Build your own dance floor.

[Kim Sifter writes:] The dance studio that I am affiliated with has 1/4" marley laid over concrete (to lay hardwood directly on concrete is inviting injury) and it is fabulous!

Pros:

Super durable: after 7 years and hundreds of classes, not a nick
easy to clean and maintaid: washed once a week with weak amonia water, re-taped (where the seams are) once a year
injury resistant: the 'padding' makes for a forgiving surface. very important when teaching children with growing knees, ankles, hips, etc. The damage they do while young could affect them for the rest of their lives. Also, forgiving for 4-year old crash-and-burns!
Pointe work is a dream, to teach and to do
no slipping, no rosin, increases confidence, easy on knees
Lose your lease and gotta move? Roll it up and take it with you! Doesn't matter what it is laid on.
'Padding' is gentle to stand on for many hours while you teach.
Works well with a variety of dance shoes, ballet slippers, jazz flats, socks, bare feet, gilleys,

Cons:

Can't teach tap
High heels aren't real good on the surface. You won't hurt the floor, however the heels will sink and you might catch a heal. Haven't danced in character shoes in there.
You would be limited if you wanted to sublease the space to certain types of dances, ie, no tap, ballroom would be tough as there is not as much slide/glide as a hardwood floor.
Rubberized shoes are not great on the floor, ie tennis shoes, dance sneakers, jazz shoes with rubberized sole.

This file is part of the FAQ list for the newsgroup rec.arts.dance. The FAQ list is being maintained by Victor Eijkhout (victor at eijkhout dot net, talk about vanity), who appreciates being sent additions or corrections on the material in this collection. Copyright 1994/5/6/7/8/9/2000 lies with the maintainer and the contributors of various parts.

Listen up: Victor did not write most of this stuff; he just collected it. So don't send him any dance questions.

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Last modified on: Saturday, October 9, 1999.