Super pale skin in performances

[Je Suis Aimee]

Googling around, I found a photo of Princess Diana meeting some ballerinas, presumably after a performance of Swan Lake. Princess Di looked like a bronze goddess compared to the dancers! Their skin was almost as white as their swan costumes. So what is used to achieve this? I know not sunbathing is one step - my teacher told me that back when she was still a student, the dancers would get demerits if they got a tan. But oviously some sort of makeup is used too. A friend of mine told me they use powder, but is that all? I would think something stronger would be needed, like a pancake type makeup.

[lampwick]

I've used Kryolan Aquacolor makeup. It has tons of pigment in it. Great coverage.

http://www.kryolan.com/en/index.php?cid=10...nu=32&id=87

[rlyons]

I think I found the picture you mean...it's Swan Lake ballerinas..it looks like Diana is wearing a hell of a lot of tanning cream or has a deep natural tan...I think that shows the contrast even more!? They are pale though...but I have to say, no paler than I am ;) LOL

[Victoria Leigh]

They are more pale for the "white ballets", like Swan Lake and Les Sylphides, however, they absolutely wear make up. Just a lighter shade unless one is quite pale to begin with, in which case their normal shade would work. But no one goes on stage without make up! You also have to remember that the lights on stage drain some of the color from the face. Most have us have to wear a darker base than our normal skin, especially if we are fair skinned blonds.

[Skittl1321]

I found the picture you were looking at, and it looks like they've been powdered on the neck and shoulders. If you put it into a photo editor and zoom in, you can see a very defined line on their face where there face foundation starts (because their faces are all darker than their arms/neck) and at the nap of their hairline, the skin is darker where the powder (I'm assuming it's powder) was not applied.

 

I'd think baby powder would do the trick.

[Hippy Skippy]

Do the girls powder only their faces or arms/chest too?

[vrsfanatic]

Lighter make up and powder are applied to all exposed areas for "white" ballets. The idea is that the dancer look less than human, thus the change in skin tone.

[lampwick]

I doubt baby powder would be used. It makes the floor very slippery for pointe shoes. HUGE pet peeve of mine when I see people using it in a dance studio.

[Mel Johnson]

Also remember - the dancers perform in a designed environment, with a certain palette in the sets, costumes and even the lighting. Designers may indeed specify what makeup is to be worn, and what shades. If they don't, the ballet master just might!

[GTLS Designs]

NO BABY POWDER!! It should be outlawed in ballet studios!!!!!!

 

Body Make-Up Kryolan makes a good Body Make-up.

[Mel Johnson]

No matter what the foundation is, there exist many powders, both pressed and loose, which are intended to "set" the makeup and make it more perspiration-resistant. And yes, baby powder based on talc is not a good idea backstage.

[Skittl1321]

Thanks for the baby powder correction- I've been in groups that used it before, but we didn't have anyone in pointe shoes!

[Mel Johnson]

Women in the nineteenth century used to use a lot of plain rice flour to give them that ghastly pallor that they found so attractive, for some reason!

[Hippy Skippy]

Women in the nineteenth century used to use a lot of plain rice flour to give them that ghastly pallor that they found so attractive, for some reason!

 

I've seen women like that in older movies and documentaries, I've wondered what they actually used to get that look, lol!

 

Ro

[Mazenderan]

Women in the nineteenth century used to use a lot of plain rice flour to give them that ghastly pallor that they found so attractive, for some reason!

 

Hey! Some of us Celtic girls have that 'ghastly pallor' naturally.