Make-up for Auditions?

[dancindaughters]

I was wondering if other parents have their under-13s wearing make-up for Nutcracker or SI auditions?

What age did they begin doing this? I noticed some girls with a bit of eyeliner/mascara and blush at a recent audition (NOT stage make-up) and I thought it looked quite nice. Is this appropriate for pre-teens?

[mom1]

My own DD did not wear make up for auditions until she was wearing it to school. Age 13, I think... And even then, just a touch.

[gogators]

My dd also did not start wearing makeup for auditions until she was about 14, and even now she wears just a touch. I have seen a few young girls (younger than 12) wear makeup for auditions and IMHO, it was less-than-flattering.

[Guest pink tights]

I think if the child wears makeup in everyday life--then a little makeup is OK for auditions. Makeup on a young child JUST for an audition is sort of dance competition-ish, IMHO.

 

ETA: Dd is 11. She doesn't wear makeup.

[Pasdetrois]

Our professional companies Nutcracker auditions are huge and very cattle call hundreds of kids! An outsider may think that make-up and doo dads in the hair may get you noticed but it's not the way to go. At least not in our situation! My kids are out of the Nutcracker age/size/level range and since they are aren't a fit anymore the auditioners who I'v met since our days of auditioning, have shared their views. They actually discount kids who are 'over the top' in the make-up department. After all they are going for kiddie roles, party girls etc., The only time my DD's ever wore make-up for a Nutcracker audition was after an illness when one of my DD's had huge black circles under her eyes and looked like death warmed over. She didn't look made-up, the make-up just gave her a somewhat healthy appearance..

 

As far as SI auditions go, my DD's now being older will wear a little make-up but no more than they wear on any other day, ie, for school or going out for a coffee with friends. It usually equals mascara and a bit of lip gloss. They sweat in auditions as they do in class, there's nothing worse than make-up in the eyes!

[mom2]

Parent of "older" dancers here....

 

My husband always says that our girls look very pretty without any makeup and I can hear him saying that the under-13 group would certainly not need makeup to look any "better" or "prettier" at auditions. I tend to agree.

 

Our older daughter started wearing makeup at about 14. She does have fair eyelashes, so even a bit of mascara alone can alter her look. Younger daughter at 15 seems to wear mascara only...anything else she does wear is so minimal that not even her mom can notice!

 

We've never really discussed the issue of makeup for auditions - I would think the most appropriate thing would be for the dancer to present as professionally and naturally as possible.

 

 

m2

[Clara 76]

Make-up or lack of it, is NOT a determining factor in being chosen for a role.

 

The child's ability to take direction well, listening skills, attitude, ability to project and 'act', knowledge of stage directions, application of corrections, basic ballet skill, and size/height (i.e. can this child fit into this costume) are the determining factors, along with whatever overall "look" the choreographer wants.

 

So for example, I know of several children who had absolutely every quality listed above in spades, but looked more mature than how the choreographer pictured the character.

[Guest pink tights]

Clara76--excellent point! I never thought of using cosmetics to make the dancer look more 'mature'. Instead, I was stuck on the 'little miss future star' image!!

 

My DD would never dream of asking to wear makeup for an audition. Surely, makeup on the under 13's must be parent influenced?

[housell]

At our pre-pro Nut auditions this year there was a little girl with full stage make-up on and it looked very out- of-place. Even the middle school age girls auditioning did not have on any make-up. I know that she was cast last year as a party child so it was kind of odd that the parent would think it necessary to go to such lengths this year. My dd is a 6th grader and can't be bothered with make-up...nor would I allow her to wear it at her age unless it were actually required by the company.

[calamitous]

"Surely, makeup on the under 13's must be parent influenced?"

 

Ohhh ouch! and knock, knock (parent of an over 13)

I do not wear make up and never have in my DD's life time, but she wore make up at way under 13 (I am not sure I can remember when she started) to school and around. However, DD does not typically wear make-up for dance auditions (SIs or other) since she figures that the make up needed for a performance will be dealt with later.

DD is very make-up savy. She did lots of theatre and modeling starting at about 9, and learned that in theatre you might need a little, dance doesn't seem to matter, but modeling/on camera work it is expected. I don't think she needs it for any of them as she has lovely coloring. But I can see if a child is very fair or with blonde lashes and eye brows a little color may help. It may also help in terms of the prep and making it seem more special. My DD does believe that if you feel that you look good, it will show in the audition.

[Guest pink tights]

Calamitous--Didn't mean to offend!! I was talking about makeup in with regards to a ballet audition in a studio setting. Modeling and camera work are entirely different. The lights would wash anyone out! As far as theater, I know many audition in 'character'. When I say "parent influenced"--I'm talking about those crazy stage mothers who practically curl their dd's hair into party girl ringlets for auditions.....

[Treefrog]

Another knock, from another mom of over 13's, and one who almost never wears makeup. Since the original question was about a small bit of tasteful makeup, I'd say yes, that's fine even for pre-teens. My DDs learned most of what they know about makeup from ballet, mostly from their time dancing in Nutcracker with the professional company. They started at about age 8 or 9, so for subsequent auditions they were well under 13, and my recollection is that they wore a small amount of makeup. (This is probably more true of my "little" one than my older one; the second one seems to have a lot more exposure to these things.)

 

Now: anyone for a thread on learning to apply makeup for moms who don't wear it? I still remember the blank stares at DD's first Nutcracker meeting, when I asked about how and what to apply, and confessed I hadn't the foggiest idea what they meant when they said, "Pretty much what you wear on the street."

[gogators]

Now: anyone for a thread on learning to apply makeup for moms who don't wear it? I still remember the blank stares at DD's first Nutcracker meeting, when I asked about how and what to apply, and confessed I hadn't the foggiest idea what they meant when they said, "Pretty much what you wear on the street."

It would be interesting to conduct a poll on the percentage of moms of dks who don't wear makeup (probably due to lack of time from work, home life and driving to ballet classes, soccer, b-ball, etc.). Count me as another parent who doesn't wear makeup due to all of the above reasons.

[Guest balletandsynchro]

I'd also like to add that one of our best parent make-up artists at DDs old HS happened to be a dad. He was an actor (now a playwright and a teacher) with a BFA and MFA in theatre. The girls would practically fight to be in his line for make-up application!

[dancindaughters]

Goodness, I envy you moms who don't need to wear make-up. I would scare people away if I didn't cover my under-eye circles! I agree that the benefit of a bit of colour for the kids depends on their individual colouring and features. My daughters are fair skinned and one of them has eyes that need definition. I am going to try a bit of tastefull make-up for their next audition.