(As printed in the Quarter 3/05 Issue of The Belly Dancer Magazine)
Review of Zaina Hart's Stage Make-up 101 Workshop
in Sacramento, California - hosted by Julia Carroll
and the Ottoman Traders - May 2005
as Reviewed by: Oberon
What could be more natural. A dozen or more “Ottoman Traders”, a master instructor of Middle Eastern Dance and cases and cases of Revlon, Max Factor, Mary Kay and Mac!
Zaina Hart and I, having just completed a 12 hour trek from Oregon to Sacramento, California, were being eagerly flagged down and directed to the home of Connie Clark. Excited faces scrubbed “clean as a whistle”, smiled out at us from every corner of the large living room and kitchen. Bags and boxes of favorite “face adornments” were brought along with serious expectations of improving stage make-up skills while actually enjoying the process. Zaina moved in quickly to meet and greet her students, settling them in front of their mirrors where they were surrounded by the tools she had requested they bring.
It is important to note, that this group of women varied greatly in their knowledge of make-up and application. In fact a few even candidly stated that they “never wore the stuff”. As someone who has dabbled since the age of twelve, I became really curious as to how evenly the women would gain results.
Reader, I’m not revealing Zaina’s secrets in this review, for that, you must and should take this class yourself….but suffice to say that after two and a half hours of giggling, questioning, listening and preening, the results for everyone involved were one of the most fun and satisfying events ever, with every woman in the room, regardless of prior experience, walking away with a face full of knowledge.
Zaina is a FONT when it comes to how to be seen on stage. Starting with skin
preparation for smoothness and glow, she moved seamlessly into the benefits of foundation and highlighting and on to contouring to show of the “good stuff” while downplaying the undesirable. She was showing us the “how, where, why and what”. How to prepare the lips and eyes to make color last even when you sweat, what areas to work on first (very important), How to set everything, how to outline everything. Natural brow lines, where to stop! She coaxed, informed and helped apply to this bevy of wonderful women, who were everyone, working on there faces with the eagerness of artists with new canvass!
O.K. Here are some of my favorite parts. Zaina, working on one half of her face while the other half remained, to document the naked truth!
The segment that transformed every woman’s eyes, into tools of exotic expression, even from the distance of the stage. (you’re gonna love the secret of where to start your liner).
The false eye lash segment, where rank beginners “ooohed and aaahed “ with delight as their easily transformed eyes, blinked back, large and lush from their mirrors – a total “Hoot” ….. and of course, watching these women of all ages, sizes and types, transform, every one becoming visibly and individually more beautiful.
These women, well, the photographs, and the hugs all around tell the real story.
Zaina was a roaring success, and me, I was tired when we began, totally rejuvenated by the time the two and a half hours had swept bye.
So what became of this vibrant, excited troupe of women? Armed with Zaina’s suggestions and recommendations, they are planning a day long field trip, to NORDSTROMS of course …. Deeeeeeelightful …only one question remains …. Can we go too??????
