WE GET IT
There’s a lot going on these days. You may be thinking, "It would be nice to look great, but it doesn’t matter that much. Whatever feels good and is in my fav color will work."
You only have 3 seconds to make the first impression through your photos, and less than 30 seconds in your videos.
I’ll repeat. 3 seconds. That’s it.
And here’s the worst part of it…
IN THIS GUIDE WE'LL COVER:
Body types - balancing leotards for your shape
Leg cut heights
Chest coverage
Fabric Choice Pros and Cons
Patterns, when are they are too much or just enough?
NOW - THE IMPORTANT FINE PRINT BEFORE WE MOVE ON....
NO DANCER WAS HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS GUIDE
However, they all understood that these images were not going to be altered in any way. We lit The Leotard Guide images to specifically show the shape and proportions of the dancers and the leotards. This is not the most flattering way to light a body. These photos could be considered leotard and body-shape mugshots.
Ladies, the dance world, and I personally, thank you for your bravery in participating in this project.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PERFECT BODY
After 20 years of shooting tens of thousands of dancers, from student to pre-professional, commercial, and concert dance professionals, I truly believe there is no such thing as a “perfect” dancer's body. Even among dancers who, on first glance, would be assumed to have this “perfect” structure.
I would challenge you to ask them if there's something about themselves that they don’t like or would wish to change. I bet there is, and I should know. I've heard them all. Worst of all, these insecurities have a way of coming out in photoshoots.
We all have things to work on; I continue to encourage the dancers we shoot in my studio to put aside what they feel about their shape, and cultivate gratitude for the strengths they have been born with.
FINDING BALANCE IN YOUR LEOTARD CHOICE
Humans find beauty in symmetry. This holds true, particularly in photos. This symmetry is where we begin finding what type of leotard will most flatter your individual shape. While looking for balance when trying on leos, the first step is to be objective.
Turn off that part of your brain that focuses on areas that you are sensitive about. Stand several feet from a mirror, focus from your hips to your shoulders, and look at the overall structure. If you were to sketch the outline of your shape on a piece of paper, what would it look like? Just as the top of your ears line up with your eyes, where do your hips line up? The hip/rib/shoulder balance and perspective is our starting place.


FINDING BALANCE IN YOUR LEOTARD CHOICE
Humans find beauty in symmetry. This holds true, particularly in photos. This symmetry is where we begin finding what type of leotard will most flatter your individual shape. While looking for balance when trying on leos, the first step is to be objective.
Turn off that part of your brain that focuses on areas that you are sensitive about. Stand several feet from a mirror, focus from your hips to your shoulders, and look at the overall structure. If you were to sketch the outline of your shape on a piece of paper, what would it look like? Just as the top of your ears line up with your eyes, where do your hips line up? The hip/rib/shoulder balance and perspective is our starting place.
WIDER SHOULDERS
WIDE SHOULDER CHEATSHEET
LARGER BUSTS
LARGER BUSTS CHEATSHEET
WIDER HIPLINES
WIDER HIPS CHEATSHEET
LONGER TORSOS
LONG TORSO CHEATSHEET
SHORT TORSO
SHORT WAISTED CHEATSHEET
SQUARE/BOY BODIES
SQUARE/BOXY SHAPE CHEATSHEET
CURVY LADIES
CURVY DANCERS CHEATSHEET
FULL FIGURED DANCERS
FULL FIGURED CHEATSHEET
LEG CUT ROLLS/HIKES
To the ladies who hike or roll up your leotards to achieve the “super high cut” look. Please be very real about whether it looks good on you from a 360 degree view point. I've seen very few dancers where this effect looks good from the back. Remember that directors, choreographers and teachers are seeing you from all angles. Better to find a leotard that looks good on you no matter the point of view.

FACE SHAPE AND SHOULDER SLOPE
Given the above guidelines, not all necklines look good on everyone. Your face shape, and the slope or angle of your shoulders also need to be considered. While it’s not as common, occasionally we have a dancer that breaks the rules for these reasons. Learning to see yourself objectively, while looking for balance, will go a long way in finding what works best on you and what will be most flattering.

COLOR AND PATTERNS
Keeping it clean and simple for auditions and your photoshoots is the way to go. Directors and casting agents want to see you, not be subconsciously distracted by your leotard.
- Avoid crazy or multiple straps.
- Avoid competing or complex patterns. Fun patterns are just that, fun. Save those for rehearsals or open classes.
- Choose colors that compliment and indicate your personality and style. If you are a soft, fluid dancer, pastels are great. If you are a fiery extrovert, vibrant, bolder tones speak to your spirit.
- Warmer skin tones will be flattered by warmer and/or bolder colors
- Cooler skin tones will, in contrast, look better in cooler and/or pastel colors

FABRICS CHOICES FOR PHOTOSHOOTS
- Cotton And velvet are lovely and comfortable in person but add bulk to a dancer in photoshoots. These materials tend to soak in the light more than reflect it (and cotton shows all sweat stains)
- Blends like nylon/lycra with a tiny bit of sheen tend to shoot best

LEG CUT ROLLS/HIKES
To the ladies who hike or roll up your leotards to achieve the “super high cut” look. Please be very real about whether it looks good on you from a 360 degree view point. I've seen very few dancers where this effect looks good from the back. Remember that directors, choreographers and teachers are seeing you from all angles. Better to find a leotard that looks good on you no matter the point of view.
FACE SHAPE AND SHOULDER SLOPE
Given the above guidelines, not all necklines look good on everyone. Your face shape, the slope or angle of your shoulders also need to be taken into consideration. While it’s not as common, occasionally we have a dancer that breaks the rules for these reasons. Learning to see yourself objectively, looking for balance, will go a long way to finding what works best on you and what will be most flattering.
COLOR AND PATTERNS
Keeping it clean and simple for auditions and your photoshoots is the way to go, directors and casting agents want to see you, not be distracted by your leotard.
- Avoid crazy or multiple straps.
- Avoid competing or complex patterns. Fun patterns are just that, fun. Save those for rehearsals or open class.
- Choose colors that compliment and indicate your personality and style. If you are a soft, fluid dancer, pastels are great. If you are a fiery extrovert, vibrant, bolder tones speak to your spirit.
- Warmer skin tones will be flattered by warmer and/or bolder colors
- Cooler skin tones will contrastingly look better in cooler and/or pastel colors
FABRICS CHOICES FOR PHOTOSHOOTS
- Cotton And velvet are lovely and comfortable in person but add bulk to a dancer in photoshoots. These materials tend to soak in the light more than reflect it (and cotton shows all sweat stains)
- Nylon lycra or blends with a tiny bit of sheen tends to shoot best
CONCLUSION
Are you still reading this? Wow, thank you for your attention and for taking the time to read this guide. I hope it was helpful. Please let us know what surprised you the most, and whether you were able to find the perfect leotard! We had a great time working with these lovely dancers creating this guide. If you have any questions please feel free to email,DM, or text us at the studio!
I truly hope that this will have you finding confidence and success in your leotard choices. We all know that a good leotard can be the right start to an excellent class/rehearsal or audition (or you wouldn’t be reading this!) Until next time! Much love from our family here at Rachel Neville Studios. Now go out there and dance (and look amazing while doing so!)
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