Create a Sea Witch

By Akanksha Mukherjee for En Avant Magazine Jan-Feb 2023

Stage makeup is an essential element in the world of ballet, as it plays a crucial role in transforming dancers into their characters. Ballet performances often feature elaborate costumes and intricate sets, but it is the stage makeup that truly brings the characters to life.

Stage makeup helps enhance the facial features of the dancers, making their expressions and emotions more visible from a distance. Through the careful application of makeup, dancers can emphasize their eyes, cheeks, and lips, which helps to convey their character’s personality and emotions to the audience. Whether they are portraying a swan, a fairy, or a villain, the right makeup can create an unforgettable and convincing transformation, adding depth and realism to their performance.

The character of Ursula, the Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid ballet is a complex and intriguing figure. As her name suggests, she is a powerful sorceress who rules over the ocean depths and commands a legion of undersea creatures. Her personality is often portrayed as cunning, manipulative, and dangerous, and she is known for her ability to make deals and bargains with other characters in the ballet.

The Sea Witch is a pivotal character in the story, as she seeks to thwart the love between the Sea Princess and her human prince. She is often depicted as a jealous and vengeful figure who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. However, there is also a sense of tragedy to her character, as she is often portrayed as a lonely and misunderstood figure who has been cast out from society and forced to live in isolation.

In terms of her appearance, the Sea Witch is often depicted as a striking and otherworldly figure. She may be dressed in elaborate costumes that incorporate elements of marine life, such as tentacles or shells, and her makeup may be dark and dramatic, with exaggerated features that emphasize her power and mystique.

So, let us have a look at how makeup can transform a dancer into the character of Ursula!

Step 1

Start with a freshly washed face and apply a thin layer of moisturizer to help the makeup adhere to the skin.

Step 2

Using a sponge or brush, apply a base of white and purple face paint mixed together to create a uniform pastel lavender color all over the face, including the eyelids and lips.

Step 3

Using a darker shade of purple, contour the face by applying the paint along the temples and under the cheekbones, blending it in to create a shadow effect.

Step 4

Apply white face paint along the nose, around the eyes, on the chin, and in the center of the forehead to highlight these areas.

Step 5

Using a small brush, fill in the eyebrows, making sure to make them sharp and contrasting in size and add other details in black paint, such as eyeliner, beauty marks, or other embellishments.

Step 6

Create an eyeshadow effect using blue, white, and pink face paint, using a brush to blend the colors together on the eyelids.

Step 7

Using a small brush or your finger, add white bubbles and glitter over the eyeshadow and contour for a magical, ethereal effect.

Step 8

Apply red paint to the lips and add glitter on top for a glamorous touch.

Step 9

Use lash glue or body adhesive to add rhinestones or other embellishments to the face for added sparkle and exaggerate the features

Final Look!

The Sea Witch makeup transformation described above shows the power of makeup to completely change one’s appearance and create a stunning, magical look. By using a combination of white and purple face paint, as well as contouring and highlighting techniques, the face is transformed into a pastel lavender canvas for further embellishments. This transformation demonstrates the endless possibilities of makeup and its ability to help people express their creativity and individuality, whether it’s for a special occasion, theatrical production, or simply for fun.