Stage Makeup for Dancers

When you watch dancers and other stage performers, you may wonder why their makeup seems so much heavier than most people wear in everyday life. Stage makeup is utilized and dramatized for many reasons, making it completely different than makeup you would see worn out in the real world. One of the main purposes for stage makeup is to draw attention to certain features of the face so that facial expressions can really animate and project to audience members who may be sitting far from the stage. Another reason performers may wear heavy makeup is to prevent the face from looking washed out under harsh stage lighting. Read on to learn more about the uses and techniques of stage makeup.

1. Intense stage lighting can affect your look

Not wearing makeup while on stage can cause a performer’s face to look blank from the audience’s perspective, as they can become washed out from the bright lights. It is important to see a performer’s eyes, mouth, eyebrows, and cheekbones. Stage lighting can really “flatten” ones features and diminish the dimensions in the face that help the audience clearly identify facial features. Wearing stage makeup will prevent this from happening once the lights hit the performer’s face.

2. Decorative costuming requires makeup

Stage makeup is a part of the performer’s costume. Especially when extravagant costumes are worn, as seen in dance performances, the makeup completes the look. A performer would not want his or her face to be overshadowed by their costume. Professional stage makeup is primarily neutral, earth-toned colors to coordinate well with costume changes, lighting, and a variety of skin tones.

3. Be sure to protect your skin 

Professional stage makeup should be highly-pigmented, hypo-allergenic (no known allergens used), non-comedogenic (non-clogging to the pores so that the performer won’t break out), and as naturally sweat-resistant as possible. Stage lighting is not only bright but can become very hot for performers on stage causing a good deal of sweat, especially for dancers.

4. Keep in mind the distance between performers and the audience

Performers work hard to emote visible expressions for the audience to see. Many auditoriums or arenas have a large area for audience members to sit and watch, with some seats reaching many yards away from the stage. Performers should wear stage makeup so that even the people sitting the furthest away from the stage can easily read their expressions. The makeup should be applied heavily, yet keeping contouring of the face in mind. There are many tutorials that can be utilized to learn more about creating a dynamic and successful stage look. Again, a performer’s eyes and mouth are important features to highlight.

5. Stage makeup can reduce age and look differences

Particularly in the field of dance, oftentimes dancers will perform together in groups containing a large difference in age. Most of the time, the goal of the choreographer is to display a uniform look so that the audience can focus on the dancing and not differences in facial features. Stage makeup helps unify a diverse group, whether in age or appearance.

There are many resources to draw from when searching for the perfect stage look. Consider these tips to refine how you’d like to apply stage makeup for dance competitions, school plays, choir performances, and more!