Many first time dancers and first time dance parents areunsure of how a leotard is supposed to fit, which often leads to dancersshowing up to class in items that are too large. The truth is that leotards are supposed to besnug. Take a look at the models ondiscountdance.com. They all modelleotards that appear smooth on their bodies with no sags or wrinkles from extrafabric. If you are familiar with eliteswimming or gymnastics, you will notice that swimmers and gymnasts wear tightsuits and leotards that hug their bodies without any extra room. This represents an appropriate fit.
Leotards should not be so tight that they ride up above thehip bones, ride down and show excessive chest or cleavage, or causeunreasonable irritation around the arms and legs. However, leotards that are too loose to hugthe bottom or have loose straps are definitely too big.
It’s common for a child to try on a leotard for his or herfirst ballet class and come out of the fitting room saying “too tight.” In most cases, the leotard is not actuallytoo small; the child must become used to wearing tight fitting garments if heor she is going to be successful in dance.Almost all children will acclimate to wearing dancewear within two weeksor so. It is appropriate for childrenunder eight years old to have a tiny bit of “growing room” in their leotards (asmall amount of wrinkling down the front/length or a small bit of looseness inthe sleeves, but not looseness in the bottom or shoulders). Growing room is a common result of a childbeing between sizes, NOT a license to purchase dancewear a whole size toobig. That will only make it moredifficult for a child to participate in dance class. Dancers over eight years old should have snugleotards with no extra room.
If a dancer has sensory issues, cotton leotards and styleswith sleeves sometimes feel better than camisole or spandex styles in the samesize. Note that many brands of leotardsrun on different sizing scales, so it’s difficult to judge whether or notsomething will fit appropriately based on its designated size. If a dancer normally wears a medium leotardin one brand, he or she may need a small or a large in another brand to get agood fit.
Dancers should always try on leotards if they can. Putting on a leotard, spending a good amountof time examining it in a mirror, and moving around to check the fit are thebest ways to ensure that a leotard fits appropriately. After trying on a few styles and sizes,dancers should always choose the tightest fit in which they feel comfortable.
