I eat a light meal before a performance; something filling yet not too heavy (hamburgers, milk, chocolate, etc. are heavy) is the best for me. Some dancers don't eat at all the day of the performance, but I find it difficult to dance on an empty stomach.
Come to the performance about an hour early to make sure you have your make-up and costume on correctly and to do a warm-up. Never try to dance on cold muscles.
A lot of people ask me how they should do their make-up for a ballet recital. Trust me, it's not just street make-up! Do everything much darker; most stages use blue lights which make you look very pale. Use a foundation two shades darker than you really are. Lip sticks should be a strong, not bright, maroon or burgandy. Pure pinks, reds and browns tend to look strange. Use a lip pencil that matches your lipstick to help keep it from running. Put on two coats of mascara and line your eyes in black. A light layer of brown eyeshaddow is perfect and don't forget a bit of blush! It may not look like you backstage, but you look fabulous from the audience! |
