Guide to wearing a bra with your leotard

It's a common myth that all dancers are completely flat chested.  This is just not true.  For many of us,  just the stretchy fabric of a leotard is not enough support to make it through class without unwanted bounce.  While I am very petite, I still like to feel very secure and covered when I am dancing.  I will be explaining the best methods to use when choosing a bra to wear under your leotard.

Note: If you are young and have just started wearing a bra, it may seem fun to wear your bra to dance class.  If you don't really need the bra for support during class, it's best not to wear it (especially if it shows under your leotard).  Your teachers may see it as breaking dress code.  If you really do need a bra and no one else in your class seems to be wearing one, ask your teacher if it's ok to wear a bra under your leo.  She may have suggestions for the style you should use.

1.  Consider your leotard.  If you have a choice in what leotard you can wear, pick one with either a racer back, a high back/mandarin collar, or a relatively high scoop back.  If you can, wear a leotard with either thick tank straps or sleeves.  These attributes will help hide your bra under the leotard.  Avoid super strappy backs with big cutouts

Here are a few styles that work well:

Capezio basic short sleeve

Yumiko Laura

Yumiko Jessica

2.  Choose a style of bra that corresponds with the leotard.  If you have a racerback leo, choose a racerback bra (usually with thin straps so they won't show).  If you have a high back leo, any style of bra will work (straight across back with crossed straps or racerback styles can be hidden well--the straps stay in place and don't "peek" out).  If you have a scoop back leo, choose a bra with a straight across back and straps that are not crossed.

3.  Consider your needs in a bra.  Do you need compression?  Bounce control?  Concealment of headlights?  Choose a bra that meets your needs in a style that is compatible with your leotard.  Some dancewear companies like MotionWear, Eurotard, and Capezio sell sports bras.  Sports wear companies like Lululemon, Moving Comfort, and Nike usually have lots of choices as well.  Target's sportswear department usually has some good options too.

If you can, choose an option that is a sports bra that you can pull over your head.  If you choose a day-wear bra with a clasp in the back, it will make a bump under your leotard.  This may hurt if you do floorwork.

Take your leotard with you when bra shopping to make sure you have a good match.  Once you build up a collection of dance bras, take a few of them with you when you go leotard shopping.

4.  When choosing a color for your bra, try to pick either skin tone, black, or the color of your leotard.   Ideally, your leotard will completely cover the bra.  Sometimes this is not possible and a little bit of bra fabric will remain visible.  In this case, try to match the bra color with either your skin or your leotard.  If you wear a bra in a color that contrasts your leotard, it can look sloppy (especially if your school has a strict dress code).

If it's difficult to find a bra in the exact color of your leo (like hunter green, navy blue, or lilac), choose either a skin color or black.  A tiny bit of black bra showing is more refined and less "underwear" looking than white or light pink.

If your leotard is a light color like white or baby pink, always choose a skin colored bra so it doesn't show through the light fabric.

If you need a bra to go under your leotard for a performance, you can try a skin colored bra, or one with clear straps (if your director will allow this--sometimes clear straps can catch stage lights).  If it's super-important that the bra match your leo, get a white bra and use fabric dye to make it the right color.

5.  Always store your dance bras with your leotards and dancewear.  If a specific bra goes with a specific leo, fold or hang them together so you can always find them.  You don't want to be late for class because you can't find your bra.

  Do you have a favorite style of bra to wear with your leotard?  Leave a comment!