Performing Group Hair, Make-up, Shoes, Tights, and Costumes

This page contains info and tips for having beautiful stage makeup and perfect performance hair. Please refer to this page for our competitions, recitals, and any other performances. If you have any questions, please contact Miss Angela directly.

What To Bring With You - Overview

For performances and competitions, you will need to bring costumes and accessories, tights, and shoes, as well as supplies to do your hair and makeup. (For conventions where we are not competing, you will not need costumes or stage makeup.) Click the link below for a checklist of all recommended hair and makeup products and other items you may wish to have with you for performances and competitions. Depending on your age, what dances you will be performing, and the particular event, you may not need everything on the list. Please use common sense as to which items you might need and which you can reasonably skip.

Checklist of Recommended Supplies

It helps to have something to put your makeup in, so it doesn't get lost in your dance bag; the same goes for hair supplies. You should also have a free-standing mirror to do hair and makeup, since you may be getting ready in a classroom not an actual dressing room or bathroom. We suggest a garment bag to protect your costumes when you are not wearing them.

You will need the following:

All costume pieces and accessories, ideally in a garment bag to protect them, including rhinestone earrings, nude leotard, and extra tights (see below for details)
Dance Bag for your shoes, makeup, and hair supplies
PJK Performing Group Jacket or sweatshirt, if you have one, plus warm-up clothes, to wear when you're not in costume.
Makeup, ideally in a bag or case (see below for details)
Hair supplies, ideally in a bag or case (see below for details)
"Just in case" items (see below for details)

"Just In Case" Items

Sewing kit - safety pins in several sizes, needle, sturdy thread, small pair of scissors
First Aid Kit - Bandaids (for blisters), medicines (Ibuprophin, Tylenol, Benadryl, Epi-Pen)
Personal Care - feminine hygiene products, deodorant
Cell Phone (if have one), contact info for family, Performing Group contact list
Health Insurance Card, Photo ID (if you have one)
Water bottle, non-messy snack or lunch
Money, to purchase food (if available). Some events also sell t-shirts, dancewear, etc.

Costume and Clothing Items

You will need the following costume and clothing items:

Costumes, including headpieces and other accessories. We suggest you put accessories in a plastic bag, poke a hole in the bag, and hang it on a hangar with the costume.
A garment bag, to protect your costumes and keep them together.
Rhinestone Earrings (we use a specific design - order through the Studio). These are worn for most dances in most performances. They come in pierced or clip-on.
The appropriate shoes for each dance you are performing.
Tights, as needed for each costume. (All tights need to be “Bloch” brand as described below; see your costume information for specific colors.)
Extra tights, in case your main pair gets a hole or a run.
PJK Performing Group Jacket or sweatshirt, if you have one. This helps us recognize you in a crowd.
Warm-up clothes, to wear when you're not in costume. Sweatpants can be worn over your costume to keep your muscles warm
Nude leotard or other appropriate undergarment(s). If you have costume changes, we strongly recommend that you obtain a nude colored body suit to wear under your costumes.This helps with modesty concerns and quick costume changes.

Styles of Tights
All tights should be Bloch brand “pink”, “light tan”, or “salmon”. Note: Do not get Bloch Brand “light pink” tights.
Item	Colors
Footed Tights
Bloch (adult T0920L) (For older ballet students only; check to see which color your child's class is wearing.)	Salmon
Bloch (child T0921G, adult T0920L) (Note: Do not buy Bloch "Light Pink", we use Bloch "Pink".)	Light Tan, Pink, Black
Footless Tights
Bloch (child T0940G)	Light Tan
Bloch (adult T0940L)	Light Tan
Convertible Tights
Bloch (adult T0935L) (For older ballet students only; check to see which color your child's class is wearing.)	Salmon
Bloch (child T0935G, adult T0935L) (Note: Do not buy Bloch "Light Pink", we use Bloch "Pink".)	Light Tan, Pink, Black

General Costume Basics

~ Do not iron your costume! If your costume is wrinkled do not iron it; it will melt! Hang it in a steamy bathroom; the steam will take the wrinkles out. If the costume has a tutu, hang the costume upside down.

~ Underwear - Do not wear underwear under your tights; it shows through. We tell younger children that the costume is like a bathing suit and that the underwear is magically built in.

~ Under-Leotards - For many costumes, students may wear a nude colored camisole leotard under their costumes. Several students have mentioned that they prefer this as some of the costumes are itchy. If you are interested in this, but do not know what it is, call the studio.

~ Jewelry - Do not wear jewelry on stage. This includes bracelets (ankle or wrist), earrings, rings, etc. (Note: If you must wear a small post earring, cut off a piece of a Band-Aid and place it over the earring.)

~ Pierced Ears - Do not get your child’s ears pierced before the Dress Rehearsal and Performance. Wait one week.

~ Nail Polish – Please do not wear colored nail polish (or toe polish, if dancing in bare feet).

Stage Makeup

Dancers need added makeup because stage lights are so bright that they wash out the features on your face, and you can look sickly and pale. You need recreate your eyes and mouth, and give added color to your face. The goal is not to look glamorous, but to simply recreate the features of your face. The basics are red checks, red lips, and back eyeliner and mascara. If you are a young dancer (Performing Group Mini group) and are not comfortable with mascara, you can decide not to wear it.

If anyone is allergic or has a medical condition and cannot wear the required makeup, please contact us.

Stage Makeup Basics

Click on the link below for how to do stage makeup. This is an example of how make-up can be done. You may not have all of the items described here. Try to see if you can accomplish the basic concepts with what you have before buying anything new.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23XSyg4ITq0

Suggested Makeup Supplies

Foundation – pancake type is best, slightly darker than skin tone, best
applied with a foundation brush or wedge sponge
Pressed translucent powder
Black eyeliner – Covergirl Perfect Point Plus in black onyx (thick line on top of eye AND bottom)
Eye shadow - DARK browns/neutral colors, light whitish cream color
Eye shadow brushes
Black mascara
Black false eyelashes, for older dancers only (ask your teacher if this applies to you), eyelash glue
Red blush – (deep reddish brown not pink)
Blush brush
Fire engine RED lipstick
Red lip liner
Nail polish remover - pre-moistened pads are ideal to keep in your bag in case you forget to remove your polish

Removing Stage Makeup

For removing makeup use baby wipes, makeup remover wipes, or soap and water.

False Eyelashes

If your group wears false eyelashes, you will need:

Black false eyelashes, Ardell Fashion Lashes #105, which can be purchased at any drug store
Eyelash glue – one that has a tip on it

See below for a video with excellent information about putting on false eyelashes. If you need help with this, please see Miss Angela.

False Eyelash Application video

Note - We do not suggest using tweezers to hold the lashes, as shown in the video. Instead, use your fingers, so you don't have to worry about poking yourself in the eye! You can hold the lashes between your first and second fingers, with the strip on top and the lashes curved around the second finger and the strip facing out. Apply the glue, wait until it is tacky, then apply to your eye.

Stage Hair

Everyone in the group will have the same hairstyle, or as close as they can get depending on their haircut. Please refer to your costume list for a description of the hair for each number.

Hairstyles need to look clean - NO BANGS or WISPIES!!!
The key to a perfect slicked-back look is to use can of aerosol hairspray and a small toothed comb.
Make sure hair elastics are neutral colors that match your hair color (brown, black, blond).
Buns must have hairnets.
Make sure to bobby pin all hairpieces securely. In most cases it's best to use two bobby pins and criss-cross them.
Note: Use hairpins, not bobby pins, to secure a bun. Use bobby pins everywhere else.
It's best to have a container for your hair accessories, to help you stay organized.

Suggested Hair Accessories

Big hairpins – sturdy, with rounded tips
Bobby pins - small and large
Hairspray – aerosol cans are best. Suave makes great cheap hairspray.
Small tooth hair comb – crucial to smooth slick backed hair
Hair Brush

Miss Angela shows the difference between hairpins and bobby pins in the "Low Pony" video below. You will need both. Hairpins, used for buns, come in several lengths. If you have long, thick hair, the 3" ones are preferable; for finer, shorter hair, the 2.5 or 2" are better. Either will do in a pinch. Hairpins come in a range of thicknesses. The extra-thick ones (the Bunheads brand, available at the Brandywine Dance Shoppe and online) are excellent for thick or long hair, and hold very well as shown in Miss Angela's video, though they are pricey and may be overkill for those with fine hair. Two inch, medium thickness hairpins are available in most drug stores and grocery stores, and they work well for most people. The ultra fine 2" hairpins are designed for French Braids and are too frail for our purposes.

How To Do The Required Hairstyles

The two videos below explain the hairstyles we use the most. If you need help with anything that is not described, please call the studio. We suggest you watch Miss Angela's two videos first for an overview, then the bun video to see a more detailed demonstration of a ballet bun.

Hair Part 1 - Basic Preparation, Low Pony Left Side Part, Low Bun Left Side Part (by Miss Angela)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oxiQzZMeC4

Hair Part 2 – Half Up/Half Down, High Pony (by Miss Angela), Bun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXzDUKEy-Q

How to make a Ballet Bun

Hairpins, such as those shown in the video, are better than bobby pins for creating the bun; you will need fewer pins and they will help the bun stay nice and full. The ones used in the video are available at dance shops; you can also get strong ones at some beauty supply shops, and sometimes drug stores or grocery stores. Rather than the snap pins used in the video, we suggest you use bobby pins to hold wisps or hair and/or bangs which are too short to be part of the bun. We recommend that you slightly bend the bobby pins into an arc to make them better fit the shape of the head. Ask us and we will be happy to show you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8yoEJ3Tbf8

Hair Notes for All Students

~ We will let you know how hair will be worn for the dances. If you do not know how to do the hairstyle, please call us; we will be happy to help.

~ Regardless of style, the bangs of all students must be pulled back off their faces; with short bangs, wet the hair and use gel and bobby pins to get them back.

~ If you do not know how to put hair into a ballet bun, and your dancer needs one, please ask us, we will be happy to show you. You will need a hair elastic (ideally the color of the hair), hairpins (to hold the hair in the bun - hairpins work much better than bobby pins for this), bobby pins (to hold back bangs and "wispies"), a fine mesh hairnet (which can be purchased in the studio), and hair gel (to keep everything in place). Ask us if you do not know what any of these are, or if don't know how to do a ballet bun.

~ Please do not put your child’s hair into cornrows, or braids, or use fancy colored clips. Just pull their hair straight back cleanly and neatly. Again call us if you have a concern. Note: Some students have mentioned that they use cornrows to control their hair, if so talk to us; we will work with you.

Questions? Problems?

If you have any difficulty obtaining anything, don’t panic, just call the studio and we will work it out so that it is handled in time for the Performances.