The history can be traced back to Jules Leotard (1838-1870), a French acrobatic performer. However, the name ‘leotard’ wasn't associated with Jules until after his passing. The leotard, as we know it today, became popular in the dancewear industry during the 1900s, well after Jules' time, thanks to the introduction of materials like nylon, spandex, and Lycra. Interestingly, Jules' original ‘leotard’, which he referred to as a ‘maillot’, would, by today's standards, be considered a unitard.
While both leotards and unitards are skin-tight bodysuits typically made of Spandex or Lycra, they possess distinct differences. Leotards resemble underwear in their bottom cut and don’t cover the legs, whereas unitards can vary in length, covering the legs partially or entirely, stopping at the thigh, mid-calf, or ankle.
At Mino Dancewear Australia, we offer a variety of men's leotards, including sizes suitable for adolescent boys. Our leotards and unitards are designed to provide the utmost comfort while delivering an exceptional ballet look for men. Crafted with ProForm™ performance fabric, they excel in moisture management, keeping you cool and dry during your dance routines. This fabric, known for its durability, is up to three times more long-lasting than natural fibres. It efficiently wicks moisture away from your skin, allowing for rapid evaporation, and ensuring you stay comfortable for all-day wear.
If you seek a high back and flattering scoop neck, short sleeves, and a clean G-string cut for perfect layering under tights, you should try our Louis leotard, Conrad leotard, or our Studio Collection leotard. Alternatively, we also offer the Aiden unitard with a sleeveless thick strap style and scoop neck. It is a full-length leg for an easy all-in-one outfit and has a footless design that adds versatility.
Ballet shoes are essential for building technique in your ballet classes. With the right slip and grip, they facilitate moves like pirouettes and chassés and prevent slipping during dancing. At Mino Dancewear Australia, our full-sole ballet shoe is designed to build strength and offer support. With durable leather and an elastic drawstring, rest assured, you will have a long-lasting ballet shoe with a supportive fit.
At Mino Dance, we also offer other mens dancewear for different dancing styles and needs. Ranging from dance tops (e.g. singlets, tanks, and tees), bottoms (e.g. hot shorts, bike shorts, leggings, and track pants), and dance socks, all the way to support accessories like dance belts, we’ve got you covered. While dance clothing is an essential ‘dress code’ for your dance classes, dance undergarments, in particular, dance belts are equally important to provide support for the male genitals.