Vidhya Girish

Vidhya, do you remember when and what fascinated you about make-up in a way that you knew you wanted to practise it seriously?

I started doing my own make-up for performances during my days as a student at the Kalakshetra (Chennai) and would often also help my peers. I continued this even after I completed my course at Kalakshetra... Soon, I realised that I loved doing make-up and that I was doing it well. It was only during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic that I decided to pursue make-up professionally. But looking back, I think I was always naturally drawn to the science and art of make-up.

Is doing make-up a meditative experience for you? What is your state of mind when you are doing make-up for a dancer?

For me, every face is like a canvas, and I have enjoyed working on each dancer I’ve done make-up for. I am a dancer and I also run a small baking business. Despite having multiple interests and professions, I have to admit that make-up is what I enjoy the most, and I’ve never felt tired of doing it. It's a very calming experience for me; it puts me in a zone and I love it. Whether I am working with a legendary artiste or a young dancer, when I start doing make-up, everyone is the same for me. I am mindful and I only focus on the make-up. What brings me the greatest satisfaction is seeing the happiness on a dancer's face when they finally look at themselves in the mirror.

Being a dancer and a make-up artiste, do you think you understand a dancer’s make-up needs better than a non-dancing make-up professional?

I wouldn’t say that as a dancer, I understand a dancer’s make-up needs more than a non-dancing make-up artiste because there are many make-up artistes with immense experience in the field. However, I do feel that as a dancer, I am able to place myself in a dancer’s situation and pre-empt and avoid wardrobe malfunctions such as the falling off of the jimmiki (earrings) or smudging of kajal due to sweat. But I am sure that non-dancing make-up artistes too with their experience can do the same.

How different is it when you do make-up for yourself vs make-up for another dancer?

Incidentally, ever since I started doing make-up professionally, I have not performed much. I have always enjoyed dressing up since my childhood. However, I always feel that I enjoy doing make-up for others more than doing it for my own self.

In the green room with Vidhya Girish

Dance make-up per se - correct me, if I'm wrong — is almost always the same — the eyes, the lips, the face… How do you know when you look at someone what will look good on them?

The thing is, the general technique for dance make-up is always the same. However, depending on the size of the stage, auditorium and number of lights, I enlarge the drawing of the eyes and other features. Each make-up that I do offers a different outcome for the dancer, and that process excites me a lot. I have never believed in adding extra foundation to make the skin look fairer. I truly believe that each skin tone is beautiful and unique, and I feel it is important to maintain that individual skin tone, celebrate it, and enhance the features as may be necessary. Drawing eyes are the most important part of a make-up and the shape in which I draw it for every face differs according to the shape of their eyes and face.

You travel to different places across the country and the world as a make-up artiste, does travelling to new places for work excite you?

Yes, I enjoy travelling to places for doing make-up. As a dancer too, I have had the experience of travelling to different places for performances. Initially, I felt travelling as a make-up artiste  wasstressful. However, with time, I have enjoyed the experience . I have also been very fortunate to have the support of my family – my husband, and my little son, because of which I have been able to enjoy each of my outstation assignments.

Doing make-up for dancers can become stressful at times because of the need to work in a situation where you are hard pressed for time and several other distractions around. How do you maintain your calm amidst the stress? 

I haven’t felt too much of a stress while doing make-up for dancers. When I work with professional artistes, it is usually calm as artistes understand the importance of calmness before a performance. However, while working with teenage dancers for Arangetrams, there are times when the relatives and friends are too excited or stressed. But I have never found myself losing my calm or getting frazzled due to it.
There are situations when I need to put make-up for a large group of dancers for performances. There is then a need to work fast to get them all ready on time. But I feel I have been able to do it with ease with experience and practice.

Do you think make-up techniques can be taught or does one learn it on their own through practice?

The techniques and procedure of the make-up can be taught. However, it can be improved only through constant learning, re-learning, observation and practice. To be proficient, one requires a good amount of experience which comes over time.

Do you believe every dancer needs make-up? If so, why?

I feel when a dancer gets ready in full costume and with all her jewellery on them, the make-up only enhances and elevates the entire look. A basic make-up always looks good on stage. But in intimate spaces and when not in a full costume, it is alright not to wear heavy make-up. Having said that, I always believe that make-up is only a way to enhance one’s features and not to mask a dancer's face.