Dance Makeup Styles | The Best Makeup Tutorials and Routines for Dancers

One thing that defines dance for many people is how it elevates the world of art. There’s art all over dancing, from the dance style, the choreography, and even something as specific as how you look through the makeup you wear. We’ve done a tutorial breakdown for dance hairstyles, but something that also goes along with those hairstyles is how you do your makeup to match them. As we said in that blog, the beauty of the art of dance is the ability to express yourself, and the makeup you put on is a part of that.

In this blog, we will give you the best dance makeup tutorials and routines for dancers before they go out there on stage to perform. 

A Breakdown of Makeup for Each Dance Style

We will take a look at most of the important dance styles and the kind of makeup that is done for them. We know that many kids will be introduced to several different forms of dance until they eventually pick one that’s their favorite, and so it’s important to explain how each works.

Ballet Makeup

This look starts with a full-coverage foundation to conceal any imperfections, followed by contour and highlight to prevent stage lights from washing it all away. You can put on a neutral or brown smoky eyeshadow, which enhances the eyes without overpowering the overall look. Black eyeliner, waterproof mascara, and false eyelashes help make the eyes look more expressive. Bright blush and a red, berry, or rose-colored lipstick complete the look, ensuring the face remains vibrant under intense lighting. 

Jazz Makeup

Jazz dancers like to wear smoky eye makeup with darker eyeshadows and winged eyeliner. Fuller false lashes make the eyes stand out even more, while stronger contouring adds definition to the cheekbones and jawline. Similar to ballet dancers, a red lipstick look can also be added. 

Contemporary and Lyrical Dance Makeup

Earth tone eyeshadow, light contouring, wispy lashes, and pink or mauve lipstick colors create a nice-looking appearance for contemporary and lyrical dancers. Depending on the choreography of their dances, some contemporary performances may require minimal makeup to support a more authentic experience. Even with a natural look, dancers still rely on products that can withstand the amount of movement, stage lighting, and constant sweat that will take the makeup off.

Hip-Hop Makeup

Hip-hop dance is given the most amount of flexibility when it comes to makeup. The style can range from clean to very artistic. Many hip-hop dancers choose a matte complexion with defined brows, graphic eyeliner, colorful eyeshadow, and nude or glossy lips to balance the look. 

Competition-based performances may include metallic accents, glitter, or rhinestones for extra stage presence. Since hip-hop routines are very high-energy, waterproof and sweat-resistant makeup is especially needed… trust us on that one!

Ballroom Makeup

Ballroom dancers are known for their glamorous appearance. It’s one of the few dance styles where the makeup is intentionally dramatic, to also style the kind of dancing it represents as well. If you’ve ever seen a ballroom dance, you know that to be true.

Heavy contouring on the face, with dark shadows around the eyes, eyeliner, and large false eyelashes. Highlighter adds dimension for this style of dancing, and a matte lipstick helps complete the polished look that can last long enough without coming off.

Dance Makeup for Competitions

At the end of the day, while dance may be done in all forms of competition, it’s still an art form, and makeup is something that will be looked at during these performances. Judges look at how facial expressions are done during dances; it’s not just the movement of your body. Let’s get you ready for this!

A competition-ready look usually includes:

• Full-coverage, sweat-resistant makeup
• Contour and highlight
• Bright blush
• Darker or shimmery eyeshadow
• Thick eyeliner
• Large false lashes
• Makeup around your eyebrows
• Setting spray for all-day wear

Dancing in Theater

Not every performance calls for traditional beauty makeup. Something like a musical theater production requires dancers to transform into the characters they will play. Character makeup may include very inspired designs that lean on the world and the story being told. In these performances, makeup becomes an extension of the costume and characters and helps bring the story to life even more.

While every dance style is different in the movement, you can see a lot of similarities in what is used to design the makeup. The goal of this blog is to make sure you are well educated on how each one works and how to apply it when the time comes to perform. 

The way to look at dance makeup is not by applying as much as you can, but by applying what works in the manner of the art form it represents. It’s about creating a look that supports the performance on the dance floor. No matter which style of dance you’re a part of, choosing the right makeup style helps you look confident and ready to captivate audiences from start to finish. If you want to learn more or have any questions, reach out by giving us a call or message us through our contact form!