Makeup

Makeup Magic with Don Quixote!

We snuck our cameras behind-the-scenes of Don Quixote to get an exclusive look at the intricate and lengthy makeup process involved in bringing these colorful characters to life onstage. Makeup artist Carol Raskin and assistant makeup artist Lisa Horwitz  spent over two hours transforming six dancers into Amour (aka Cupid), Dulcinea (Don Quixote’s dream girl), Gamache (the rich nobleman), Sancho Panza (Don Quixote’s right-hand man), Lorenzo (Kitri’s father), and Don Quixote, himself! These characters’ beauty secrets require way more than your standard lipstick and mascara!

Watch dancers Andrei Chagas and Carlos Guerra undergo their transformation to become our favorite dynamic duo — Sancho Panza and the man for which the ballet was named, Don Quixote!

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Becoming Dr. Coppélius

One of the best parts of performing a story ballet, such as Coppélia, is getting into character with the help of scenery, costumes, and makeup! Since we don’t have anyone in the company who’s quite the age of Dr. Coppélius, we count on the expertise of our makeup guru, Carol. She transforms our dancers!

Get a sneak peek of Carol working her magic on principal soloist Didier Bramaz.

A look in the mirror

Did you know that dancers do their own makeup and hair (unless a role requires special makeup)? And it is a process! Soloist Callie Manning is known around here as an expert in stage makeup and shared her step-by-step routine with us. Because it takes so long (usually around 45 minutes or so), here is a quick view at what the women of Miami City Ballet go through in front of the mirror before each performance.

Don’t miss Callie and the rest of Miami City Ballet during Program IV at Adrienne Arsht Center, April 9-11, and at Kravis Center, April 16-18.