Add a little warmth while keeping your leotard on show with the Mara Dancewear Knit Ballet Bolero Shrug. Exceptionally soft rib-knit fabric covers the shoulders, upper back and arms, while the cropped, open front leaves your neckline and waist visible. Long sleeves with functional thumbholes offer extra coverage around the wrists and hands. Made in Spain, this ballet warm-up is an easy layer for barre and rehearsal breaks.

Best For: Ballet warm-ups • Rehearsal breaks • Gentle shoulder and arm warmth • Layering over camisole leotards • Dancers who prefer no waist ties

Why Dancers Love the Mara Dancewear Knit Bolero

• Keep your leotard visible: The open front frames your class outfit, leaving the neckline and bodice details on show.
• Extra coverage at the hands: Use the thumbholes to extend the sleeves over the wrists and part of the hands, or leave your thumbs free.
• No waist ties to arrange: The cropped body sits clear of your skirt or warm-up waistband, with no crossover panels or bows.
• Soft against bare shoulders: The cosy knit feels comfortable over a camisole, where the fabric rests directly against the skin.

Mara Ballet Bolero Shrug – Fabric & Fit

Made from 48% viscose, 27% polyester, 21% nylon and 4% elastane, the soft rib-knit fabric has a lightweight feel and stretch for comfortable movement. Its focus is gentle warmth and easy layering, with coverage across the arms, shoulders and upper back.

The cropped body and close-fitting long sleeves create a neat silhouette. The front has a fixed open shape with no ties or adjustable fastening, leaving the chest and lower torso uncovered. It is a useful choice when you want a small knitted layer rather than full-torso warmth.

Check the size guide and allow a comfortable fit across the upper back and through the sleeves. Raise your arms to check your reach, including with the thumbholes in use. Individual fit, warmth and feel may vary.

Wearing Your Knit Ballet Warm-Up

Slip the bolero over a camisole or sleeveless leotard for the start of barre, then pair it with warm-up trousers or legwarmers as needed. The short body leaves your waistband clear, making it easy to wear with a ballet skirt. Keep it close during rehearsal breaks when a little shoulder and arm coverage feels welcome.

Dance World Tip: Try the sleeves with your thumbs both in and out of the openings to find the most comfortable arrangement for your warm-up movements.

Composition: 48% viscose, 27% polyester, 21% nylon, 4% elastane
Construction: Soft rib-knit warm-up fabric
Feel: Exceptionally soft, gently textured and flexible
Warmth: Gentle, concentrated around the covered areas
Weight: Lightweight feel
Stretch: Stretch knit
Country of Manufacture: Spain

Dance World Fabric Note: This is a wool-free knit blend, not the ribbed compression fabric used in Mara Dancewear’s leotards. It offers a soft knitted feel for layering rather than a sculpting fit.

Sizes: XS/S and M/L
Fit: Cropped bolero with close-fitting sleeves
Front: Open, without an adjustable closure
Sleeves: Long with functional thumbholes
Coverage: Shoulders, arms and upper back

Mara lists both colourways in XS/S and M/L. Use the Mara Dancewear size chart as your starting point, allowing for the leotard or top you intend to wear underneath.

Dance World Fit Tip: Check your reach with the thumbholes in use. You should be able to raise your arms comfortably without the fabric pulling between your hands and shoulders. The front is designed to remain open; choosing a smaller size will not turn it into a closed or crossover top.

Hand wash cold or machine wash on a wool cycle. Do not tumble dry. Reshape and dry flat.