Director's Notes

It's exciting to prepare for performances of the students in festivals and Nutcracker. The dancers need to be uniform in the style of the hair and makeup. Below is a picture of a face and should be used as a guide for make up at performances. The eye make up on the face picture is for smaller stage performances like Fort Walton Beach Civic Center or dances in the park. The eye make up below the face is for the larger stage performances like OWC. The difference is in the use of the white (clown white) under the eye brow line and in the crease of the eye as well as two dark lines surrounding the white.

The best way to put the dancer's hair in a proper bun is to start with the hair wet, preferably dirty (not just washed hair) and lots of gel. The pony tail needs to be at a specific spot. Take your hands and place them under the dancers chin and follow diagonal to the back of the head. Where the hands meet is where the center of the pony tail needs to be. Always use two pony tail holders that match the hair color of the dancer. Once the pony tail is made, rub a handful of gel into the pony tail. Divide sections of hair – if the dancer has thick hair, usually six sections will work. If the hair is thin, then not as many sections will be necessary. Take a section and twist the hair, then coil the twisted piece around the pony tail using thick-end, big open hair pins. Catch the outside edge of each section and flip the hairpin in tight. Repeat using a section of hair from the opposite side of pony tail. Continue until all hair is coiled up, and this will create a rosette-style bun. Use two hair nets which match the dancer's hair color. For bangs and wispy bits in the back, put in tons and tons of gel, then use a fine-toothed comb and comb it to the pony tail and secure with closed bobby pins that match the dancer's hair.

REMEMBER: NEVER SHARE YOUR EYE MAKEUP!! YOU COULD SPREAD INFECTION!! All makeup must be earth tones (browns, wine, apricot) no blues, pinks or reds.
First use concealer under the eye and where deep shadows on the face occur, like deep- set eyes.
The foundation needs to match the dancer's skin tones – not too light or too dark.
Blush needs to be earth tones, not rosy or pink. The dancer needs to make a fish face and the blush is applied under the cheek bone to create a shadow and carry the blush out and up toward the hair line.
Eye shadow starts at the middle of the eye, not the corner by the nose. Apply a dark brown eye shadow and carry out to the eye brow. This should be done on the lower half of the eye lid. Then apply a lighter brown above the darker shadow, still from the middle of the eye, and follow up to the eye brow.
Use eye brow pencil, but only black, brown or dark gray – no blues.
Apply black mascara to eyelashes.
Lipstick needs to be deep burgundy, deep brown, apricot or wine. NOT RED.

The eye makeup for a larger stage needs to be darker and have white accent lines.
The eye shadow needs to be the same as the above example, but now apply a white line under the eye brow and following the curve of the eye brow. Use clown white for this.
White also needs to be applied at the outer corner of the eye and carried out towards the eye brow.
Dark eye liner is placed both below the bottom white line from the lower eye lash out to eye brow and above that same white area.
Use the dark liner on the eye brow.
This eye is an example for our 10-year-old dancers and younger. The dancer only needs one brown line extending out from under the white. Click here Printer-friendly Hair & Makeup Instructions
Keep Your Costume in "Prima Ballerina" Condition Whether you've purchased a new costume or you're renting one from the studio, as a dancer, it is your responsibility to maintain it in its best possible condition. Before you wear it, you will want to hang your tutu upside down by its crotch to let gravity help it stay full and floaty. Be sure all the straps have been adjusted and pinned to fit you well -- you won't dance your best if you're not comfortable. Don't let any extra strap length poke out of your bodice! Fasten it in place if it won't stay tucked. When it is time to get dressed, be sure you are wearing the appropriate undergarments (or not wearing, as the case may be). Nude-toned body stockings or leos with clear straps will keep you modest without panty lines or peeking straps. Check with your teacher if you are not sure what is appropriate for your costume. Girls who are wearing deodorant should use the Degree brand. It will not damage the costumes. Please buy some to keep in your dance bag, and you'll always have the right thing for performances. Be sure you have the proper tights and shoes -- the dancers should match each other. You can purchase your tights and shoes from the studio, if you wish. Dancers who are performing en pointe will need to apply Calamine lotion lightly all over their pointe shoes with a sponge or cotton ball – DO NOT SOAK THEM IN CALAMINE LOTION! When you put your shoes on to dance, be absolutely, positively certain that your ribbons are secure and will not come loose while you're dancing! Check to see that you understand how your headpiece is to be worn, and bring the proper hairpins to fasten it into place. Give your head a good shake when you're done, to be sure the headpiece stays in place. It's hard to dance with ribbons and flowers flopping loosely around your head! DO NOT USE HAIRSPRAY ONCE YOU HAVE PUT ON YOUR COSTUME!! It will coat the costume with shellac, which will attract dirt and grime. Do not use body sprays, perfumes, or body glitter when you are wearing your costume -- the oils and alcohols will damage the fabric. DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ONCE YOU HAVE PUT ON YOUR COSTUME!! Water is acceptable, but be careful. Avoid other people who may be using spray products, pens, markers, candles, cigarettes, or anything else potentially messy or flammable. DO NOT SIT ON YOUR SKIRT or TUTU ONCE YOU HAVE PUT ON YOUR COSTUME!! After all this hard work, practice, and care, you don't want to arrive on stage looking rumpled. When you come off stage, remember that your costume is an investment, and still requires careful treatment to look its best next time. I LOVE MY COSTUME! • YOUR COSTUME IS SO PRETTY! • MY COSTUME MAKES ME FEEL BEAUTIFUL! • THANK YOU!
Pointe Shoe Policy The health and safety of our dancers is our highest priority. Being strong and well-trained gives our dancers the ability to express themselves creatively in the dance. When a dancer progresses to dancing in pointe shoes, the need for safety is even greater. Poorly-fitted pointe shoes will not only discourage a young dancer and cause unnecessary pain, but will also increase the chance of injury. It is studio policy that the students need to have their pointe shoes checked for proper fit by one of our studio's experienced instructors before they have the ribbons and elastic sewn onto the shoe. Once the shoes are sewn and have been worn, they cannot be returned. We want to help you avoid wasting money on a shoe that would hurt your dancer – please contact us for more information! Remember, pointe shoes should never be given children or young dancers who have not been instructed to purchase a pair. They are not toys, they are an important (and beautiful) piece of dance equipment.