Choosing the right leotard shapes how a dancer feels in the studio. The wrong fit pulls focus. The right one disappears into the movement. This guide covers everything you need to know about selecting a leotard that suits your dance style, fits correctly and lasts the season. Browse our latest dancewear arrivals while you read.
Match the Leotard to Your Dance Style
Not every leotard works for every discipline. Fabric weight, neckline and sleeve length all affect how a garment performs in class. Start here before looking at colour or print.
Ballet
Classic ballet favours a clean silhouette. Look for a scoop or sweetheart neckline, low-cut back and a smooth matte or shine fabric. Thick seams and decorative trims can distract the eye and catch on tutus. A snug but not restrictive fit is essential. Footed tights worn underneath should not cause the leotard to ride up.
Jazz and Contemporary
Jazz and contemporary classes allow more variety. Deep V-necks, racerbacks and cap sleeves all work well. Look for a fabric with a four-way stretch. This supports broader movement ranges, especially in floor work and extensions. A gusset lining adds coverage without extra bulk.
Acrobatics and Gymnastics
Acro demands a leotard that stays put. Look for a higher neckline to avoid gaping during backbends and splits. Shorts-style or boyleg cuts reduce movement exposure. Fabric needs to withstand repeated washing and keep its shape across a full season of training.
Lyrical and Musical Theatre
These styles often layer a leotard with skirts, shorts or overshirts. A neutral base leotard in skin tone, black or white works best. Avoid thick decorative borders that create a visible line under sheer fabrics.
How to Get the Fit Right
Australian leotard sizing follows a different convention to European or US sizing. Do not assume your child wears the same size across brands. Measure before you order.
- Chest: measure around the fullest part of the chest.
- Waist: measure at the natural waist, not the hip.
- Height: a key measurement for leotard length. A torso that is long relative to height will need a size up to avoid the leotard pulling down at the shoulder straps.
- Hips: relevant for older dancers. If the hip measurement is larger than the chest measurement by more than 5 cm, size to the hip and adjust straps where possible.
A correctly fitted leotard should sit flat against the chest with no gaping. Straps should lie flat without digging. The base should cover fully without pulling upward when the dancer raises their arms overhead.
If a child is between sizes, always size up for comfort and to allow for growth through the season. A leotard that is too small will restrict movement and wear out faster at the seams.
Fabric and Care
Most dance leotards use nylon-lycra or polyester-lycra blends. Nylon-lycra tends to feel softer against the skin and holds colour well over time. Polyester-lycra is more resistant to chlorine and sweat, making it a practical choice for dancers who train multiple days a week.
Bamboo-blend leotards are increasingly available in newer collections. These fabrics are soft, breathable and moisture-wicking, which suits younger dancers in warm studios.
To extend the life of any dance leotard, hand wash in cool water or use a delicates bag in a cold machine cycle. Turn inside out before washing. Never tumble dry. Lay flat to dry away from direct sunlight to preserve elasticity and colour.
For the latest styles across all dance disciplines, take a look at what has just landed in our new season dancewear collection. Styles sell through quickly, particularly in popular sizes for younger dancers.
Choosing Colour and Style for Class or Performance
Many dance schools specify a uniform colour or style. Check with your teacher or studio before purchasing. If no uniform is required, consider how the leotard will look in photographs and on stage under performance lighting. Jewel tones and deep neutrals tend to read better under stage lights than very pale pastels.
For everyday class wear, a darker colour or a print will hide sweat marks and resist visible pilling longer than a plain white or pale pink option. This is a practical consideration for dancers who train several times a week.
Print and embellishment can affect movement. Avoid leotards with stiff lace overlays or heavy beading for training. Save those for performance pieces where the visual impact is worth the trade-off in flexibility.
If you are building a dancewear wardrobe for the year, our guide to buying new dancewear arrivals online in Australia covers what to look for each season and how to compare sizing across popular brands.
