We’re lucky enough to be joined by Steph Noon for todays interview, an experienced, championship winning dancer and professional dance stylist, who is going to share some of her experiences with us.
Hi, I’m Steph an Amateur Ballroom competitor and full time dance stylist.
I have travelled all over the world improving both my dance skills and hair and makeup skills. I have been dancing for 23 years and a stylist for 8+ years.For the last 5 years my company Styled By Steph has been providing hair and makeup services to all dancers across the world. From those competing in their first U6 competition, to multiple Professional World Champions. I help dancers feel and look their best.
You’re an accomplished dancer yourself. Could you tell us more about that journey
I began dancing at a local medallist school at 4 years old.
I passed through the medallist system, completing all of my exams and regularly competed at the ISTD competitions.
During my juvenile career, my mum began taking me to watch the UK Open each year, as it is just down the road from us. Here I was able to see the best dancers in the world!
We knew then that joining the open circuit was the next step in my dancing career. After winning at the ISTD grand finals I got myself my first ‘boy’ partner.
During my junior and youth career I competed in both Ballroom and Latin and by the age of 15 I had made the UK Closed Amateur 10 dance final, and both youth finals.
By 18 I had become u21 10dance Vice World Champion and finalist in the World Amateur 10 dance championships. At 19 I specialised (for the last time, as I also had partnerships where I just did latin!) in Ballroom.
After a few years, and a couple of partner changes I hit the peak of my dancing career. In the space of 2 years with my partner Dan, we became finalists in multiple top International competitions, Blackpool Rising star finalists, Blackpool amateur semi finalists and semi finalists in the world championships for 2 years in a row.
We were very fortunate to be invited to compete and perform all over the world.
How did you get into supporting dancers with their hair for competitions?
I was always very lucky. My dance teachers would often help me with my own hair and it saved me and my mum many arguments! At around 13 years old, I began practicing to do my own hair and makeup for competitions.
My teacher would always let me know if I had done a good job, so from there I was able to hone my skills.
One British Nationals, my teacher as the time was supposed to help some ladies with their hair, unfortunately, she wasn’t available, so the job was passed down to another girl in the school.
Last minute she was also not able to help so off I was sent to these ladies hotels to do their hair. Luckily, they loved it! They asked if I would be working at the next competition. The rest is history as they say!
Why is hair and beauty so important in dance competitions?
As much as I believe that ’the dancing always wins’, I also believe that there’s a lot that goes into it.
Having your hair and makeup done, whether that’s professionally or if you do it yourself can help you gain the confidence you need to step onto that floor.
It can help you create a character, you can decide a new persona for that day, and every time you perform that can be someone new!
Having your hair, makeup, tan and dress immaculate helps the judge feel confident that you know what you’re doing, which may, result in getting one round further. Ultimately though, I believe it’s the confidence it gives the dancer to go out there and shine. Having some help to get this right save your arms from aching and any pre comp tantrums… especially from doing your own hair!
So we’re just going into competition season – what does that generally involve for you? What does a typical competition day look like for you?
Generally this means, very little sleep, lots of hairspray and plenty of admin. Once bookings are open, it will normally take me around 12-18 hours of admin to organise a single competition (normally about 6 hours per day I am working).
Once the bulk of the admin is done, it is then packing and travelling across the country each weekend to start work at various competitions across various organisations. Some weekends I will attend more than one competition. An average weekend of work will look like this:
Day 1: unpacking and setting up, between 15-20 hairstyles, roughly a 10 hour shift (after travel)
Day 2: between 20-30 hairstyles, roughly a 18 hour shift (starting at 4am finishing by midnight)
Day 3: between 5-10 hairstyles, repacking and closing down my work station (travel)
Then it is simply; travel home, spend one day recovering and repeat the process!
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As you can imagine, packing a 40-60 hour work week into a weekend can be really taxing on the body, so when I am competing and training at the same time, I will be very selective on when and what competitions I can work at. However when I am not competing I can often be found working every weekend.
What styles of dance do you support? What hairstyles are trending right now?
At the moment I specialise in Ballroom and Latin hair and makeup. Although I am qualified in both hair and makeup, currently I am only providing hairstyling appointments (I don’t have enough hands for both!)
As far as trending dance hairstyles, I am very happy to see that ‘beautiful’ styles are back in fashion and we have moved away from very severe styles.
In ballroom, most girls opt for soft, glamorous styles which we crimp the hair to create volume and waves. In latin, girls are gravitating between twists and braids, with long ponytails.
Who are some of the most famous dancers you have worked with?
I am very lucky to have worked with some of the best dancers in the world.
In the amateur division I have done hairstyles for:
amateur champion Paulina Glazik, Zia James, Caroly Janes, Rebecca Scott, Mia Link Holden, Madison Ingoldsby, Olivia King
In the Professional division:
Sara Ghigiarelli, Irina Cherepanova, Kristi Boyce, Nataliya Koliada, Emanuel Napolitano, Polina Teleshova, Patrizia Ranus, Marika Doshoris, Morgan Hemphill, Olga Elsbury, Nataliia Beale, Liis End, Alisa Margulis
To name a few!
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I have also been extremely privileged to be part of the glam team for both Sara Ghigiarelli’s and Kristi Boyce’s final look during their retirement announcement.
What are the most novel or challenging requests you have worked with?
Honestly, I can safely say there is nothing that scares me now!
Almost all requests I have heard before, or I have seen before. The most challenging events are for those, as I have mentioned above, who pick me to be their stylist for their retirement competition. This is when I really feel the pressure!
Do you have any advice for dancers who are yet to reach the levels of competitions you work on, who may be doing their own hair?
You have to love the WHOLE process of competitions, so if you don’t yet, then it’s time to get practicing. It’s how I started and it the fastest and easiest way to learn.
Practice in the evenings, practise on your days off and never try something new on the day of the competition.
If you want to be able to do your own hair it will only take practice. If your mum, sister, dad, whoever, offer to help or they are the ones doing your hair, be kind! I promise you, they are trying their best, and if you’re not happy with how they do it… then it’s time to learn.
I have online tutorials available on my website www.styledbysteph.co.uk teaching you how to do your own hair yourself and how I do mine! On the site you can also see which competitions I will be attending next – maybe I’ll see you there!
