October 14, 2016
I am approaching my TEN YEAR anniversary as a tribal fusion belly dancer! YASSSS! Below you will find my very best tips and tricks to help guide and inspire dancers of all genres and styles. These are supplemental tips to go along with your personal dance practice. I am always striving for balance in my life and in the world of dance; I make sure I am taking care of the outside as well as the inside.
On the Outside
This is something I like to call "beauty duty". I am not a street performer-I dance on a stage in a costume, therefore, it is my opinion that every dancer should have knowledge of stage makeup/hair and costuming. I am also not rich! Therefore, my beauty duty regime consists of DIY methods and ideas. For two fantastic DIY beauty ideas, click here (and scroll down). I would rather spend money on adornments for a costume than a fancy facial or beauty product. I have learned the most about makeup from my all-time favorite makeup gurus: Michelle Phan and Kat Von D. Do yourself a favor and visit their websites: spend some time looking around, read some articles, and definitely watch some of their makeup tutorials! Although I do not share the same personal style (clothing, likes/dislikes) as Michelle Phan, she has taught me so much about the art of makeup. So much good stuff! And as for Kat Von D...she is such a babe. I love everything about her, especially her makeup line. I'd say 80% of the makeup I use for the stage is specifically her makeup.
My #1 make-up tip for the stage: before you begin your makeup routine, put plenty of balm on your lips so they are nice and soft and not cracked. Then, when you are waiting in the green room to go on, wait until the last possible second to put on your lipstick. Literally, put it on right before you go on stage. Resist the urge to walk into the venue with full lips on. Don't do it! Your lips are a focal point on your face and you can definitely tell if the application of the lipstick is not fresh. I've seen girls with lovely smokey eyes and perfect shimmering cheeks with cracked lipstick on stage. My eyes focus right on those cracked lips and not on the dance. Lame!
Below are my favorite quotes from Dita Von Teese's new book (which I read from cover to cover). As far as beauty duty tips in general, this is THE book to read!
I am approaching my TEN YEAR anniversary as a tribal fusion belly dancer! YASSSS! Below you will find my very best tips and tricks to help guide and inspire dancers of all genres and styles. These are supplemental tips to go along with your personal dance practice. I am always striving for balance in my life and in the world of dance; I make sure I am taking care of the outside as well as the inside.
On the Outside
This is something I like to call "beauty duty". I am not a street performer-I dance on a stage in a costume, therefore, it is my opinion that every dancer should have knowledge of stage makeup/hair and costuming. I am also not rich! Therefore, my beauty duty regime consists of DIY methods and ideas. For two fantastic DIY beauty ideas, click here (and scroll down). I would rather spend money on adornments for a costume than a fancy facial or beauty product. I have learned the most about makeup from my all-time favorite makeup gurus: Michelle Phan and Kat Von D. Do yourself a favor and visit their websites: spend some time looking around, read some articles, and definitely watch some of their makeup tutorials! Although I do not share the same personal style (clothing, likes/dislikes) as Michelle Phan, she has taught me so much about the art of makeup. So much good stuff! And as for Kat Von D...she is such a babe. I love everything about her, especially her makeup line. I'd say 80% of the makeup I use for the stage is specifically her makeup.
My #1 make-up tip for the stage: before you begin your makeup routine, put plenty of balm on your lips so they are nice and soft and not cracked. Then, when you are waiting in the green room to go on, wait until the last possible second to put on your lipstick. Literally, put it on right before you go on stage. Resist the urge to walk into the venue with full lips on. Don't do it! Your lips are a focal point on your face and you can definitely tell if the application of the lipstick is not fresh. I've seen girls with lovely smokey eyes and perfect shimmering cheeks with cracked lipstick on stage. My eyes focus right on those cracked lips and not on the dance. Lame!
Below are my favorite quotes from Dita Von Teese's new book (which I read from cover to cover). As far as beauty duty tips in general, this is THE book to read!
"But backstage, there's no glam squad swarming about. It's only me at my lit-up vanity table doing my hair and makeup. Being so hands on is what drives me in life. It's about the process as much as the spotlight. DOING IT is my ultimate beauty mark."
"Without the beauty, the fantasy, the glamour, all you have is a dancer. The very art of performance involves knowing how to apply makeup and style hair. It's about conjuring a beautiful fantasy. That is the magic of show business."
"This do-it-yourself artistry-this spirit!-is sadly lost on many of today's stars. But historically, the song-and-dance girls from the movies and the great prima ballerinas of the stage all knew the craft of beauty. They knew the rules and mores of their domains, be it ballet or burlesque. I can only imagine that, like me, their confidence and power came in part from the process of creating their own identity."
"Without the beauty, the fantasy, the glamour, all you have is a dancer. The very art of performance involves knowing how to apply makeup and style hair. It's about conjuring a beautiful fantasy. That is the magic of show business."
"This do-it-yourself artistry-this spirit!-is sadly lost on many of today's stars. But historically, the song-and-dance girls from the movies and the great prima ballerinas of the stage all knew the craft of beauty. They knew the rules and mores of their domains, be it ballet or burlesque. I can only imagine that, like me, their confidence and power came in part from the process of creating their own identity."
On the Inside
I am not a foodie. To be perfectly honest, food culture (magazines devoted to food, pictures of food on pinterest/instagram, talking about food) really bores me and I do not understand it. I love a good meal but I do not cook and I am not obsessed with food. Never have been. Therefore, I like to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen or thinking about how to prepare food I am going to eat.
My #1 nutrition tip for dancers? #saladinajar
Type "salad in a jar" on Google and there are tons of articles with delicious salad recipes for you to read all about. It is quick, easy and oh so healthy. I highly recommend buying some mason jars and jumping right on this trend! Also, stay hydrated. Water, water, and more water.
As dancers, we usually take very good care of our physical selves, but the mental habits we develop over time may or may not be as healthy. It is important to include mental health within the realm of your physical health.
My #1 tip for mental health? Mindfulness. You can practice it right along with your current spiritual practice. There are many wonderful books out there but I would start with this one. This simple practice allows me to be fully present in the dance studio, in rehearsals, on the stage, and on the yoga mat. The more present I am, the more I can absorb in dance workshops. The more present I am at home in front of the mirror, the more I get out of my personal dance practice. And last but not least, when I am present on the stage is when I dance my best dance: dynamic, powerful and beautiful.
Keep on dancing!
Love,
Blackhoodygrrl
I am not a foodie. To be perfectly honest, food culture (magazines devoted to food, pictures of food on pinterest/instagram, talking about food) really bores me and I do not understand it. I love a good meal but I do not cook and I am not obsessed with food. Never have been. Therefore, I like to spend as little time as possible in the kitchen or thinking about how to prepare food I am going to eat.
My #1 nutrition tip for dancers? #saladinajar
Type "salad in a jar" on Google and there are tons of articles with delicious salad recipes for you to read all about. It is quick, easy and oh so healthy. I highly recommend buying some mason jars and jumping right on this trend! Also, stay hydrated. Water, water, and more water.
As dancers, we usually take very good care of our physical selves, but the mental habits we develop over time may or may not be as healthy. It is important to include mental health within the realm of your physical health.
My #1 tip for mental health? Mindfulness. You can practice it right along with your current spiritual practice. There are many wonderful books out there but I would start with this one. This simple practice allows me to be fully present in the dance studio, in rehearsals, on the stage, and on the yoga mat. The more present I am, the more I can absorb in dance workshops. The more present I am at home in front of the mirror, the more I get out of my personal dance practice. And last but not least, when I am present on the stage is when I dance my best dance: dynamic, powerful and beautiful.
Keep on dancing!
Love,
Blackhoodygrrl