I did find this:

www.gossiprocks.com/forum/be...ost477809

I do contouring, and definately for stage it is a heavier look. Depending on the person and situation I have both cremes and powder for this. For smaller venues, I only go one shade either direction of middle. I usually use a powder going on after the foundation/concealer has been set. I can slowly build up the application this way, and blend, blend, blend. I still contour noses, face width, hairline, chins (and any extra ones), jaws, and eyes in these smaller venues. The degree is gentler though.

For most stages I find belly dancers on, or even some distance performances (outdoor stages), I go two shades away from middle for highlight and shadow. For regular stage settings (theatre lighting, long auditorium, possible balconies, fair distance to a video recorder), I go three or four shades away from middle, blending well with matching shades in between if needed. I also use harder lines for the sharp edges in these situations. I also contour necks, cleavage, arms and abs in this situation. They need definition too, not quite to the degree the face does.

I ti s hard to explain in text how to do contouring, but it is often taught in stage makeup courses. I suggest hitting the library for some picture books of stage makeup techniques. Especially 'old age' makeup, which is almost all contouring. Even though it may not be the finished look we want to achieve, the techniques are handy. Also, basic art principles come into play, dark recedes, light advances. Narrow things have a thin line of light down the center, with wider dark shadows on the edges, while wide things have a large space of light in the middle, with narrower dark shadows on the edges, etc. Look at the difference in makeup between hard edges and soft edges, and use them to reshape the face. Look up contouring lessons for drawing, the same principles apply.

I'm self conscious about the shadow created by the fold of skin above my belly button. I'm wondering if a lighter shade of makeup would disguise it on stage. Has anyone tried reversing shadows rather than creating shadows?

Cool, I'll have to play with my button and see what I come up with. Thanks.