Tips for Applying Stage Makeup on Your Young Dancer

Posted on July 20, 2015
By Shannon Thomas
In Dance Life

When performing it is important that we use stage makeup to bring out our natural features on stage. Depending on the type of show you are in, your makeup can range from natural to exotic. For young children performers, we want make sure we are putting just enough makeup on them to show their facial expressions with out over doing it and causing them to look over done.

1. Foundation: You will want to put a light foundation on your dancer’s skin to ensure that the makeup stays put, while also evening out their skin tone. Translucent powder should be applied as well to make sure the base sets well and they do not have any shine on their face.

2. Eye Wear: Choose a neutral brown palette that has a tri-color option; a base color, a crease color and a brow bone high light. This will add depth to their eyes and give them a natural open look. You can add a thin line of dark brown or black eye liner to their upper lid and lower lid to shape the eyes further. Finally, finish with 2 coats of mascara.

3. Blush: A rose color cream or powder blush is best. It should be brighter and more vibrant than your every day blush. Have your dancer make the fish face, and lightly dust or rub it to high light their cheek bones.

4. Lips: A bright red lipstick is what’s best for the stage. If you are worried it may be too much for your little one, be sure to use a brush or cue tip to apply the lipstick. It will keep it from smearing all over their small lips or being to bold and bright for their age.

Shannon Thomas

Shannon Thomas grew up dancing since she was four years old. Performing and competing is where Shannon shined, winning top honors throughout the state of Florida for her solo and group performances. Shannon continued her dance education at the prestigious, Oklahoma City University for four years where she studied under Jo Rowan, Robert Reed, Tiffany Van Der Merwe, Kelli Rhodes Stevens, Kay Sandal, Patricia Oplotnik and more. She studied all forms of dance, acting and voice, performed with the American Spirit Dance Company and took classes in business, dance pedagogy and choreography.
She began working professionally while still at OCU as a dance captain and performer, dancing in trade shows, theme park reviews and other various productions. After moving back to Florida in 2008, Shannon performed as a guest dancer with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre and other local arts events as a dancer.
Shannon has been teaching and choreographing for the past 15 years and has had immense success in the studio training dancers in an array of styles from ballet, jazz, contemporary to hip hop and tap. Her students have gone on to study dance, musical theater, acting, and entertainment business at schools such as University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Southern College and Ball State to name a few. Her unique experience as an educated performer, instructor and choreographer is what makes Legacy dance training stand out.
Shannon is passionate about teaching the art of dance and encouraging her students to work toward being their personal best on and off the dance floor. Our dance classes are structured around discipline, integrity, respect and professionalism to maintain a high standard in technique, style and performance.
Shannon’s Choreography has been honored at numerous prestigious dance competitions around the state of Florida. Her Choreography can be seen on the competition stage, at the Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker and Embry Riddle Dancing Eagles to name a few. She takes pride in providing the most up to date and modern choreography to give her students an edge, without over doing trends and keeping the dances she creates age appropriate and unique.
Shannon is the director and award-winning choreographer of The Legacy Stars Competition Team. The Stars are a National Award-Winning Dance Team and Performance Company featuring invited Legacy Dancers that have been training toward team placement. The Stars are proud to perform at various events around the Port Orange and the Daytona Beach Community, including Relay for Life, Port Orange Family Days, Volusia County Dances, Junior League of Daytona, The Domestic Abuse Council, Cannon balls for Kayne and more.