Ballet is a fine balance between athleticism and artistic expression.
It is a physically demanding art/sport, and you should invest in high-quality dancewear to elevate your dance experience. A leotard is an essential item for a ballet dancer, as it serves both functionality and character.
Traditionally, dancers with long arms and legs, narrow hips, flat chest and long necks are the epitome of ballet.
But good news for everyone! The dance landscape has been more inclusive than ever. It has never been easier to find new leotards with various styles, sizes and colors!
Prominent figures such as Misty Copeland has been redefining bodies in ballet by becoming the first African American principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater.
We encourage you to find a dancewear that best fits your body type. But don't let that hinder you from exploring! If you find any leotard speaks to you, definitely get it!
With that said, let's dive headfirst to find the best leotards for dancers.
Table of Contents
Why Should I Wear A Leotard?
A ballet class is best done in a leotard. Here's why.
Uphold Tradition
The history of ballet is deeply rooted in tradition. The origins can be traced to the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth and sixteenth century and the leotard was invented 1838 - nearly 200 years ago!
Wearing a leotard is the best way of showing respect to the art.
Prevent Injuries and Develop Proper Technique
The body needs to be fine-tuned to fulfill the technical requirements in ballet. The body-hugging dancewear offers a clear view of your body. Your instructor can study your body alignment and quickly provide instructions to prevent injuries.
Subsequently, you are going to develop the right technique by applying the corrections given by your teacher. It is important to have a strong foundation to carry you through the years in ballet.
Ballet technique is a foundation for other styles such as contemporary, jazz, lyrical and modern.
Comfort
Dance leotards are designed with movement in mind. A dancer can développé and pirouette freely without any distractions.
You can then focus on the quality of your dance.
What Should I Wear With My Leotard?
A complete ballet set comes with a dance leotard, tights and ballet shoes. Men may opt to wear compression shorts or leggings instead of tights during class.
Undergarment
Female ballerinas may treat their leotard as an undergarment and go commando. That way, they avoid underwear peeking out from beneath the leotard or getting an uncomfortable wedgie. Otherwise, they can wear thongs to abstain from showing a Visible Panty Line (VPL).
Adult dancers may find leotards that come with in-built bra and cup support a good find. Otherwise, wear sports bras that match the style and color of your leotards.
Male ballerinas should wear a dance belt since young. It helps to hold their anatomy together and conceal the bump under their tights.
Top dance brands such as Bloch and Capezio offer a line of specialty dance undergarments that would avoid a wardrobe malfunction and radiate professional quality.
Period
Wear darker colors to prevent noticeable leaks.
Most dancers wear a tampon.
If that's not your go-to, you can wear period underwear or a period pad. Wear a skirt or dance shorts to cover up any leakages and keep your mind at ease as you dance. Alternatively, you can wear your tights over your leotard to secure your underwear.
Remember that you are not alone in this and you can talk to your dance teacher if you need any pointers.
Accessories
Dance accessories are widely available on the market. Leg warmers, wrap sweaters, chiffon skirts, boy shorts. You name it, they got it.
Take note that these accessories may obscure your body alignment and you should discuss with your dance teacher before buying a new one.
Types of Leotards
The high demand for various sizes, styles and colors of dance leotards means that you can find one that flatters your body easily. Just like streetwear, dance leotards convey the personality of the dancer.
Here is the basic rundown of different types of leotards.
Tank
A timeless and modest design. With its thick shoulder straps, it is suitable for every dancer - male, female, children and adults.
It usually comes with the classic U-shaped neckline, but dance suppliers have mixed it up over the years. You can choose various interesting designs such as the V-shaped neckline and pinched princess seams.
Its modest design make it the best choice for classical examinations.
Camisole
Also known as the spaghetti-strapped leotard, the camisole is the playful cousin of the tank leotard.
The thinner shoulder straps show off your upper body while creating an elegant and streamlined silhouette. You can find detailed back designs with the camisole leotard to spice up your look on the dance floor.
It is suitable for dancers with a smaller upper body. Some camisole leotards come with adjustable straps for a better fit.
The camisole is also a popular attire for advanced examinations.
Short Sleeves
As indicated in the name, this leotard comes with capped short sleeves.
The humble short sleeves leotard is a common design and is most suitable for men. Some studios may encourage toddlers to wear short sleeves leotard for classes too.
Following recent trends, dance suppliers have incorporated different materials together such as cotton and mesh sleeves for an elegant look for senior dancers.
It is optimal for an everyday look. You should definitely add this to your collection.
Long Sleeves
The long sleeves leotard accentuates the arm and keeps your muscles warm during winter/colder rehearsal days.
For dancers with shorter torsos, you may opt for the long sleeves leotard with a single blend color to create a visual illusion of longer extensions in your poses.
Other options include the 3/4 sleeves. However, be mindful that this may create the illusion that your arms are shorter and break the line that every ballet dancer looks for.
Halter Neck
The neckline runs higher than other leotards and the strap loops around the neck. The design is similar to the bareback design in streetwear and shows off your defined shoulders and back.
This design is the optimal choice for dancers with larger busts as it offers support and comfort.
One criticism for the halter neck design is the strap puts pressure on the back of the neck and may cause discomfort after long hours of dancing.
Boat Neckline
A boat neckline runs from shoulder to shoulder. This is the perfect leotard for you if you have wider hips/smaller shoulders and wish to balance out the proportion of your body. This leotard usually reveals your back to allow better breathability.
Materials
Choose the material wisely as it subconsciously affects your performance. If you live in a warmer climate, you wish to choose leotards with lighter material and vice versa.
Leotards should always be hand washed and air-dried. Treat it with care and it will last you for years.
Cotton
Did you know, cotton is not only popular in T-shirts, but it is also a popular choice in leotards?
Cotton is a good choice if you have sensitive skin because it is soft to the touch. Make sure you buy new cotton leotards that fit snugly as it stretches over time. That makes it budget-friendly as you reduce the frequency of buying a replacement and ideal for growing dancers.
On the downside, cotton is warmer than other materials and it is also absorbent. What that means for you is if you have long hours of rehearsals or you live in a warmer climate, you are going to sweat more and your sweat stains are going to show.
Therefore, you may choose to minimize cotton leotards in your collection or bring extra leotards to change into.
Nylon Spandex
Spandex or also known as Lycra is popular for its great quality. It is suitable for many sports attire such as swimsuits, sportswear and dancewear.
A Nylon Spandex usually has 80% Nylon and 20% spandex. It comes with amazing stretch and recovery. It is the best material for retaining shapes.
The fiber is built with breathability in mind.
Lycra is available with a two-way stretch or four-way stretch property. A two-way stretch only stretches in one direction; width or length while a four-way stretch stretches in all directions.
Be careful as you pull on your leotard because one direction may stretch more than the other. That leaves you with a sagging bottom or loose top.
How Should A Leotard Fit For Dance?
Many would say leotards are like a second skin. This indicates that leotards should fit snugly with enough coverage on the chest and bottom area. Ill-fitting leotards are an eyesore.
Leotards are too tight if the shoulder straps cut into your skin and hinder your movements. The leg opening of leotards shouldn't ride above your hip bones either.
On the contrary, lookout for signs that indicate leotards are too big. They are wrinkles around the body, shoulder straps that slide off the shoulders, and loose fabric hanging off the bottom.
If you are buying leotards in-store, take your time to try on different leotards to find the best fit. It takes time to find leotards with the highest quality for your body. Dance around and make sure that it molds into your body.
If you are shopping online, you can use a measuring tape to match your body measurements to the sizing guide of the brand. Remember that sizes fluctuate between different brands so recording your measurements is your best bet!
Ways On How To Measure Your Body For Dance Leotards
Chest
Wrap the measurement tape around the fullest part of your chest.
Waist
The measurement of your waist will fall between the base of your rib cage and the start of your hip bones. Or 2.5cm above your belly button.
Hips
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and wiggle out of the tape like you're taking off your pants. This will ensure your leotard will go through your hips easily.
The amount of leotard you own depends on the frequency of your class. You should have enough to alternate between leotards in a week. And maybe have one or two special leotards in your favorite design.
Top Recommended Leotards
Women
Capezio Women's Short Sleeve Leotard
This simple and timeless design is suitable for long rehearsal days. It features a low back scoop to increase breathability and elegance.
- 90% cotton, 10% Lycra spandex
- Shelf bra lining for comfort and support
- True to size
- Available in various colors: black, burgundy, lavender, light blue, navy
Dancers who wish to keep themselves warm to enhance performance will find themselves satisfied with this compression-like quality leotard.
- 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex
- Longer lasting with double stitched seams
- Sizes available for children and adults
- Comes in unique colors such as Light Suntan, Royal Blue and Purple
Personalize your dance leotard to your body with Capezio's Camisole Leotard! With the adjustable straps and high-quality cotton, you will feel like this one was tailor-made for you!
- 90% cotton, 10% Lycra Spandex
- Adjustable straps for a customized fit
- Built-in bra for shape and cup support
- Thick cotton that hugs every curves and edges of your body
- Available in multiple colors
Modest at the front, sultry at the back. This leotard would speak to you if you have a small yet fiery personality.
- 90% Nylon, 10% Spandex
- Shelf bra lining
- Stretchable
- Available in basic colors
Embody chic and elegance in this Capezio mesh short sleeve leotard. Its sweetheart neckline and open back crisscross straps will make you stand out on stage or in auditions.
- Body: 78% Nylon, 22% Spandex
- Mesh: 96% Polyester, 4% Spandex
- Mesh sleeves for optimal ventilation
Embrace your femininity with this playful lace and floral leotard. The princess neckline offers coverage on the chest area, which is suitable for ladies with a bigger bust.
- 87% polyamide, 13% spandex
- Double shelf bra lining
- Option
- Available with beautiful lace or floral sleeves
With its moisture-wicking technology, it will make you feel ultra comfortable! You can dance and dance and dance all day!
- 92% Nylon, 8% Lycra
- Wicks moisture away from the skin
- Dries eight times faster than cotton and twice as soft as other fiber
Make your daughter feel like a princess with this leotard! It is perfect for girls aged 3 - 11 and can be worn for classes or performances.
- 92% cotton, 8% spandex
- Ruffled sleeves and layered tulle skirt with sewn-on sequins
- High quality - sequins stay on after washing
And the winner is...
Capezio's Camisole Leotard with Adjustable Straps!
Established in 1887, Capezio is a dancewear brand you can trust for high-quality products. It is defined by its quality in products and care for dancers.
This leotard has adjustable straps and built-in bra which translates to superior comfort and maximum support for the dancer.
It has thick cotton to keep your body warm. If you live in a colder climate, the camisole design is flexible in the sense that you can layer yourself without ruining the aesthetics of your lines.
Wrap it up
And there you have it! A comprehensive guide on finding the best leotards for dancers.
Make sure to have fun! The more you try on various designs and styles, the quicker you will learn to filter out leotards that are right for you.
Once you find the best dancewear, it will make your dance journey so much sweeter.
Happy dancing!
