Dance Floor | Exercise and Fitness

004.07.11 Dance Floor

Dance Floor

Marley Dance Floors Vs. Wooden Dance Floors

The type of wood dance flooring used for lessons and performance is an important feature of which all teachers and students should be aware. All types of dancers can benefit from wooden floors that are sprung, because they have a degree of spring to them when a dancer jumps on them. There are two types of floors commonly used in dance studios and theatres today, and they include wood dance flooring and Marley dance floors. They have distinct differences and each can be more appropriate for certain types of dance.

Marley dance floors are crafted with durable and slip-resistant vinyl top layers. It can vary in thickness from approximately one-quarter to two-thirds of an inch. The Marley floors can be rolled up, and are therefore portable. The vinyl layer should be used over the top of a sprung wood dance floor. A Marley vinyl floor top can be a good choice for dancers of ballet, jazz or modern styles.

A wooden dance floor of the highest quality should meet several criteria. The floor should consist of a top layer made of preferably hard wood under which is flooring that is sprung, or offers a slight bouncy quality when danced upon. Tap dance floors must also be resonant, in order to get the best sounds from the floor and the taps on the dancers' shoes. Any dance floors should be maintained and kept in good shape, so that no cracks, nails, tape or adhesives are showing through the dance floor surface. Dance floors can be polyurethaned in order to protect the floor's surface, and regular street shoes should not be worn on a surface intended for dance, due to the amount of dirt that is on the bottoms of street shoes, which can damage the floor's surface.

Using the proper flooring for the types of dance activities you conduct is very important for the dancer's physical health. Repetitive stress injuries can occur when dancers repeatedly perform leaps and pounding of the feet on a dance floor if that floor is not constructed to give a bit under pressure, as a sprung floor is designed to do. The spine and joints over time can be affected, and these types of injuries can go unnoticed until they become major ones. It is wiser to use appropriate dance flooring for the type of dance you wish to do, and Marley dance floors used with sprung wood dance flooring can provide you with the perfect flexible combination.

About the Author

Wayne Hemrick writes about-- Marley dance floors and wood dance flooring.

How should I approach the dance floor?

I like to do the funky chicken as im entering the dance floor but I got told of my so called friend that its apparently not cool. How should I approach the dance floor.

p.s. I always get looks of all the girls on there but they never come over to me to grind. what am I doing wrong?

The corny/cliche answer is "with respect." I always see a dance floor or stage as unlimited potential.

However, if you are trying to attract female attention the way to approach the dance floor is with a girl on your arm.

I would ask a friend to dance, someone you are comfortable with and can enjoy talking to. If girls see you having fun dancing, and looking like you are comfortable on the dance floor, they will want to dance with you as well. You want to show confidence, comfort, and fun.

Cascada - Evacuate The Dance Floor - With Lyrics