Your Dream Dance Studio...

[BayAreaBallroomLady]

http://www.budapesthotels.com/hotelpic/royal/ballroom.jpghttp://www.arthurmurray-israel.co.il/pics/jerusalem.jpg
I have an interesting question to pose. IF you had money as no object, what would want your dream dance studio to have? Let's say that in this studio is also nice ballroom... what do you want in your ballroom?

Would you like it if they offered a full bar?
What about a "stage" area that would be raised up for the live bands/exhibitions?
What is the best type of floor that you like?
What would it take to make you drive to this super cool studio/ballroom? What do wish they had or did at your current studio?
Lots of windwos? Patio? .... it would be nice to seem some of your dreams!

[Sagitta]

Floating floors!!! Don't really have this around here! I dance on concrete, plain wooden floors... :(

[pygmalion]

Hmmm. ...

A huge dance floor. Lots of bottled water. Guys to dance with. :?: :?

[Spitfire]

An evenly mixed music format instead of one that's heavy on certain dances and less so on others.

I'm wondering; has anyone been to a dance where music was played in short sets for each dance style? I've never seen this myself.

[Sagitta]

An evenly mixed music format instead of one that's heavy on certain dances and less so on others.

I'm wondering; has anyone been to a dance where music was played in short sets for each dance style? I've never seen this myself.

Yup. The CU ballroom club dances are pretty good. Not aboslutely there, but close enough.

And of course a huge floor and lots of lovely followers.

[Adwiz]

I have two nice studios that I dance at. Both have 5,000 square foot sprung maple floors. That's a must. Both have chairs and tables scattered around the edge. That's a must. One has a mirror along the entire length of one long wall. That's very nice. Both have a practice floor, also a must. Both have curtains that can divide the main floor when necessary. Both have a great sound system and a DJ booth. Both have reasonably priced group and private instruction and bring in many international champions as special guest teachers. Both have low-price annual membership programs where you get half price group lesson repeats and discounts on everything from private lessons to party night fees. Both have lots of free parking. Both organize and hold regular competitions. One sells shoes and the other has a costume shop in house. Both have stereos in the practice area, and music you can borrow. One has a nice lobby with couches and a television set with dance videos you can watch anytime to review stuff.

I consider both of them near perfect as far as dance studios go.

What I would like to see in an ideal studio are all these things plus a few features that are missing. These are mostly little things that would make the whole experience better. For example, it is almost impossible to properly practice standard in a small square space. You really need a full 40x20 foot floor. One of my two studios has such a practice floor (in addition to the regular floor), but it is so busy with scheduled lessons you can almost never actually practice on it.

I'd like to have a little more in the way of *******ments during parties but not alcohol (neither of my studios serves liquor). I don't want just chips and pop but some healthier choices. I want to be able to pay for these at the counter where I get them without having to wait in a long lineup with people checking in for lessons, etc.

My ideal studio doesn't serve alcohol, because alcohol and ballroom dancing don't really mix well. But it has a party night every night following the evening lessons. It has one party night just for Standard and another just for Latin, in addition to the five mixed party nights. This allows competitors the chance to get in lots of time on the floor. It has enough room that you can have a competition and put up risers without sacrificing the ability to move around. In addition, a practice floor is still available when comps are happening.

[Adwiz]

I'm wondering; has anyone been to a dance where music was played in short sets for each dance style? I've never seen this myself.

The two studios where I dance play music in two-song groupings for each dance. That's just right. You'll get two Waltzes, then maybe two Rhumbas, then perhaps two WCS, two Cha Chas, etc. It's just the right length. One of them even makes sure that there's a Paso Doble played once every night.

[dancin_feet]

My ideals are simple. For me it's not so much the studio itself but the people in it.

My ultimate dream studio would have a huge dancefloor, plenty of water freely available, and a gorgeous, hunky, very fit, excellent male lead who only had eyes for me!! :roll: :oops:

[jon]

IF you had money as no object, what would want your dream dance studio to have?

What I really want is all of my favorite dance partners in one place, which, alas, money can't solve.

Good physical facilities too (http://www.pbase.com/image/21526380), of course (the ballroom at Filoli in Woodside, CA. Sadly not used for dancing these days since the place is a preservation trust now). Large amounts of money could solve this problem.

[tsb]

An evenly mixed music format instead of one that's heavy on certain dances and less so on others.

I'm wondering; has anyone been to a dance where music was played in short sets for each dance style? I've never seen this myself.

yeah. the mayflower ballroom on wednesday nights in inglewood, ca.

[tsb]

http://www.budapesthotels.com/hotelpic/royal/ballroom.jpghttp://www.arthurmurray-israel.co.il/pics/jerusalem.jpg
I have an interesting question to pose. IF you had money as no object, what would want your dream dance studio to have? Let's say that in this studio is also nice ballroom... what do you want in your ballroom?

Would you like it if they offered a full bar?
What about a "stage" area that would be raised up for the live bands/exhibitions?
What is the best type of floor that you like?
What would it take to make you drive to this super cool studio/ballroom? What do wish they had or did at your current studio?
Lots of windwos? Patio? .... it would be nice to seem some of your dreams!

besides other elements already posited, a sergeant-at-arms with a rubber chicken to flog the dancers who:
- clog the line of dance with hesitations;
- worse yet - move backwards against the line of dance;
- set their slot perpendicular to everyone else on the floor during cha-cha & west coast swing;
- insist on dancing east coast swing on the edge of the floor while everyone else is dancing either quickstop or a foxtrot;
- stand and chat on the edge of the floor during same quickstep or foxtrot;

[jon]

- set their slot perpendicular to everyone else on the floor during cha-cha & west coast swing;

Er, cha-cha isn't a slot dance. But I'm with you on the WCS.

[ShyDancer]

My ultimate dream studio would have a huge dancefloor, plenty of water freely available, and a gorgeous, hunky, very fit, excellent male lead who only had eyes for me!! :roll: :oops:

Here Here!! *Giggles*

I think where I dance is awesome! Plenty of seats, coffee & tea provided, floating floor, full length mirrors on 3 walls, the 4th wall is covered by the DJs box. Practice room out the back where they take beginners or newbies to learn a few basic moves for the upcoming dances.
They do a few songs for evey style too ..... 3 for cha cha, 3 for E.3 Step, 3 for waltz etc .........works very well

[Spitfire]

insist on dancing east coast swing on the edge of the floor while everyone else is dancing either quickstop or a foxtrot

A case for having an additional floor. :wink:

I believe there are some studios that have these, but none here.

[bordertangoman]

besides other elements already posited, a sergeant-at-arms with a rubber chicken to flog the dancers who:
- clog the line of dance with hesitations;
- worse yet - move backwards against the line of dance;
- set their slot perpendicular to everyone else on the floor during cha-cha & west coast swing;
- insist on dancing east coast swing on the edge of the floor while everyone else is dancing either quickstop or a foxtrot;
- stand and chat on the edge of the floor during same quickstep or foxtrot;

and the guy who decides to give his partner a lesson in the middle of the dance floor and after five minutes of talking moves off and barges into me.

[BayAreaBallroomLady]

This is great! You guys aren't just smart... you're funny too!

Keep 'em coming....

[tsb]

if it's going to be perfect we should have another sergeant-at-arms doling out appropriate punishments for:

- too much cologne/perfume - sergeant-at-arms sprays them with lysol;
- giving unsolicited advice - locked in room with 100 amway recruiters - or 100 elvis impersonators - take your pick;

i'm sure there are some good ones out there....

[DanceMentor]

I'd like to get a two story building in the city, and live upstairs, and have the dance studio downstairs.

[Spitfire]

I think I'd like 60's style psychedelic lights for occasional use. 8)

[Neil]

... Guys to dance with...

I heard that there is a ballroom around here that has "taxi dancers." I think that you get two tickets when you pay your cover that each entitle you to dance a song with one of the taxi dancers. I think you can buy more tickets. At the end of the night, the taxi dancers cash in their tickets. I'm surprised that isn't more popular.

The one thing that I would like to see but hasn't been mentioned yet is a powerful blower at waist level to quickly cool us off in between dances. I think about 200 - 300 cubic feet per minute should do the job.

Here's the ballroom where I go now. www.GoldcoastBallroom.com

[DanceMentor]

I'd buy Lincoln Center.

[cocodrilo]

Fabulous floor, ample seating that surrounds most of the dance floor, mirrors on two sides, dimmer switches for the lighting, and most importantly for latin dance, a FABULOUS sound system! A stage for a live band would be great, too! Another important thing to me is having ample bathrooms and changing rooms. A bar would be great. No ashtrays (meaning smoking is not permitted) would make this "dream studio" of mine complete. I will be renting a new place that meets most of these requirements (except for the smoking part, unfortunately) next month for a latin dance gig. Let's see how it goes!

[Tenehill]

Too often I encounter ballrooms with depressing architecture: narrow main hall, columns in the middle, main hall divided into two, no windows, no fourth wall, warehouse or warehouse look...

This leads me to dreaming: if I was to design a ballroom, what should I put together for the dancers to enjoy? We speak about large halls here.

Below are my ideas; share yours?


There are 2-3 halls in the facility. The main one is large, to accommodate 50-150 persons dancing. The main hall has several high windows. The windows are huge if the view is nice. They are covered with veils or curtains to prevent the darkness of the night from entering the hall. There is a balcony or a small garden to where a door
opens (to make love confessions). Anyone can open the door always.

The paint of walls is not dark, of warm color. No large areas of black, blue, green. The walls are not plain white or "office gray." Bare brick and wood are acceptable. There are many light fixtures, all not fluorescent. The floor is dark brown and shiny. A look at the ceiling does not reveal the beams, pipes, wires, cable bundles. Loudspeakers don't make you fear that they may fall on you, and stand upright or are hanged horizontally.

The main hall is not subdivided. There are no columns. The walls have decorations: sculptures, pictures, plants, flowers, extra beautiful lights, gilt. There are some full-size mirrors.

There are seating places along 1-3 sides of the hall. There is a separator between the seating places and dancing floor. There are seating areas, somewhat separated, for those who don't dance, and for children.

There is no place for a band (all bands I've encountered were disastrous). There are places for DJ and music equipment, filming, announcer, climate/electricity control.

The main hall has two-three entrances: general and for performers. Doors of the entrances are large and can be fully closed.

The other hall(s) are much smaller. They have seating places, windows, mirrors, no columns, and don't resemble a stable.

The sounds from halls don't reach the others to an extent that they interfere with the song played there.

There is one corridor, muted, linking all halls and service rooms. There is a relaxation corner in the corridor, far from the hall, highly decorated, with small mirrors, tables, armchairs, sofa, lights. There is a place for receptionists (not just a table), where two persons can work, and where there is place for office equipment.

Among the service rooms there are, besides the evident ones: two storage rooms, with opaque doors; coat check or a coat room built so that a thief will feel uncomfortable; a small locker room or stand; a small silent area to speak over the phone adjacent to coat room. Dressing is not done in the restroom. Janitors have a room which is not one of the storage rooms. There is a vendors' stand.

There are two water fountains and a professional-serviced or self-service bar. There is an open kitchenette with a refrigerator. The bar can be part of the kitchenette.


Outside, there is a parking lot. Through the parking lot, a covered walkway is running (one encounters such a walkway in Greek churches). The walkway leads to covered porch. The parking lot is visible from many places inside. There are a smokers' corner and a seating area near the porch. There is covered parking for bikers. There is some micro
facility for pets.

The building is not in a desolated area of town. It stands so that pedestrians or drivers can see to some extent what is happening inside, but not the faces - can there be a better advertisement? For that, it is desirable for the main hall to be on the first or second floor. There are no habitable buildings in close vicinity. There are two eateries, open late, within ten minutes walking.


I have seen only two two halls which come close to this. One is on the campus of a rich university. It is really good and very nice, but lacks the fourth wall, because of which there is no sound isolation, and the dancers get an impression that they are dancing in a corridor of an office building. Since that is not a studio, some other facilities are missing. The other hall I have seen is in a studio and has most of the facilities, but has ugly ceiling and lacks decoration, which can be easily corrected, though.

[tanya_the_dancer]

Well, considering that most studios take existing space and remodel it, they have to work with the limitations of pre-existing building.

Also, I think your requirements on parking lot and location are kinda mutually exclusive, unless the whole town is being built from scratch. Seriously, the only parts of towns which actually have pedestrians who could stop by, are downtowns, and downtowns are usually parking-challenged.

[Chris Stratton]

The owner is a multi-millionaire, running the studio as a hobby business at a loss...

[wooh]

One of the local instructors on a pretty day was talking about how his dream studio would have a retractable roof.:D

[tanya_the_dancer]

One of the local instructors on a pretty day was talking about how his dream studio would have a retractable roof.:D

Our local gym has a retractable roof for the swimming pool area, and it requires a lot of maintenance. So be careful what you wish for.

[waltzguy]

Tenehill,
A picture is worth a thousand words. ;)

[latervet1]

Hmm- Mine might actually be like a nice stable. I have seen some absolutely beautiful stable. The spanish riding hall in vienna has the most beautiful arena with chandaliers and paintings of royalty but open air arches. replace the dirt with hardwood and it would be heaven.
Three chimneys- absolutely incredible barns. replace the rubber mats of the center walkway and you would have beatiful dance space.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Hmmm...something like this former church that is now on the market as a single-family home :grin:

(more pictures here)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/06/RECM1DOSHB.DTL

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2010/06/04/ba-hotproperty06_0501779063.jpg

[j_alexandra]

Hmmm...something like this former church that is now on the market as a single-family home :grin:



Lottery ticket time! When I win, I'm buying this, overcoming my anti-earthquake prejudices, moving to SF, and inviting everyone to come and dance. I want this thing so bad I can taste it. The kitchen! The bathrooms! The view! The BALLROOM!!! <swoon>

[latingal]

*drool*

[piimapoika]

Every British seaside resort used to have a wonderful ballroom. The best of all was (and still is) the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. No parking of any description, but antique trams trundle past all day:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2009/9/19/1253371454757/Tower-Ballroom-Blackpool-001.jpg

My old home town of Southend had a smaller version, but sadly it no longer exists: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_knHmw4EPfhE/SvO2NCy6RrI/AAAAAAAABKw/3ZeBRZOiasU/s400/BallroomDancing1952.jpg

The Weston-super-mare Winter Gardens ballroom is still in use (summer only, in spite of its name) and it has a car park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23552115@N03/2570066335/

[GGinrhinestones]

Hmmm...something like this former church that is now on the market as a single-family home :grin:

GORGEOUS!!

Tenehill, one thing you forgot to mention - the ceiling! One of the things I dislike most about most hotel ballrooms is their tendency to skip on ceilings. It's why I love old buildings - they usually remembered to look up in the planning and painting.

And it would be really nice to have a ballroom with windows, for a change!

[Chris Stratton]

- an unobstructed main ballroom (remaining at least 50x30 when repurposable areas are removed) open (including evenings) to independent instructors and partnered practice

- an area with mirrors for latin and detail work not in the line of dance of the above

- one or more classrooms with substantially seperate audio zones for good group classes

- fun classes covering a lot of material in both ballroom and non-ballroom partner dance styles

- more in depth classes targeting specific syllabus competition levels, taught by instructors interested in assembling and developing amateur couples.

- informal practice / help sessions to support students with and without partners

- late night runthroughs for advanced & professional competitors and occasional tamer ones for syllabus couples.

- a mechanism for visitors as well as top local instructors too busy to commit to regular classes to offer occasional workshops

- one or more socials a week

[tanya_the_dancer]

And how big of client base it has to have to support all that?

[ireniecat]

I'd like to add to the list: Front desk to direct new students and easily get schedules, information, questions answered, etc. Especially at a larger studio when everyone is busy teaching or practicing, new students can feel intimidated, neglected and even like they are intruding.

[suburbaknght]

When this studio exists I will move across the country to go there.

[lcdancesport]

I'd like to add to the list: Front desk to direct new students and easily get schedules, information, questions answered, etc. Especially at a larger studio when everyone is busy teaching or practicing, new students can feel intimidated, neglected and even like they are intruding.

My thoughts exactly! When my teaching hat is on, I can't play receptionist/greeter/question taker...

[Chris Stratton]

And how big of client base it has to have to support all that?

The needed size for the main floor is a requirement to be of use as a competition training facility. Paying for that requires a sizeable group and social community. But it is not workable to treat these as a mere revenue center. The group classes need to be run with real dedication and expertise so that they offer both intrinsic value and a path of entry to populate the more advanced offerings.

The front desk role is important, but I feel it should concentrate more on providing information about options, especially entry level ones, than on directing students.

[JANATHOME]

That is all good, but I would give that all up in a second for just a good technical instuctor, one that can find a way to commuicate with you that helps you to learn and progress, one that commits to you, one that takes the time to figure out what you are all about and helps you feel and find the passion of dance.... When you leave a lesson it lingers on and you are in awe of all of the emotions that are inside you that one helped to bring out....

Lucky me, I have that right now and I dont care about front desk, socials or blah blah blah anything else... This just trumps all....

[toothlesstiger]

This dovetails with the thread I started about the difference between AS and IS studios. If you took the place I used to dance, and added some instruction suitable for competitive dancers, this would fit your criteria.

[Chris Stratton]

That is all good, but I would give that all up in a second for just a good technical instuctor, one that can find a way to commuicate with you that helps you to learn and progress, one that commits to you, one that takes the time to figure out what you are all about and helps you feel and find the passion of dance.... When you leave a lesson it lingers on and you are in awe of all of the emotions that are inside you that one helped to bring out....

Lucky me, I have that right now and I dont care about front desk, socials or blah blah blah anything else... This just trumps all....

Essentially, my list could be viewed as a way to insure such a person has a floor to stand on and enough students to teach, while treating each of those enabling businesses as a goal in its own right instead of just a source of cash to subsidize a different project.

[ballroomdancertoo]

I always thought a juice bar or something like a "watering hole" for those thrusty dancers!

[kckc]

I always thought a juice bar or something like a "watering hole" for those thrusty dancers!


where are these "thrusty" dancers? I'd like to meet one :)

[Linda J Schlensker]

In today's economy especially, studios are rethinking how they do things and some are doing it different and still delivering good service and opportunities to learn. Students need first: teachers who know how to teach well, teachers who care about them, opportunities to use their dancing, the opportunity to make friends who, and they need to feel welcome. A good school will also look at the staff's needs to have on-going training, to have a fair salary, to have advancement opportunities, etc. All this must be delivered cost effectively. Too many good students in the states are priced out of the market and some small markets don't have enough students to support the kind of structure you are describing. Look beyond the externals and see what you are really getting. All the items above are gorgeous things to have if they are meeting the above needs. I am seeing many new ideas generated out there where individual studios are taking a second look at how to meet all these needs effectively. Some will work, some won't and some will be just another rip off. Some of the best coaching I've received happened in settings where not of the above was in place. It was wonderful when all the rest of it was there too.

[cl100]

hmmm somewhere in there, can we add: no beginners in the advance group classes :) I hate that...

[tanya_the_dancer]

That is all good, but I would give that all up in a second for just a good technical instuctor, one that can find a way to commuicate with you that helps you to learn and progress, one that commits to you, one that takes the time to figure out what you are all about and helps you feel and find the passion of dance.... When you leave a lesson it lingers on and you are in awe of all of the emotions that are inside you that one helped to bring out....

Lucky me, I have that right now and I dont care about front desk, socials or blah blah blah anything else... This just trumps all....

That's kinda how I feel, too. I have a good teacher, and as far as I'm concerned he can teach me anywhere with a floor and a roof, and an electrical plug for music as a bonus. Although that doesn't mean we're not going to comment on the quality of the place.

And in a way, one studio that we had in town had some of Chris's list as far as the facilities go. It had one large room and one smaller room, front desk (with someone manning it most of the time), it had a weekly social, it offered some group classes, and at its peak, it also had a second smaller social and it had a number of instructors of various experience levels. It occasionally brought in even more experienced coaches. The social attendance at the peak point was something like 30 couples, with bigger formal parties getting in something like 50-60 couples <That is A LOT for our community>. It ran as a closed model, however (you had to take private lessons in order to come to the social and take group classes and use the place for practice).

So what happened? It folded. There was considerable staff turnover, and after having "disappearing instructor" <referencing another thread> thing happen to too many people, a) people stopped buying lessons b) they were reluctant to recommend the place to friends interested in dancing, so they were losing business at rapid pace, and when someone else opened a studio which followed open business model (even though its facilities weren't as great - the floor was really long, but narrowish, and there was only one room for everyone to share), everyone went there and that was the end.

[Chris Stratton]

A good school will also look at the staff's needs to have on-going training, to have a fair salary, to have advancement opportunities, etc.

The problem with this kind of school model is that you can't keep advanced competing students integrated into the social fabric, because the staff instructors start to look weak by comparison. To have strong competing students you have to have strong competing instructors, but to support their overseas travel and training you have to grant them the income of teaching independently. But someone needs to do a good job with the groups in order to recruit and prepare the next generation of students. My recommendation would be to pay instructors for the regular groups as studio offerings, but let them teach resulting private lessons independently.

All this must be delivered cost effectively. Too many good students in the states are priced out of the market and some small markets don't have enough students to support the kind of structure you are describing.

Pricing out occurs when parts of the business are treated as easy money rather than offering efficient value. You need a pyramid that makes sense at each level - a lot of people paying a little money for a sound introduction and or social outlet, a healthy number of rising intermediates paying a moderate amount, and a smaller group spending a large amount. Each needs to get a value for their money.

[fascination]

I would love, as fringe extras (again not as essentials); a place that has yoga and fitness crosstraining, and which has food and bevarge available, and a lending tibrary of dvds, and practice wear and shoe sales...heck...throw in a quiet room where I can nap and I'd never leave :)

[kckc]

hmmm somewhere in there, can we add: no beginners in the advance group classes :) I hate that...

amen to that.

[Chris Stratton]

If the building and licensing could support it, a hostel and/or actual apartments onsite would be great. A deli downstairs may be preferable to something in house since it can supply more variety by serving an outside market. A dumbwater and intercom could be fun though ;-)

On the beginners in advanced classes issue, I think the solution is to make the advanced classes technically focused enough to have limited appeal to the unprepared, and give the teachers some authority to decline the more egregious cases. Having a meaningful progression populated at all levels can help students see where they are and what they would need to do to change that more effectively than simply being told. Competitions help with the sorting too, though imperfectly.

[ash_sk8s]

When this studio exists I will move across the country to go there.

The Ballroom Dance Company out here in Portland has many of those things. There are 3 ballrooms (the main of which is the largest ballroom in the US). They offer I think 20 hours of group classes a week, and are open for practicing as long as there's room for you (daytime is AWESOME!). Besides ballroom, they have yoga, hip hop, and west coast. Probably some others too, but those are the biggest. There's 2 or 3 socials a week, including the big Sunday evening one, with ballroom/latin/swing in the main ballroom and WCS in another.

Haha, can you tell I love my studio? :) Oh! And they have a nice front desk that is always staffed...saw that someone mentioned that. :)

[tanya_the_dancer]

In today's economy especially, studios are rethinking how they do things and some are doing it different and still delivering good service and opportunities to learn. Students need first: teachers who know how to teach well, teachers who care about them, opportunities to use their dancing, the opportunity to make friends who, and they need to feel welcome. A good school will also look at the staff's needs to have on-going training, to have a fair salary, to have advancement opportunities, etc. All this must be delivered cost effectively. Too many good students in the states are priced out of the market and some small markets don't have enough students to support the kind of structure you are describing. Look beyond the externals and see what you are really getting. All the items above are gorgeous things to have if they are meeting the above needs. I am seeing many new ideas generated out there where individual studios are taking a second look at how to meet all these needs effectively. Some will work, some won't and some will be just another rip off. Some of the best coaching I've received happened in settings where not of the above was in place. It was wonderful when all the rest of it was there too.

I think that in the end though, students loyalties will still lie with their teacher and not the studio itself. When we had all the staff turnover (and most teachers stayed local, and because this is a small area, it wasn't like they totally disappeared - so a number of their students followed them, without a second look at the nice accommodations they were leaving), I only know one couple whose teacher left and who felt that they should stay with the studio, even though they knew how to get a hold of him and could continue taking lessons with him. They fit a certain demographic stereotype - they were older (eligible for social security kind of older), they started dancing late in life, and they wanted to have fun dancing without focusing too much on technical details, and the studio provided ample opportunities for that.

[Josh]

If the building and licensing could support it, a hostel and/or actual apartments onsite would be great. A deli downstairs may be preferable to something in house since it can supply more variety by serving an outside market

To quote you from last week sometime--let me know when your spaceship gets near planet earth (or something like that) :-)

If you've never seen financials for a studio before (I take it you haven't), you really should, and see if you can reconcile your wants with your bills. I hear two distinct voices, some of them from the same people:


"I only care about the finest technical instruction. Heck, I may not even need a bathroom or a roof on the building!"
"I'd like an 80x50 floor, HQ sound, flat screens with private viewing rooms for video instruction, a deli downstairs, a lounge area for students, and limo service would be nice too! Oh yes, and we want our building full of world champions who will pay us $10 for each lesson as a floor rent!"


I'm obviously exaggerating, but you get the point. The studio I primarily teach at (I'm independent but also on staff) is the largest in the southeast. It's 13,000 sq feet, has 5 ballrooms (largest is 80x50, second is 50x35, third is 40x20, other two are about 30x25), showers, a bar/kitchen, and every well-traveled visiting dancer and coach we have says it's easily, and very literally, the nicest dance studio they've seen, at least in the United States.

I must claim no knowledge of specific financials for this studio, but I have seen some previously, and can tell you that it is not cheap. As in any business, expenses add up. You want a deli, with independents paying a $10-15 per lesson floor fee? Just keeping the doors open is a challenge, but if a studio owner wants to actually MAKE money, then he or she has decisions to make about what to pay for, and a deli and on-site apartments are likely NOT going to be part of the picture.

[tanya_the_dancer]

Josh, just curious, do you think a place which basically rents floor space to independents has a chance to survive and be stable? I am not talking about something as posh as Chris describes, something much, much more modest.

[DanceMentor]

I'm obviously exaggerating, but you get the point. The studio I primarily teach at (I'm independent but also on staff) is the largest in the southeast. It's 13,000 sq feet, has 5 ballrooms (largest is 80x50, second is 50x35, third is 40x20, other two are about 30x25), showers, a bar/kitchen, and every well-traveled visiting dancer and coach we have says it's easily, and very literally, the nicest dance studio they've seen, at least in the United States.


Interesting news in the Bay Area. Cheryl Burke Mountain View is just slightly smaller than the studio you mentioned. But they have already started an expansion and it going make it larger. I don't know what the finished size will be. On the way to progress, the men will be given port-o-potties, a luxury enjoyed by few!

[Warren J. Dew]

With regard to a deli and apartments, that's a matter of location. If you're in Manhattan or Cambridge, there will likely be a deli nearby.

Speaking of which, there's a terrific column free location that looks to be about 60x80 at 450 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. I'm sure the rent is far too high for a dance studio, though.

[danceronice]

Also, those of you who want food and beverages please remember that there are then sanitation and licensing matters to consider--if you're SELLING anything other than bottled and prepackaged, nonperishable food items, you are subject to the health department. That means you now have a lot of sanitation concerns like running hot-water lines, having some method of meeting cleaning standards (either chemicals or heat are involved, both have advantages and disadvantages), pest control becomes a serious concern--it adds a whole new layer of expenses.

And everything Josh said. Blah-blahing about it not being about making money is nice if you live in Magical Free Land where nothing costs, but the reality is there are no businesses out there that aren't in the business of making money. (No, not even non-profit businesses, which is what I work in. In fact NFPs spend MORE time on trying to avoid being in the red than some FPs.) The business has to cover all its operating expenses, the teachers (unless they have trust funds) have to at minimum cover their living expenses and ideally have a little something left over at the end of the month, and the pool of students who can spend so much that they keep the operating costs covered is very, very limited. Every extra-nice thing, from expanded square footage to flatscreens to showers to food service adds on to your operating costs. Theoretically, this should also allow you to increase fees because of increased value for the money, but people reach a tipping point beyond which they are not going to spend. The pool of potential students is not limitless, especially when you get beyond the beginner/casuals, where turnover is high but so is the number incoming.

[Josh]

Josh, just curious, do you think a place which basically rents floor space to independents has a chance to survive and be stable? I am not talking about something as posh as Chris describes, something much, much more modest.

To survive and be stable--yes. There are studios that do it.

But I would ballpark that a studio doing this will average no more than $20K per month income. (10hrs a day, 4 lessons every hour, 26 days a month at $15 per rent, and three weekend rentals a month at $1000 each gives $18K). Add up expenses for rent, utilities, music licensing, insurance, maintenance, and the 10 bajillion other things I'm forgetting to list and you're probably looking at a profit of a few grand per month maximum, if there is a profit. Then anywhere from 20%-40% of that will go to taxes, and you wind up with a tough model to make any money with.

[Warren J. Dew]

Josh, just curious, do you think a place which basically rents floor space to independents has a chance to survive and be stable? I am not talking about something as posh as Chris describes, something much, much more modest.

I've known studios that consisted of basically a reasonably sized ballroom and a front desk that survived basically on floor fees. However, their owners were just trying to cover the rent, and not trying to make any profit from them.

[Josh]

but people reach a tipping point beyond which they are not going to spend. The pool of potential students is not limitless,

+1 exactly...

[tanya_the_dancer]

I've known studios that consisted of basically a reasonably sized ballroom and a front desk that survived basically on floor fees. However, their owners were just trying to cover the rent, and not trying to make any profit from them.

In the case I am thinking about, the owner also teaches. What Josh described is probably close to what's happening on an average month, except substitute some of the private lessons with group classes. That's a very low margin.

[fascination]

DOI...agree...which is why, much as I would like the fluff...all I really need is one good pro

[Chris Stratton]

Josh, I have been over studio financials in general terms in one case and detail in another, and its on calculations derived from that and usage observations that I base the belief that one needs an intrinsically valuable groups program in addition to a floor fee business. This is important not only for the revenue from classes, but to rebuild the business volume of the mid-level amateur community which has dropped off in the past few years.

As for the deli I was arguing for a seperate business on a separare floor subsisting primarily on outside business (as we used to have here in ny) rather than the in house food business someone else wanted. The lodging idea was mostly dreaming but and obviously would only happen if it paid for its space.

[pruthe]

I always thought a juice bar or something like a "watering hole" for those thrusty dancers!

My "good" studio added a bar a couple years ago. After a couple drinks, you are "smooth" dancing. :-)

[madmaximus]

Actually agree with Chris on this.

(disclaimer: Yes, I've seen my share of financials, marketing, etc. of different levels and types of business--including providing perspective on planning and development for 3 studios, and running a 4th (my own, very modest, and only as a hobby)).

I think most studios could do with progressive strategy, good tactical marketing, excellent training support, and modern customer-centric entrepreneur thinking.

As Chris already suggested, one of the best ways to profitability is adjunctive-services and cross-product selling that enhances the studio's bottom line and brand.





m

[Ray Sison]

I feel so blessed, as the studio I go to has so many of the things mentioned in this thread... :)

[DL]

The needed size for the main floor is a requirement to be of use as a competition training facility.

Well, "good studio" and "competition training facility" needn't be the same.

I get my primary instruction on an undersized, often crowded floor obstructed by a pole. I can practice there for free as long as I'm properly deferent to paid use of the floor. Once a week my partner and I head to a competitor's practice at a venue with a large and high quality floor and reasonable rate.

I would still call the place where I get instruction a "good studio".

[danceronice]

Well, "good studio" and "competition training facility" needn't be the same.

I get my primary instruction on an undersized, often crowded floor obstructed by a pole. I can practice there for free as long as I'm properly deferent to paid use of the floor. Once a week my partner and I head to a competitor's practice at a venue with a large and high quality floor and reasonable rate.

I would still call the place where I get instruction a "good studio".

+1. The studio I'm at now does not have all the bells and whistles that my studio in Boston does. However, my instructor is quite good, there are floors with room to dance, the bathroom's clean ( ;) ), there are comfortable places to sit and change my shoes, and (UNLIKE Boston) parking's a breeze.

[tanya_the_dancer]

+1. The studio I'm at now does not have all the bells and whistles that my studio in Boston does. However, my instructor is quite good, there are floors with room to dance, the bathroom's clean ( ;) ), there are comfortable places to sit and change my shoes, and (UNLIKE Boston) parking's a breeze.

+1 for parking. Parking is always important, how else can you get anywhere around here?

[Chris Stratton]

Well, "good studio" and "competition training facility" needn't be the same.

I get my primary instruction on an undersized, often crowded floor obstructed by a pole. I can practice there for free as long as I'm properly deferent to paid use of the floor. Once a week my partner and I head to a competitor's practice at a venue with a large and high quality floor and reasonable rate.

I would still call the place where I get instruction a "good studio".

What pays the rent at the runthrough facility? Presumably something else, dancing or non, covers the majority share.

A solution based on a combination of facilities is possible - actually keep thinking about running groups in a place peaceful enough to be heard in order to support application in a larger noisier place, but its less ideal. When expanding the solution from an individual couple to a group, there's less of the sense of an entity to be recruiting people to - instead of the xyz studio or team its the gang who lessons here on monday or tuesday, practices there on thursday and sometimes attends one of the following four socials on saturday. This can work - many college teams are ultimately that with dues and matching warmup jackets - but now in addition to managing several businesses people are needed to manage the team as a seperate entity.

I do recall one fairly effective studio that only had its primary facility two weeknights plus most of Saturday, and ran private lessons out of a private home the rest of the week, which must have been a huge savings on rent. But while it worked well for sustaining a good group of somewhat involved, advancing intermediates, and effectively supported the pro/ams, few amateur couples developed except where at least one of the partners already had another practice home in mind. Despite that limitation, it probably was a good way for the owners to be effective as teachers without the complication of managing a 7-day studio that would need a much larger roster of teachers to stay afloat.

[toothlesstiger]

Interesting news in the Bay Area. Cheryl Burke Mountain View is just slightly smaller than the studio you mentioned. But they have already started an expansion and it going make it larger. I don't know what the finished size will be. On the way to progress, the men will be given port-o-potties, a luxury enjoyed by few!

I used to dance there when it was called Starlight Ballroom in Sunnyvale, and it was much bigger then. They moved after I moved to the Pacific Northwest. When I was there they had about 40 hours of group class instruction per week. They had socials four nights a week, and on a Friday night would regularly top out over 400 attendees. The main dance floor was freakin' enormous, and spoiled me for every place I went after that.

But...., at the time, they didn't have private lesson instructors available that could take beyond the plateau I had reached. Things may have changed since then, but I know that many of the same instructors are still there.

[Gorme]

Josh, just curious, do you think a place which basically rents floor space to independents has a chance to survive and be stable? I am not talking about something as posh as Chris describes, something much, much more modest.

There's a studio like that around here called Dance Spectrum. It's a small barebone studio with 2 floors. Main room for anything to do with ballroom and a smaller exercise room. Their rent is probably low as they have been at that location for a very long time. The staff is also small as there is just a front desk. Independent pros are always hanging out there teaching, practicing or just lounging. Students who practice pays one flat fee and can stay there all day long.

[Gorme]

I used to dance there when it was called Starlight Ballroom in Sunnyvale, and it was much bigger then. They moved after I moved to the Pacific Northwest. When I was there they had about 40 hours of group class instruction per week. They had socials four nights a week, and on a Friday night would regularly top out over 400 attendees. The main dance floor was freakin' enormous, and spoiled me for every place I went after that.

They tore the place down and is turning it into condos. The new location that Dancementor mentions is still a big floor, but is only about half the length of the old location's main floor.

[Chris Stratton]

There's a studio like that around here called Dance Spectrum. It's a small barebone studio with 2 floors. Main room for anything to do with ballroom and a smaller exercise room. Their rent is probably low as they have been at that location for a very long time. The staff is also small as there is just a front desk. Independent pros are always hanging out there teaching, practicing or just lounging. Students who practice pays one flat fee and can stay there all day long.

This is fairly nice for experienced students if the financials work. But if a larger student body is needed, and because its nice to build a community anyway, I think it is preferable if a facility can support good beginner groups without the teachers having to shout or having to stop privates and practice during that time slot.

If a floor fee studio can't welcome beginners, its limited to those who participate elsewhere long enough to grow capable and ultimately decide to switch - which may mean it never sees a lot of people who would potentially thrive under its intermediate and advanced resources.

[DL]

What pays the rent at the runthrough facility? Presumably something else, dancing or non, covers the majority share.


It's another dance studio. It's just not the place where I obtain my primary instruction.

The practices are decently attended by amateur couples (and, occasionally, pros) but surely provide only ancillary income.

[Chris Stratton]

The practices are decently attended by amateur couples (and, occasionally, pros) but surely provide only ancillary income.

One would hope they are seen as an investment in keeping the competitive coach's rosters full, as well as the career advancement of any competing teachers who participate.

I've occasionally seen a strong pro/am team participate in ours as well.

If the person who locks up dances, the marginal cost for a weeknight runthrough is probably only lights and a/c.

[DL]

One would hope they are seen as an investment in keeping the competitive coach's rosters full, as well as the career advancement of any competing teachers who participate.

I've occasionally seen a strong pro/am team participate in ours as well.

If the person who locks up dances, the marginal cost for a weeknight runthrough is probably only lights and a/c.

There are many assumptions in your statement. I don't want to go into that much detail, but I'll note practices in my area mostly seem to happen on floors that would otherwise be idle during the practice hours.

[Warren J. Dew]

One would hope they are seen as an investment in keeping the competitive coach's rosters full, as well as the career advancement of any competing teachers who participate.
In Boston, there used to be - and may still be - a competitor's practice in a studio on a day when no lessons were taught. With typically half a dozen couples attending, it paid roughly as much as renting for floor fee would have. A volunteer was needed to run it as it wouldn't have covered the studio owner - or probably even a receptionist - to be present.

This was before the college scene here was well established, and the people attending were from all sorts of different studios. It was kind of sad that it took all the amateur couples from half a dozen studios to support one competitor practice.

[DL]

In my area there are (or were, when last I checked) about 4 such offerings each week. All offer standard practice, some offer latin. 3 are on the same day and scheduled such that it would be possible to attend each if one were so inclined.

[Warren J. Dew]

I'm sure there are more in Boston now, too, mostly catering to the college scene. Things have changed a lot here over the last decade or two.

[DL]

My fellow attendees are mostly grown-ups.

[ash_sk8s]

The Ballroom Dance Company out here in Portland has many of those things. There are 3 ballrooms (the main of which is the largest ballroom in the US). They offer I think 20 hours of group classes a week, and are open for practicing as long as there's room for you (daytime is AWESOME!). Besides ballroom, they have yoga, hip hop, and west coast. Probably some others too, but those are the biggest. There's 2 or 3 socials a week, including the big Sunday evening one, with ballroom/latin/swing in the main ballroom and WCS in another.

Haha, can you tell I love my studio? :) Oh! And they have a nice front desk that is always staffed...saw that someone mentioned that. :)

Can we not edit posts here? I've never noticed that before. Anyways, BDC has 60 hours of group classes, not 20! I stand corrected!

[latingal]

Hi ash! Yes, you can edit posts here, but the ability to edit posts is limited to a certain time period after it's been posted (and if I remember right, perhaps after another post has been entered after it) in an effot to preserve continuity in discussions in the thread.

[mkcookie]

Hey guys,

I'm new at this forum so I'm still trying to catch up with everything.
Anyway... I have a question for all of you, dancers and lovers of dance.
Can you help me a little bit?

I'm an architecture student and this semester the project is a dance studio.(YEY! right?! haha)
I kinda have an obsession with dance so it's the perfect project for me but still, I would like to try something different. I'd like to inovate. Being said that, I ask you all, can you give me some opinions about what kind of things you think are useful on a dance studio inside the classrooms and all that?
I have a few rules to follow but I hope I can do something new and show my teachers how viable are they.

Thanks,
Marta

[opendoor]

Hi, mkcookie, only some quick ideas:


-airconditioning (temerature and humidity) is alway (as far as it is in Hamburg, Germany) a problem in the venues, and an expensive one, too. Perhaps you can invent a circulating air system as in the clay buildings in arabia.

-a floating floor underneath the parquet is an must-be

-may be there is be a special room geometry for less sound reflections

-what´s about an aircraft interrior and flat screens behind bull´s eyes, dancing is somehow associated with flying, isn´t it ( the straight room deviders could be the mirrors, and emergency slips can serve as sofas in the lounge section ;-)

-the bar is an important part of a studio, too

-and, the biggest problem: were do 200 people put their brown shoes, when there is a special event?

Good luck anyway
OD

[danceronice]

OPEN FLOOR SPACE. My biggest pet peeve is when there are support columns in the middle of things.

[suburbaknght]

Able to be used as large open space or subdivided into smaller spaces (this can be physically divided or acoustically divided).

Management offices and staff lounge. Staff lounge should be large enough to practice at least some dancing in.

[mkcookie]

Wow, never expected to get some opinions on this so quickly.

@opendoor
Thanks for all the ideas. I'll definitely remember everything you said as soon I start the drawings for the project.
And I really liked the last "biggest problem" you said. I thought it was funny when I read it but it's true. And that didn't cross my mind until now so thanks! ;)

@danceronice
Yes, definitely. When I hear dance studio I like to think we gonna have enough space to dance without any obstacles.

@suburbaknght
Actually, the aspect of subdivide a larger space when necessary is one the rules for the project. We have to be able to make a enough large space so it can be divided when its needed.


Thanks to you all!

[sambagirl]

Realize that this is a partner dance-centric forum and that a "good floor" will vary based on what styles of dance are being hosted. For ballet, modern, and jazz, a marley floor would often be preferred. Tappers need wood floors, but tap dancing will destroy a wood floor for ballroom dancers. Standard and Smooth folks prefer slicker/faster floors than Latin and Rhythm (in general). Theater arts/cabaret folks need high ceilings with not much stuff hanging (fans, chandeliers) to accommodate their lifts.

Based on my personal preference, as a primarily Latin dancer:

- Storage space, both for dancer-students and dancer-staff.
- Sprung wood floors with a consistent speed and bounce
- In the main room, a column-less space
- In all dance studios, natural light and natural ventilation, in addition to artificial climate control when needed
- In all dance studios, continuous mirrors along all four walls, showing full height of dancers no matter what distance we're standing
- Somewhere to eat and hang out
- Somewhere for dancers who want to warm up and/or stretch and don't want to be in the way of those already dancing (or those eating)
- Showers
- Good sound systems and speakers
- Acoustically well designed rooms with not too much echo, but not "dead" either
- Perhaps a separate, smaller area/room for wedding couples or those students who don't move around much or who wish for a less intense experience
- A lobby area that is welcoming and conveys the experience of dancing without throwing the visitor immediately into the thick of things
- A staff lounge with microwave, fridge, sink, and exterior windows.
- A check-in system for students in classes
- Traffic flow encouraged to move around the edges of the main ballroom, so that people don't walk across the floor while couples are dancing. Even better, a design to encourage traffic flow in a counter-clockwise motion around the floor, along the line of dance.

[Joe]

OPEN FLOOR SPACE. My biggest pet peeve is when there are support columns in the middle of things.
If cost is no object, then sure. However, a column-free roof costs a lot more.

[fascination]

and frankly, dancers should be able to learn to navigate that...


my wishes?...what everyone else said.... and, in an ideal world because I travel a long distance for my lessons and spend the night, the following;

I'd love a place that also had an area for lounging... primarily a couple sleepable sofas, and area for cross-training; resistance training machines, a few cardio machines and space for yoga...

and a bathroom with shower and whirlpool(sweet mother!)...and lockers...the amount of crap I have to tote around for serial lessons is overwhelming...again, I realize these things would be high-end luxuries, but man, would they make my life easier and my inclination to be there often far greater

[danceronice]

What, you can't build a building without a support pillar in the middle of the floor? Only if you're dealing with an existing structure. (Not to mention, can you think of any COMPETITIVE venues where you're competing around columns? You don't need to navigate around stationary obstacles. Just other couples.)

A warm-up barre would be nice, rather than having to stretch off benches, chairs, the bar, etc.

BIG floor space is another. The new studio I'm at is located in a strip-mall type arrangement (which I suspect limits how much they can modify the space) and has two completely separate rooms with different floor materials. I'd want at LEAST 1000 sq feet, preferably more. Arranged in a way that you can set it for shows without some of the audience shoved into corners. I'd happily trade off the nice but not necessary stuff (one can change in bathrooms, for example, and I want my things like a purse where I can see it anyway) for more continuous floor space.

High enough ceiling you can do theater arts sorts of lifts without having to worry about smashing the girl's head on the ceiling, but not SO high you need a forty-foot stepladder to change lights.

[Joe]

What, you can't build a building without a support pillar in the middle of the floor?
Of course you can. Like I said, it just costs more money.

[fascination]

right....and of course you aren't competing around columns...but it never hurts to have to be alert enough to have to as a good skill

[jennyisdancing]

Dressing rooms with one of those long countertops so several people can sit down and fix makeup or hair. Cubbies in the studios, so there are places to put bags/shoes/etc. where they are off the floor. If it's a dividable space, good soundproofing for the partitions.

[pygmalion]

Air conditioning is nice. :-D I like overhead fans, as well. Nice, large dressing rooms for students, for showcases, etc. Wired in music. Oddly, I don't think anybody has mentioned mirrors yet.

[Subliminal]

I actually liked the layout of my first studio a lot. Basically, they had a giant square with a column in the middle. During normal lesson hours, they would cut the square in half with dividers, then cut one half of that again, leaving two small rooms and one larger room. When the big dance party of the night happened, they would remove all the dividers, leaving a large dance space with that big column in the direct center of the room, creating a natural line of dance. It did mean you couldn't move to the center to show off, but oh well. ;)

I think there were also a few side offices and very small dance rooms off of it too.

[Oldgeezer]

Wow, It if you could build a studio with some of the ideas that have been put forward it would be an amazing studio, perhaps mkcookie could in the future load up a couple of draft drawings for comment?

[danceronice]

The Platonic Ideal of Studios?

And if you're putting in extraneous amenities like gyms and such, it needs to be over/have a coffee shop.

[chachachacat]

I second the idea of a warm up ballet barre.
Of course, floor to ceiling mirrors, or up to 7 or so feet anyway.

Welcome to DF and I like your name, mkcookie!

[GGinrhinestones]

The Platonic Ideal of Studios?

And if you're putting in extraneous amenities like gyms and such, it needs to be over/have a coffee shop.

I TOTALLY second the idea of the coffee shop! Or even just an espresso bar in the studio...

Definitely ceilings high enough for theater arts, plenty of mirrors, and large floors with no supporting columns. At least two separate floors, though they don't have to be the same size, but both should be large enough for a reasonably sized group class. Plenty of natural light, but not facing directly into the setting sun...and storage space.

[nucat78]

OPEN FLOOR SPACE. My biggest pet peeve is when there are support columns in the middle of things.

While support columns can be worked around (danced around) they can be a distraction unless you're practicing your floorcraft. ;)

[Sagitta]

Don't forget wall to wall mirrors on at least one side. Great for practicing and seeing how you are doing. I would include a bar to use for stretches etc.

[mkcookie]

Thank you SO much for all the opinions and ideas you have been saying. I'm really grateful for all of them.

I had to dedicate this weekend to other subjects but Tuesday or Wednesday I'll start with the project for sure. And yes, I'm gonna write every idea you gave in order to get something really good!! :)

@Chachachacat
Thanks for the welcoming! Haha yeah, the name is derivated from a nickname xD

And

@Oldgeezer
Off course! When I finish the project (it will be around January or beginning of February, when I have my final exam) I'll put some drawings and photos of a 3D model so you guys can see the final idea! :)
Plus, if I get the time until the final exam I'll post some drawings and models I'll do during the "making of" process!

Thanks once again!

[ash_sk8s]

OPEN FLOOR SPACE. My biggest pet peeve is when there are support columns in the middle of things.

THIS! Oh my gosh drives me insane!

[DanceLightly]

If you were able to create a studio, inclusive of both social and competition dancers, and had access endless resources and space, what would it be like?

[sambanada]

clean, large, mirrors on entire length of wall, tables with chairs around, photos of legends on wall wiothout mirrors. Friendly people working.

[Mengu]

This topic sounds familiar...

Found it. (http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=36993&highlight=ideal+studio)

[DanceLightly]

Thanks!

[Spitfire]

Large, and with at least two hours of dancing for the dance socials. a receptionist who is available to answer questions on the phone as opposed to leaving a message that often does not get returned.

[fascination]

TC...can you find the thread that we already have on this and merge these?

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Nice work, Mengu!

Merged threads :)

[fascination]

thank you :)

[Spitfire]

How about a studio that features a cafe. Never been in one, but know of an owner who wanted to start a new studio with such, but plan fell through.

[fascination]

I would like a sauna to warm up, a workout area with an elliptical, unlimited access to water, gatorade and unsweet tea, shower facilities and laundry :)...and a few couches for a good nap on occasion

[DanceMentor]

My dream studio has a floating competition size floor and access to many different champions to learn from. A clean bathroom and a safe neighborhood. I really don't require much beyond that.

[fascination]

good point...our studio has a magnficent floor which I suppose I have begun to take for granted...a floor like that is a given for me

[debmc]

A designated area to warm up and stretch, and then someone to massage feet on the way out! Oh, yes, and I like the idea of couches for a quick nap after lesson!