How To Choose A Child" s Ballet Leotard
If your child regularly attends ballet class, or is just about to start you will need to purchase a ballet leotard. It"s important to make sure that the leotard you choose is good quality and provides a good fit for your child in order to allow for complete freedom of movement.
It is not recommended to wear a baggy t-shirt and a pair of jogging trousers, as this will not allow the dance teacher to see the placement of your child"s body as they learn to dance. Developing the skills of a ballet dancer is all about attention to detail and a leotard allows the teacher to see very clearly how your child is moving and provide the necessary feedback required for them to continually improve.
So, what do you need to know in order to choose the best ballet leotard for a child?
Does your child"s school follow a regulatory body?
Before you set out to purchase a ballet leotard, talk to your child"s dance teacher to find out whether the school follows a syllabus from an examining body such as the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or Imperial Society of Teachers for Dancing (ISTD). If this is the case, then what your child wears will be dictated by whichever examining body they"re styding under.
Different Styles of Leotards to Choose From
The most basic leotard style is the tank leotard and is preferred by most beginners. This is a sleeveless leotard which looks a little bit like a swimsuit and is available with or without a gathered bustline known as a ruche. Other styles of leotard include polo necks, camisole, long sleeved and cap sleeved which all allow for equal freedom of movement. As your child gets older, you will find that they are likely become attracted to fashion leotards available from popular brands such as Bloch, Capezio and Mirella as they offer a wide range of attractive strap designs.
Some leotards also have an attached frill or skirt which look fantastic on younger dancers. These are more commonly available in nylon lycra but are also available in other fabrics such as cotton lycra. Chiffon skirts are particularly attractive as they look very delicate and flow beautifully when worn for a performance.
Buying the Correct Size
When buying a ballet leotard, it"s really important to make sure you choose the right size. It can be difficult to know which size to choose but as a rule of thumb the leotard should be a snug fit without being too tight. If it"s pulling under the arms or between the legs then you need to try the next size up. However, if the leotard is sagging then you need to go for a size smaller. When your child tries on the leotard, get them to move around in it a little by bending forwards, backwards, leaning to the sides and doing a few small kicks in order to help you assess the fit.
What Brand To Choose
Unless there is a specific leotard that your child is required to wear as part of a dance school uniform, the brand you choose is down to personal choice. Capezio and Bloch are two of the most popular brands as they offer a wide range of styles, are very high quality and are very reasonably priced too. However, Roch Valley and Dance Gear are particularly popular for beginners.
What Fabric To Choose
The main fabrics available or nylon lycra and cotton lycra. Both offer all of the formfitting qualities required and are available in a wide range of colours. Similar to the brand, unless your child is required to wear a specific uniform, the type of fabric you choose is entirely up to you. If you"re unsure, then you can"t go wrong with a simple black nylon lycra leotard with pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes.
If you"re shopping around for price, then it"s certainly worth taking a look online where you will find a plethora of specialist dancewear retailers. Just be sure to check that wherever you go has a simple returns and exchanges policy in case you need to exchange your child"s leotard for a different size.
It is not recommended to wear a baggy t-shirt and a pair of jogging trousers, as this will not allow the dance teacher to see the placement of your child"s body as they learn to dance. Developing the skills of a ballet dancer is all about attention to detail and a leotard allows the teacher to see very clearly how your child is moving and provide the necessary feedback required for them to continually improve.
So, what do you need to know in order to choose the best ballet leotard for a child?
Does your child"s school follow a regulatory body?
Before you set out to purchase a ballet leotard, talk to your child"s dance teacher to find out whether the school follows a syllabus from an examining body such as the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or Imperial Society of Teachers for Dancing (ISTD). If this is the case, then what your child wears will be dictated by whichever examining body they"re styding under.
Different Styles of Leotards to Choose From
The most basic leotard style is the tank leotard and is preferred by most beginners. This is a sleeveless leotard which looks a little bit like a swimsuit and is available with or without a gathered bustline known as a ruche. Other styles of leotard include polo necks, camisole, long sleeved and cap sleeved which all allow for equal freedom of movement. As your child gets older, you will find that they are likely become attracted to fashion leotards available from popular brands such as Bloch, Capezio and Mirella as they offer a wide range of attractive strap designs.
Some leotards also have an attached frill or skirt which look fantastic on younger dancers. These are more commonly available in nylon lycra but are also available in other fabrics such as cotton lycra. Chiffon skirts are particularly attractive as they look very delicate and flow beautifully when worn for a performance.
Buying the Correct Size
When buying a ballet leotard, it"s really important to make sure you choose the right size. It can be difficult to know which size to choose but as a rule of thumb the leotard should be a snug fit without being too tight. If it"s pulling under the arms or between the legs then you need to try the next size up. However, if the leotard is sagging then you need to go for a size smaller. When your child tries on the leotard, get them to move around in it a little by bending forwards, backwards, leaning to the sides and doing a few small kicks in order to help you assess the fit.
What Brand To Choose
Unless there is a specific leotard that your child is required to wear as part of a dance school uniform, the brand you choose is down to personal choice. Capezio and Bloch are two of the most popular brands as they offer a wide range of styles, are very high quality and are very reasonably priced too. However, Roch Valley and Dance Gear are particularly popular for beginners.
What Fabric To Choose
The main fabrics available or nylon lycra and cotton lycra. Both offer all of the formfitting qualities required and are available in a wide range of colours. Similar to the brand, unless your child is required to wear a specific uniform, the type of fabric you choose is entirely up to you. If you"re unsure, then you can"t go wrong with a simple black nylon lycra leotard with pink ballet tights and pink ballet shoes.
If you"re shopping around for price, then it"s certainly worth taking a look online where you will find a plethora of specialist dancewear retailers. Just be sure to check that wherever you go has a simple returns and exchanges policy in case you need to exchange your child"s leotard for a different size.
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