Energetiks Mila Cross-Back Lace Leotard – Child | Teardrop Back
A cross back leotard for girls puts its best detail where the dancer never sees it — and where everyone else does. That’s the whole idea behind the Mila Cross-Back. The teardrop cut-out sits between crossing straps at the shoulder blades, so every port de bras, every arabesque facing away from the mirror, and every recital photo taken from the wings shows something worth looking at. Lace cap sleeves finish the shoulders, and a front lining keeps the leotard fully covered and comfortable for a real class. It’s Energetiks’ best-selling Mila silhouette with the back turned into the main event.
Why choose an open back leotard for girls?
Two reasons, one practical and one that matters more to dancers than adults expect. Practically, an open back breathes — the upper back is where young dancers overheat fastest, and an exposed teardrop vents heat that a solid leotard traps. The other reason is confidence. Ballet is danced in the round: the teacher corrects from behind, the barre faces away from the mirror half the time, and the audience sees plenty of back. A dancer who knows her leotard looks beautiful from every angle carries herself differently. That’s not marketing — you can see it in the first class she wears it.
What do the lace cap sleeves add?
Coverage without commitment. Cap sleeves cover the shoulder cap and the top of the arm, which many dancers want as they get older, but because they’re lace rather than solid knit, they don’t trap heat or hide the shoulder placement a teacher needs to see. Energetiks calls the Mila “trans-seasonal” for this reason: a little more warmth for a cold studio in February, still breathable enough for a July intensive. For families in and out of one leotard year-round, that range is worth something.
How does the Mila differ from the Grace Lace?
Both are lace, both are lined, and both are hand wash — but they’re built for opposite instincts. The Grace is the quiet one: fine camisole straps, V-shaped lace panels, elegance you notice up close. The Mila is the bold one: cap sleeves, crossing straps, and an open teardrop back you notice from across the studio. If your dancer likes to blend into a beautifully uniform class, we’d point her to the Grace. If she wants the leotard her friends ask about, this is it. Worth a note on dress codes: some classical programs specify a plain camisole leotard with a closed back, so check your studio’s list before falling in love with the cut-out.
Living with lace: the hand-wash rule
Stretch lace is what makes the Mila beautiful and what makes it particular. Energetiks specifies cold hand wash with mild detergent, dried flat out of direct sunlight, and cautions against hitching or pulling the fabric — a snagged lace panel doesn’t recover the way a knit does. In practice that’s a couple of minutes in the sink after class, plus keeping it away from velcro and zippers in the dance bag. Families who build that habit get seasons out of it. Families who won’t are better off in a machine-washable leotard, and we’ll happily point you to one instead of selling you a garment that won’t survive your week.
Materials & Construction
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Style | Lace cap sleeve leotard with teardrop cut-out back and cross strap detail |
| Lining | Front lining for coverage, support, and all-day comfort; lining behind the lace protects the delicate fabric |
| Fabric | ProForm EcoFlex™ with premium Stretch Lace — four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, anti-pill, made from recycled plastic |
| Origin | Proudly a Product of Australia |
| SKU | CL195 |
Care Instructions — Hand Wash Only
| Step | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Washing | Cold hand wash only with mild detergent; remove immediately — do not machine wash |
| Drying | Dry flat, out of direct sunlight |
| Do not | Soak, bleach, tumble dry, dry clean, or iron |
| Lace care | Avoid hitching or pulling the lace; keep clear of velcro, zippers, and buckles in the dance bag |
Sizing Guide — Energetiks Child Sizes
Energetiks sizes by measurement rather than age — the ages below are a starting point only. Because the Mila has sleeves and a shaped back, girth (center of one shoulder, down through the crotch, and back up to the same shoulder) is the measurement that decides between two sizes: too short through the torso and the straps pull at the shoulders and drag the cut-out out of place.
| Size | Approx. Age | Height | Chest | Waist | Hip | Girth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Sml | 6–7 | 3’8″–4’1″ (112–125 cm) | 24.5–25.5″ (62–65 cm) | 21–22″ (53–56 cm) | 26–27″ (66–69 cm) | 40.5–43″ (103–109 cm) |
| Child Med | 8–9 | 4’1″–4’4″ (125–132 cm) | 26–27″ (66–69 cm) | 22.5–23.5″ (57–60 cm) | 27.5–28.5″ (70–72 cm) | 44–47″ (112–119 cm) |
| Child Lge | 10–11 | 4’4″–4’7″ (132–140 cm) | 27.5–28.5″ (70–72 cm) | 24–25″ (61–64 cm) | 29–30″ (74–76 cm) | 47.5–50.5″ (121–128 cm) |
| Child XLge | 12–13 | 4’8″–5′ (142–152 cm) | 29–30″ (74–76 cm) | 25.5–26″ (65–66 cm) | 30.5–32″ (77–81 cm) | 51–54″ (130–137 cm) |
Note that the Mila Cross-Back starts at Child Sml rather than XSml — the shaped back and sleeves are cut for slightly older dancers. Energetiks sizing runs snug; between sizes, size up.
This chart is a guide only, reflects body measurements rather than garment measurements, and is no substitute for an in-store fitting at August Muse.
Best For
- Dancers who want a leotard that looks finished from every angle
- Studios that allow decorative backs and cap sleeves
- Cool studios and shoulder-conscious dancers who want light cover
- Recital photos, showcases, and open classes
- Families comfortable with a quick hand-wash routine
If both are a yes, it’s the most-complimented leotard on our racks. If the dress code is strict, the Katherine gives you a crossed back in a machine-washable knit; if you want lace with a quieter cut, look at the Grace. Come in and we’ll fit the girth properly — it’s the measurement that makes a sleeved leotard sit right.
We stock the child Mila Cross-Back in Child Sml through XLge in downtown Elizabethton.
Available at August Muse
The Energetiks Mila Cross-Back Lace Leotard (CL195) is available in store at August Muse in downtown Elizabethton, TN, in Child Sml through XLge. Stop in to try it on — the back is impossible to appreciate from a photo — or call and we’ll check your dancer’s size.
