Dance Floors vs. Sports Floors

The athlete stutter steps and dribbles from baseline to baseline usually protected by cushioned footwear. The dancer jumps and turns from stage right to stage left often barefoot or wearing soft dance shoes. The movements and performers are different, shouldn’t the floors be different too?

While it might seem logical that a well-designed sports floor will suit the needs of elite, athletic dancers there are several factors that should be considered when specifying a dance floor.

Construction of a sprung subfloor for a sports floor is typically firm with a high degree of energy return, ideal for ball bounce and athletes wearing cushioned footwear — a luxury barred to most dancers. Dancers prefer a sprung subfloor with a combination of shock absorption and energy return that will ease pressure on their joints and cushion landings.

After deciding on a subfloor, the next thing to consider is performance surface. Here the top priority for dancers is slip resistance to protect against slips and falls. Although athletes share those same risks, they need a surface that doesn’t block movements and are again usually protected by footwear.

To ensure you select the correct floor for your school, start by answering the following questions: What types of dance will primarily be performed? Will the floor be in a multipurpose or theatre facility? Is the subfloor — concrete, wood, sprung? Is the floor to be permanent or portable? Are the ceilings high enough?

Dancers spend significant hours practicing and performing, whether in a studio or on stage, that is their classroom. Choosing the right floor for your dance or performing arts program will instill confidence, creativity and protection for all students.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Christine Ott is marketing director for Harlequin Floors.

Featured

  • Enjoy Tax and Energy Savings with the Right Ceiling Solutions

    Thanks to recent innovations pairing mineral fiber ceiling panels with phase change material technology (PCM), architects, designers, facility managers, and other key players in construction and renovation projects are re-thinking the role ceilings play in supporting environmental objectives—especially energy savings.

  • New Campus Stadiums Evolve Beyond Sports into Community Assets

    New campus planning documents reveal an abundance of high interest in new stadiums, or renovations and repurposing projects for existing facilities. Many universities, in fact, are developing campus complexes with new stadiums as a draw for retail, hotels, and student housing. Multipurpose facilities with high-end features are being designed to attract large sports events of various types, concerts, and other university functions.

  • Gretna East High School

    Gretna East High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Gretna East High School has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Kimball Showroom Earns WELL Certified Platinum Distinction

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced that its showroom in New York City has achieved WELL Certification at the Platinum level as dictated by the International WELL Building Institute, according to a news release. The certification demonstrates a continuing commitment to creating environments that promote health, well-being, and productivity.

Digital Edition