Choosing the right leotard matters more than most dancers realise. The wrong fit pulls, gaps, or restricts movement. The right one disappears on the body so the dancer can focus entirely on technique. This Elevé Dancewear buying guide covers styles, fabrics, sizing, and fit so you can shop with confidence.
What Makes Elevé Dancewear Worth the Investment
Elevé is an Australian-founded brand built specifically for serious dancers. The construction is precise. Seams sit flat. Fabrics are chosen for stretch recovery, meaning they return to shape after every grand battement and backbend. This is not recreational activewear repurposed for dance class. Every design decision starts with movement.
The brand produces leotards and pants in limited runs, which means popular colourways sell out. If you see a style in your size, it is worth acting on. You can browse the full Elevé range at Total Dance to see what is currently available in Australia.
How to Choose the Right Elevé Leotard for Your Dance Style
Not every leotard suits every discipline. Fit priorities differ between ballet, contemporary, jazz, and acro. Here is how to think through the choice.
Ballet
Ballet training calls for a clean line. Look for a leotard with a high cut leg, minimal back coverage, and a smooth front panel with no gathering. Sweetheart necklines and simple straps read well in a studio mirror. Avoid heavy embellishment that distracts from line.
Contemporary and Lyrical
Contemporary dancers benefit from more coverage through the back and a fabric with strong four-way stretch. Longer torso styles work well here. Some dancers layer a fitted crop over their leotard for floor work, so check that the leotard hem sits snugly and does not ride up.
Jazz and Commercial
Jazz training tends to favour a lower neckline and a confident silhouette. Scoop necks and V-backs suit this style. Colour and texture matter more in jazz contexts, so this is where Elevé's printed and mesh styles earn their place.
Acro and Gymnastics
For acro, prioritise a leotard that stays put through inversions and backbends. A secure underband, minimal lace or mesh panels, and a high-cut leg with strong elastic are the practical requirements. Check the gusset construction before purchasing. A poorly finished gusset will cause discomfort by the second hour of training.
Sizing Elevé Leotards for Adults and Children
Elevé sizing follows standard Australian dancewear conventions, but fit runs closer to the body than everyday clothing. If you are between sizes, size up for comfort through the torso. Sizing down typically causes shoulder straps to pull and the back to gap.
- Measure the torso length from shoulder to crotch when standing upright. This is the most important measurement for leotard fit.
- For children, allow a finger-width of ease through the shoulder straps. A leotard that fits perfectly at the start of term will likely be snug by the end of the year.
- For adults, measure the full bust, underbust, and hip. Cross-reference all three against the Elevé size chart rather than relying on one measurement alone.
- If a child is between a size 8 and size 10, consider which area causes the most fitting problems. Longer torso, size up. Broader shoulders, size up. Narrow through the hips, hold at the smaller size.
For detailed guidance on Elevé styles and how they are sized across the Australian range, the article on buying Elevé dancewear online in Australia covers this in full, including shipping and returns information.
Choosing Elevé Dance Pants to Match Your Leotard
Elevé pants are designed to coordinate with specific leotard collections. This is intentional. The fabric weights and stretch ratios are matched so the pieces move together without bunching at the waistband or seat.
- Stirrup pants extend the leg line and suit ballet and contemporary work. They stay in place without folding at the ankle.
- Fitted full-length pants work well for contemporary and for dancers who want more coverage during floor sequences.
- Flared and wide-leg styles suit jazz and commercial contexts where silhouette is part of the performance aesthetic.
When pairing pants with a leotard, match the fabric finish. A matte leotard with a shiny pant creates a mismatched look under studio lighting. Elevé designs within collections to avoid this, so shopping from the same collection line simplifies the decision.
Fabric and Care for Elevé Dancewear
Elevé uses high-grade nylon and elastane blends across most of its range. These fabrics are soft against the skin, moisture-wicking, and resistant to pilling under repeated washing. Some styles feature mesh panels or velvet accents that require gentler handling.
- Cold machine wash on a delicate cycle or hand wash. Hot water breaks down elastane faster.
- Do not tumble dry. Hang to air dry in the shade. Direct sun fades colour over time.
- Do not use fabric softener. It coats the fibres and reduces stretch recovery.
- Turn the garment inside out before washing to protect any printed or embellished surfaces.
Stored and washed correctly, a quality Elevé leotard holds its shape and colour across a full dance year. That is the practical value behind the price point.
Ready to find the right fit? Shop our Elevé dancewear collection for the current range of leotards, pants, and coordinates, with Australian sizing and fast local shipping.
