “How To Apply False Lashes”. Do use them, as they enhance the shape of your eyes on stage and are an integral part of makeup for dance.  It just takes practice!

· Dancers wear false lashes because on stage we are always trying to make the eyes look bigger. We want to naturally enhance the existing lash line with false lashes because they give the eyes a pretty almond-y shape. Great false lashes, properly sized and/or trimmed, and properly applied do just that. This type of look is perfect for dance makeup, but is also easily modified for other theatrical occasions, including acting on film and even just a glamorous look for a special night out.

· Avoid lashes that are too thick in the center of the band. They make the eyes look heavy and sleepy or even closed when you are dancing on stage! You want the lashes to start shorter in the center and get longer as they go to the outer corner of the eye. Half or “demi” lashes are great because they are easy to apply, do not need to be trimmed, look stunning, and can hardly be felt on the eyes.

JAM cosmetics Elise Faux Half Lashes are the perfect choice for a natural or glamorous look.

Time for the MASCARA!

· YES, you need mascara even if you have false lashes on – two coats! This will bind the false lashes to the real lashes and remove the bits of powdered eye shadow that have fallen on the eyelashes.

· Make sure your lashes are secure first! Leave them alone to dry before going onto the next step of your dance makeup.

· I recommend water-resistant mascara as opposed to waterproof mascara because it is gentler on the sensitive eye area and can also be easily reapplied.  Most waterproof mascaras are quite clumpy and feel like glue on the lashes. Waterproof mascara is also clumpy on false lashes and can collect lots of “gunk” on them – your lashes will not last as long.

JAM cosmetics’ water-resistant BLACK mascara is perfect because it’s incredibly long-lasting, can be reapplied throughout the event, yet easy to remove when you are ready.

You’re now ready to apply your dance makeup like a pro! Don’t forget the three MUST HAVES for eyes: Liner, lashes, and mascara. You’ll have big, beautiful and expressive eyes that will last long beyond your performance, or all day long. JAM cosmetics will show you the way!

Dancers on stage draw us in to the story they are telling. It is easy to become enchanted by their beautiful faces. What is it that has us so spellbound? The way dance makeup is used to intensify a dancer’s eyes contributes greatly to this. It looks incredibly complicated to achieve but with a little direction, you too can have this perfect classic dancer look!

JAM cosmetics calls the classic dance performance makeup look, Prima Diva. The most important part of this look is the expressive eyes. First we should discuss some basic contouring patterns for eye makeup. 

“Contouring” the eye means you are using darker eye shadow to create dimension.  This is done in three main ways. You can use these techniques together or separately depending on the look you wish to create.

1.   Using a dark, earthy eye shadow color, apply across the whole lash line blending the shadow to gradually fade as you go past the crease towards the brow bone.
2.   Create a blended, sideways “v” or “c” shape with contour eye shadow color, on the outer third of the eyelid.
3.   Apply contour eye shadow color in the crease.

Using these dance makeup techniques allows the audience to properly read the dancer’s eyes. You accentuate the natural shape and dimension of the eye. This helps the audience follow the dancer’s gaze. Contouring the eye with performance cosmetics helps the audience see if the dancer’s eyes are open, closed, or looking at something specifically. It also gives the eyes a larger, wider almond shape.

You will use several of these contouring methods to create the perfect dance eye in the Prima Diva look. Follow these simple steps to achieve this classic dance makeup look.

Creating the Prima Diva Look

1. Apply your foundation. Remember it is so important to BLEND, BLEND, and BLEND!

2. Shape and fill your eyebrow. Use a shadow color that is a similar o your eyebrow.

3. Highlight under the brow line with a white liner.

4. Use a light/medium, warm-toned, neutral eye shadow over the entire eyelid. When using performance cosmetics neutral/warm earth-toned eye shadows are perfect for stage performances.  They compliment dancer’s eyes and skin under the stage lights.

5. Blend a deep, rich, dark brown shadow into the crease of the eye to create dimension.

6. Define the eye by lining the upper lashes with waterproof black eye liner. Use a chocolate brown shadow underneath the lash line; apply this with a small angled brush. Don’t use liquid under the eye, it’s very messy! To complete this step, use a white pencil to create a highlight between the upper and lower lash lines.

7. Highlight the inside of lower lash line with a white eye pencil. Don’t use black liner as it will make the eye appear smaller to the audience.

8. Next, apply your false lashes. Use black mascara to coat and bind them. A false lash will enhance the natural shape of your eye.

9. Apply blush, again remember to BLEND! You certainly don’t want clown cheeks.

10. Line and the fill the entire lip in with your lip pencil. A quick tip: when lining your lips always go from the outside corner to the middle of the lip. Then fill the lips with lipstick.

Your makeup should be dark enough to be clearly seen from the first 8 to 12 rows of the theatre.  Applying performance cosmetics may seem difficult at first, especially if you have a small eye lid, but practice makes perfect!  You will be applying the Prima Diva look like a pro in no time.

Preparing for a performance you want your dance makeup to be the best it can. Applying dance makeup with good quality makeup brushes makes all the difference in the world to beauty of your look. But there are so many different kinds of makeup brushes out there. How do you know what you really need? Well, I have narrowed it down to these eight “must have” makeup brushes that every dancer should own.

1. Large Powder Brush/Complexion Brush – This should be used only with loose or pressed translucent powder. Don’t mix! Never use this powder brush with your blush.

2. Blush Brush – It shouldn’t be too big or too small – a medium sized brush is best. Again it should never be mixed with your translucent powder.

3. Eye Shadow Brush – A medium sized brush is best, not too big. This size brush is great for both light and medium shadow colors.

4. Angled Eyeliner/Brow Brush – This brush does double duty for you. It will work for both eyebrows and eyeliner application.

5. Angled Shadow Brush – Choose a smaller brush for this. It should be angled. An angled brush is best for easy application of darker shadow colors.

6. Lip Brush – This brush is essential for dance makeup. You cannot do PERFECT red lips without a lipstick brush!

7. Eyebrow Brush/Lash Comb – These brushes will keep your brows and lashes looking natural and beautiful!

8. Foundation Brush – This brush gives skin an airbrushed look when you use it will liquid, cream or stick foundations.

Now that you have the perfect set of brushes to apply your dance makeup you need to care for them properly. Proper care will keep your brushes working their best and help them last longer. It is not necessary to buy fancy brush cleaners. Often brush cleaners contain alcohol and can dry out the bristles. Makeup brushes need to be cleaned often. How often do I clean my brushes? OFTEN! When makeup brushes are dirty, the cosmetics colors do not apply well. And it leads to the colors looking muddied.

Start by putting a dollop of shampoo/conditioner into the palm of your hand. Wet your makeup brush under running water or in a cup of water. Swirl your makeup brush in the palm of your hand creating suds. You should see the suds turn from white to brown. Rinse your hands and brush under running water until the water runs clear. Finally you’ll squeeze excess water out of the makeup brush with a towel.

When your makeup brush is clean you should lay it flat on towel overnight. Do not stand brushes up to dry. When brushes are left standing water can get down into the bristles and deteriorate the glue that holds bristles to brush handle. This will shorten the life of your brush and the quality of application for your dance makeup. In an ideal situation a brush sanitizing machine would be used.

Looking for the complete set of necessary makeup brushes? JAM cosmetics has the perfect little makeup brush kit that has every makeup brush you need and nothing that you don’t for $35.00…check it out!

Jessica Dupont is a former Professional NYC Dancer and Makeup Artist. She owns JAM cosmetics, which is a line of ULTIMATE makeup for dance and cheer. 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 at www.JAMcosmetics.net.

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Throughout my training as a makeup artist at AVEDA in NYC, I learned about the nasty chemicals that go into many of the cosmetic products that we use every day to make ourselves more beautiful. These chemicals can stay in your body long after the makeup is gone, potentially causing all sorts of problems. One of the most questionable of these chemicals is parabens.

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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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Step by step printable instructions appear after you take the LEAP… Read on »

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Step by step, printable directions and a video follow the jump…

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