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Welcome to Backstage Beauty, a new feature in which New York City's top performers show us how they apply makeup before they take the stage.

Sara Mearns has been dancing since she was three. Now, she's a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. We caught up with her backstage for a demonstration of how she preps her face to stand out underneath the ballet's bright lights. The look in question: a dramatic, romantic face for George Balanchine's Diamonds. Check out the video above for her quick three-minute how-to.

· Sara Mearns [New York City Ballet]

· Sara Mearns [Huffington Post]