The leotard is without question one of the most important pieces of dancewear for many styles of dance. If your style of dance is jazz or ballet, then a well fitting leotard is just as important as a well fitting pair of ballet shoes or jazz shoes. A good leotard will be snug, formfitting and will allow complete flexibility for the dancer.
The dance leotard has been an important piece of dancewear for many years. It has been around since the 1800s when it was made famous by French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard who lived from 1842 – 1870. He called the garment a "maillot" which is a French word used to refer to various types of tight fitting shirts or sports shirts. It wasn’t until several years after he died that the word leotard was used to refer to this garment. By the 1920s and 1930s, the dance leotard was influencing the style of bathing suits and by the 1950s it was already appearing on professional dancers such as the showgirls on Broadway.
Since these early days the dance leotard has undergone many developments. From the original tank leotard, which resembles a woman’s bathing costume, have developed several different styles. These styles of dance leotard include the camisole leotard, cap sleeve leotard, polo neck leotard, long sleeve leotard, and frilled and skirted leotard. The camisole is one of the most popular of these styles, as it is similar to the tank leotard but has thinner shoulder straps which allow for more intricate designs such as double strap and a criss-cross back. The material from which the dance leotard is made from has also undergone many developments. The most popular materials from which modern dance leotards are manufactured are Nylon Lycra and Cotton Lycra. Both of these fabrics have all the formfitting qualities required by the dancer and are available in a wide range of colours.
If you’re just about to start dance class you may wonder what to look for in a good dance leotard. The most important element is flexibility which is important in order for the leotard to be formfitting so your dance teacher can see the placement of your body during dance class. To make sure you get the right fit, your dance leotard should have a snug fit but still allow you to move freely. It should neither be so tight that it pulls under the arms, nor should it be loose enough to let the neckline hang or feel loose.
Today, the dancer is spoilt for choice when in comes to choosing a new dance leotard. There are many companies such as Bloch, Capezio and Roch Valley which all produce very high quality cheap dance leotards for dancers of all abilities. These companies have many years experience in producing very high quality dancewear.
If you decide to buy your dance leotard online, you need to make sure that the website you choose to buy from has a secure payment process. You should also check out their privacy policy, and their terms and conditions too so you know exactly what to expect and to help make sure you get the best service possible.
More Information:
Dance Gear Direct are experts in providing dancewear with over 30 years experience. For more information about our extensive range of dance leotards please visit our website www.dancegeardirect.co.uk.
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Article: The Dance Leotard Is An Important Piece Of Dancewear Author: Ian Evans Publication Date: 2011-04-19 Total Views: 42 Word Count: 523 Category:Home /
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