Female dancers face a unique challenge and require different types of leotards. From your average ballet performance to a captivating contemporary dance routine on stage, there are many different types of dances that will require you to wear the right type of leotard.
But, with the wide variety of leotards available on the market, how do you know which one to choose?
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Capezio Women's Camisole Leotard | Best Overall |  |
| Speerise Womens Spandex Dance Leotard Short Sleeve | Budget Pick |  |
| Bloch Dance Women's Jubilee Mesh High Back Camisole Leotard | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Capezio Women's Camisole Leotard
Pros:
- Impeccable quality
- Great variety of colors
- Comes in a range of sizes so you can get the fit right
- Perfect for dance
- Good quality material
Cons:
- Straps and hem tend to be too tight
- Does not hold up well after being washed
This leotard from Capezio is one of the top recommendations for dance classes because of its unparalleled versatility and excellent quality.
The Camisole Leotard was designed to be timeless, so it can be worn not just by children, but by women of all ages for a variety of purposes. Thanks to its sheer versatility and super-comfy design, this leotard has become a much-loved wardrobe staple for dancers, ballerinas, gymnasts and other practitioners of jumpy sports. The Camisole Leotard is a staple in dance studios everywhere, and for excellent reasons.
Even though you can get a lot of leotards with the same features and the exact same design, this one is remarkably unique thanks to its outstanding quality despite its low price. Capezio cares about quality more than anything else, so their dancewear is a good choice if you want a decent, durable leotard.
2. Bloch Dance Girls Dujour Microlux Short sleeve Leotard
Pros:
- Durable, breathable material
- Comfortable fabric
- Good coverage
- Adjustable straps
- Lots of color options
Although not traditionally a performance piece, the Bloch Dance Girl’s DuJour Microlux Short Sleeve Leotard is the perfect addition to your daily wardrobe.
The material is absolutely superb. The Microlux leotard is a perfect combination of polyester and spandex, providing just enough stretch for all day comfort and a flattering fit.
The leotard is fully lined, providing additional shape and coverage to the bust, and reinforced at the leg and back seams for durability. Its unique pattern is incredibly flattering, and you can’t help but feel good wearing it.
3. Capezio Women's Princess Tank Leotard
Pros:
- Made from quality fabric
- Holds shape nicely
- Great color range
- Great price point
Cons:
- No reviews for this product!
When you have a dancer in the house, you need to make sure you’re getting them the right gear to ensure their comfort and safety. I’ve always used Capezio in the past so I decided to give them the business again. This is a great three-panel tank leotard from Capezio that’s great for everyday classes.
The Capezio Women’s Princess Tank Leotard has a great classic look with the high scoop front and a low scoop around the hips with an open back. It supports the chest with a nice sized shelf bra with red stitching. The back is low cut with a racer back style strap.
The fabric is made with a soft and smooth 4-way stretch spandex for a great fit and feel and is designed with a moderate leg line, great for jazz and modern styles.
4. Capezio Women's Long Sleeve Leotard
When poring over the hundreds of different leotards for dancers on Amazon, the Capezio Women's Long Sleeve Leotard’s classic color palette and high-quality stitching stood out.
Sporting a wide range of color options that will suit your dancer's personality, this leotard is constructed from a thin material for an affordable price. The overall design follows the traditional pattern, with a seamless front, moderate leg line, and wide-set straps for support.
The top is burnout, which gives it a super easy movement and breathability. The long sleeves on this one will also give you some added warmth if you're the kind of dancer who likes to stay a bit warmer in the studio.
5. Capezio Women's V-Neck Camisole Leotard
Pros:
- Virtually stays in place
- Stretchy fabric is comfortable and breathable
- Great for dancers
Cons:
- Runs slightly small
- Need to order a size or two up for better fit
- Comes in colors only
Capezio’s Women’s V-Neck Camisole Leotard with Shirring is the best leotard for dancers and gymnasts. It features a vintage-inspired look, with a scooped-neck and hip-level leg line. The camisole top is gracefully shirred at the neck, back and under the bust to provide a youthful appearance.
The full back coverage will keep you covered and looking your best on the mat or in the studio.
The stretch nylon/Lycra fabric is soft and comfortable, with a lot of give for ease of movement.
6. Danskin Women's Long-Sleeve Leotard
Pros:
- * Suitable for beginners and professional dance teachers * Quality material * Bright colors
This leotard is a popular choice among festival goers, both for exercise and for dance competitions. The sheer mesh back makes for added range of movement to perfect your next routine. The quality material of this leotard makes it a popular choice among professional dance teachers.
Another great thing about this leotard is that the tights that come with it are brilliant, except that they are too small. Many reviewers agree that this leotard is not the best option for larger women if they want to wear the tights that come with it.
7. DanzNmotion by Danshuz Girl's Strap Leotard
Pros:
- Extremely beautiful
- Great quality
- Excellent customer service
- Size is perfect
Cons:
- None!
- DanzNmotion by Danzshuz is one of the top girls’ leotard brands on the market if you’re looking for a long-lasting wardrobe that’s suitable for tough training and competitions.
This high-fashion strap leotard is made out of high-quality materials. It’s not as cheap as other leotards on the market, but if you have the budget for it, you won’t be disappointed with this purchase.
I personally use it for my advanced girls and you can really see the difference when you compare it with other leotards and girls really like it.
The cut and color design of the DanzNmotion by Danzshuz leotard are just gorgeous. I like the look of this leotard because it’s really slimming and will allow her to look good on stage without inhibiting motion.
8. Bloch Dance Women's Jubilee Mesh High Back Camisole Leotard
Pros:
- Fits perfectly
- Breathable mesh material
- Very durable
- Stylish design
Cons:
- Not much to say here, this leotard is the best!
The Bloch Dance Jubilee leotard is a fantastic choice for practicing, and it can also be used in performances. This material is based on a 100% nylon, and it features a combination of a microfiber mesh that’s quite breathable, a firm cotton lining, and a firm body-conscience spandex for incredible comfort and durability.
The Jubilee leotard has a high neck that fits nicely, and it includes plenty of fabric in the top so you can bend over without worrying about exposure.
The back of this leotard has a back bend that makes it so you can reach anything, and it also has a 4" center back breathable scoop back.
9. Speerise Womens Spandex Dance Leotard Short Sleeve
Pros:
- 4 Extra Seam Pockets to Hold Your Accessories
- Quality Materials
- Very Practical Design
- Imported from China
- Perfect for Beginners
Cons:
- Made from cheap synthetic fibers
- Not great for advanced workouts
Many dancers know and love this Speerise leotard. It is a great choice of clothing for dance training and classes, either you are a beginner or an professional ballerina. These leotards are made from gorgeous and durable fabrics and stretch well to your body. Lightweight breathable fabrics make it easier to perform complex moves.
The Speerise leotard is made from original fabrics, and you can feel the difference as you put it on. The materials are breathable and light, providing you with the perfect fit and mobility. The fabric is flexible to allow you to do any tricks without encountering pain or overheating. It's suitable for dance and yoga exercises, aerobic training, cheerleading, and running; you can wear it anytime you train. So, if you're looking for an excellent leotard for dance and like to keep your accessories safe, this leotard comes with 4 pockets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What should a dancer wear?
A dancer needs a combination of durability, comfort, and flexibility. It’s also important for the dancer to feel comfortable and not get distracted by what she is wearing.
For this reason, you should look for a leotard that’s comfortable, durable, and flexible. This will help the dancer to focus on her performance rather than her clothing. Also, dress to accommodate her body type.
In most cases, a dancer is comfortable in a cotton leotard over a nylon one. Cotton leotards are very flexible and can accommodate different types of dance classes. They are also very breathable to keep the body cool while dancing. This is especially important during summertime when there are very few opportunities to cool off after dance practices.
Do dancers wear bras under leotards?
Most dancers do not wear bras under their leotards. It tends to be unncessary as the leotard forms a natural barrier. However, there are times where it may become necessary to wear a bra. This is usually in the case of leotards without full length tights and if the dancer is wearing very thin tights. The thin leotard fabric is not nearly as good as fabric with full-length tights when it comes to providing support.
This is another reason to choose a leotard with thick fabric. Lighter fabrics tend to go sheer when worn under lighter colored tights. A thick fabric will help ensure that your bra does not show through your leotard.
How do I choose a leotard?
It’s important to consider fit before anything else because you need to ensure that your leotard will provide you with the support and coverage you need. Styles and design are also important as different styles or fabrics will offer different levels of support and coverage.
When deciding between different styles, think about the type of dance you’ll be doing. For example, a one piece unitard is ideal for jazz, ballet, and modern classes as it offers maximum coverage. While a more sporty one piece would be great for hip-hop classes as it’ll show off your body and has cutouts on the sides to allow for maximum movement.
Is there a difference between dance and gymnastics leotards?
Alright, I hear you asking: Why do I need a dancer’s leotard? I have a regular leotard already. Granted, a normal leotard may fit you perfectly and keep you warm, but a dancer’s leotard makes performance-specific corrections to the look and fit of your leotard and the fabric is as lightweight as possible, but as durable as required.
Here are a few common features ballet leotard will have that your regular leotard won’t:
- It will be raised at the back to prevent the back-fat problem (yikes!)
- The back of the leotard is often longer than the front to also help with coverage
In the front, the bust area is made higher to offer more coverage than non-dance leotards.
Conclusion
Leotards come in all shapes and sizes. Some are made for general dance classes while others are designed with more specific purposes in mind.
Whether you’re looking for a leotard for gymnastics, ballet, jazz or just for regular fitness workouts, look no further.
In this article, I’ll show you my top 10 best leotards for dancers. It might just save you hours and hours of browsing.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Capezio Women's Camisole Leotard | Best Overall | |
| Speerise Womens Spandex Dance Leotard Short Sleeve | Budget Pick | |
| Bloch Dance Women's Jubilee Mesh High Back Camisole Leotard | Upgrade Pick | |