It’s Dance Recital Season, so I thought we should share some great advice and guidance on how to best prepare your dancer for the big show! Special thanks to Ms. Ayleen for creating this excellent content. Please note that students of other dance programs may have slightly different requirements – the instructions here are what we use at Songbirds. Stay tuned for next week’s Knowledge Blog which will include more Dance Recital information like costume care, tips for handling nerves, and special things to bring to the show!
Styling Hair for the Dance Recital:
Any of the following hairstyles are great choices for a Dance Recital. Be sure to check with your instructor to see if she has a preferred choice for your routine!
Ballet Bun With a Donut
- Slick the hair back into a high ponytail
- Place the donut onto the base of the ponytail
- Spread hair around the donut and secure it with a hair tie
- Wrap the remaining hair around the base of the bun
- Secure all the hair with pins and hair ties
- Slick back the hair using gel, hairspray, hairnet, etc.
Ballet Bun with Thick Hair
- Slick the hair back into a high ponytail
- Separate the hair into two sections
- Start wrapping one section of the hair around the ponytail. Secure it in place with pins
- Take the second section of hair and wrap it around the first section. Secure it in place
- Repeat these steps until all of the hair is wrapped and secured.
High Ponytail
- Trace your finger from the ear to the top of the head. This is where the ponytail should sit
- Slick back the hair and gather it all together where the ponytail should be.
- Secure the hair with hair ties, spray, gel, etc.
Half-up Half-down
- Trace your finger from the ear to the top of the head. This is where the ponytail should sit.
- Starting at the ear, use a comb to part the top half of the hair. Secure it at the top of the head.
- Secure with hair ties, spray, gel, etc.
Low Ponytail
- Part the hair in the middle
- Slick back the hair to the back of the neck
- Secure with hair ties, spray, gel, etc.
Low Buns (for Acro)
- Unless specified otherwise, low buns are the required Acro hairstyle.
- Use the same method for ballet buns to create a bun at the back of the neck.
- Ensure that the dancer can perform performance tricks with ease with the hairstyle
Styling Short Hair
- Use half-up half-down styles to be able to secure as much hair as possible
- Use extra pins, hairspray, and gel to ensure hair does not fall out
- Use low buns instead of ballet buns
Special Notes and Tricks:
Hairspray and Hair Gel should be used for all hairstyles. This ensures that all flyaways and baby hairs are tamed and that the hair stays put through the entirety of the performance.
Bobby Pins and Ballet Pins should be used for most hairstyles. These also ensure that all hair stays put through the entirety of the performance.
Thick U-shaped ballet bun pins are best for all bun hairstyles.
Hair Nets should be used for all bun hairstyles to keep the hair secure for the show.
Makeup Tips for the Dance Recital
Base
- Having a base ensures that the dancer doesn't show any redness on stage
- BB creams are perfect for littles and beginners for makeup. They reduce redness but they're not as heavy.
- Foundation is recommended for older dancers who might need fuller coverage.
Face
- Bronzers and blush help bring dimension back to the dancer's face as stage lights wash out facial features.
- Highlighter helps accent the cheek and eyebrow bones.
- Tip: you can use these as eyeshadows!
Setting Powder
- Powders are amazing for covering any sweat or oil that is emphasized by stage lights and photography.
- Use a powder with color to avoid flashback.
Setting Spray
- Make sure to find a mattifying setting spray
- Setting sprays help blend the makeup together and prolong the look.
Eyes
- Mascara and eyeshadow can be so fun to play with for dancers!
- Use your bronzers, blushes, and highlights as shadows for your eyes to avoid extra expenses!
Lips
- Make it pop with some lipstick!
- Try to avoid glossy lip products to prevent smudging on the face
- Go towards darker and bolder colors to prevent being washed out.
Conclusion:
I hope that this helps your dancer prepare for the big day! Stay tuned for some more excellent Dance Recital tips next week, and until then, check out our other Knowledge Blog posts!