"Floating" Dance Floor

[Spitfire]

What is meant by a floating dance floor; what is it's characteristic?

I don't pay much attention to what surface I'm dancing on unless it's slippery.

[DanceMentor]

A floating dance floor is elevated by "ribs" that keep it slightly above the concrete so that it has some give to it. If you go from dancing on a tile or marble foot to a floating floor, you'll really notice the difference because your feet and knees won't get sore as easily.

[MissAlyssa]

oOoOo I want to dance on a floating dance floor!

[Spitfire]

oOoOo I want to dance on a floating dance floor!

From Phoenix I see; I'm just down the road in Tucson. I went up to the Paragon in Chandler a week ago Friday for their open dance. Ever go there? Like to do that on occasion. :D

[MissAlyssa]

No, I haven't been there but I've been hearing a lot about it. I don't travel to Chandler too often [it's in the boonies lol] but I'm sure it would be worth my while! So how are you enjoying this weather? lol :lol:

[Spitfire]

No, I haven't been there but I've been hearing a lot about it. I don't travel to Chandler too often [it's in the boonies lol] but I'm sure it would be worth my while! So how are you enjoying this weather? lol :lol:

The Paragon seems to be the best place up there; in the three times I've been there I've enjoyed it tremendously. It's worth the one and three quarter hour drive and back when done every so often. Last night at the dance I go to here there was a couple that came down here who also go there. Lonnie Mitchell who is the owner of the Paragon taught down here at two studios that I took lessons from when I first started out.

Where do you do your dancing at? I've also been to the Kyote.

The weather? not enjoying it as usual this time of year, but the big concern here is the Aspen fire in the Catalinas

[MissAlyssa]

I do most of my dancing at my studio, the bash on ash, at my father's house [he's got a room with wood flooring] or just when I go out at night.

Oh yea, you are down there where all the fires are going on! How contained are they? I haven't had time to watch the news lately. :(

[Spitfire]

I do most of my dancing at my studio, the bash on ash, at my father's house [he's got a room with wood flooring] or just when I go out at night.

Oh yea, you are down there where all the fires are going on! How contained are they? I haven't had time to watch the news lately. :(

About 55% containment, but you wouldn't know that from seeing it. :o

You have a studio?

[MissAlyssa]

No, I don't own one, but at the Fred Astaire studio that I am an instructor at. That IS my goal for the next 5 years though I might add..hehe :D

[Spitfire]

No, I don't own one, but at the Fred Astaire studio that I am an instructor at. That IS my goal for the next 5 years though I might add..hehe :D

One of the instructors from the studio I go to moved there about five years ago and was teaching at one of the Fred Astaire's up there. Her name is Krista.

[MissAlyssa]

Does she have a husband named Chris?

[Spitfire]

Does she have a husband named Chris?

I don't know. She wasn't married the last time I saw her which was about four years ago. Might be the same one. Her last name was Geffen.

[MissAlyssa]

Hmm, I'd have to ask. I never knew her maiden name. She's an awesome dancer if it's the same girl. She's not teaching at the moment because she's had a child. Who knows :?:

[Spitfire]

Hmm, I'd have to ask. I never knew her maiden name. She's an awesome dancer if it's the same girl. She's not teaching at the moment because she's had a child. Who knows :?:

She taught here at the Arizona Ballroom Company where I do most of my dancing. I took some private lessons from her. She came down to visit one time and that's the last I saw of her.

You may know a lady named Karen Maxwell; she taught at the Fred Astaire's here which later became Dance Centers USA and closed down a few years ago. She moved to Phoenix and was teaching as an independant. This I discovered when I went to the Paragon for the first time last year and saw her business cards on the table by the door.

[MissAlyssa]

I'm fairly new to teaching so I do not know too many people :( I look forward to meeting a ton of people in the industry at the next comp.

[Spitfire]

I'm fairly new to teaching so I do not know too many people :( I look forward to meeting a ton of people in the industry at the next comp.

Ok I have a question Alyssa; do any of the Fred Astaire's up there hold open dancing over the weekends and is there one on Saturday? As I say I like to go dancing up there every so often. If so, what are the hours and admission price? :?:

There is a newsletter that is sent email here with info on dancing for each week that includes info for the Phoenix area. I would submit that to the lady who sends it out. :D

BTW - welcome to this forum; I see that you are new here. :D

Tom

[MissAlyssa]

Not that I know of but I can ask around if you'd like :) Is there any way I can subscribe to this newsletter? It would be a good thing to have around :) Thank you for the nice welcome, it won't be the last time you see me haha. :twisted:

[lcdancesport]

I've been doing some research on floating floors and have received some quotes as far as pricing. Now one company told me the tongue and groove clip system is great. It's real maple and the subfloor would be a nice high end foam layer.

I called the same company again today asking about shipping times and someone else, other than the man who helped me the first time, discouraged me from my decision! He said I should go with the Boflex floor, which is used in gyms and dance studios. It's almost another $4 a square foot and already includes the foam on the back of the wood. Apparently this stuff is more shock absorbent and is the top of the line stuff. He said people may end up complaining if I go with the maple tongue and groove system I originally picked out. Alright...

So.... would it be best to foot the bill for the better stuff or go with my first choice? The first choice is still floating and has a good subfloor, but the other is "top of the line" etc etc... As far as difference in pricing, I'm looking at about another $8000 from my original estimate.

Anyone have experience with the Boflex foor? It's by a company called Centaur. I would imagine something like hardwood maple with a good foam layer would be good enough for a floating floor.

[SassySamba]

From Phoenix I see; I'm just down the road in Tucson. I went up to the Paragon in Chandler a week ago Friday for their open dance. Ever go there? Like to do that on occasion. :D

Weally? I'm from Phx. too. I'm going to the Paragon tonite. Their floor sucks though...It's too old.

[SassySamba]

The studio I go to and take lessons at is called Ambiant Dance. It's in N. Scottsdale. They have dances on Friday nights too.

[SassySamba]

No, I don't own one, but at the Fred Astaire studio that I am an instructor at. That IS my goal for the next 5 years though I might add..hehe :D

Which Freds do you teach at? I started at one too. I have thing against franchises though...no offense.

[SassySamba]

oOoOo I want to dance on a floating dance floor!

I hate how some studios skimp out on their floor...i.e. The Arthur Murrays of Phx. Their floors suck.

[lcdancesport]

Ok not exactly answering my question, but hopefully others are seeing this thread...

[hereKittyKitty]

I've been doing some research on floating floors and have received some quotes as far as pricing. Now one company told me the tongue and groove clip system is great. It's real maple and the subfloor would be a nice high end foam layer.

I called the same company again today asking about shipping times and someone else, other than the man who helped me the first time, discouraged me from my decision! He said I should go with the Boflex floor, which is used in gyms and dance studios. It's almost another $4 a square foot and already includes the foam on the back of the wood. Apparently this stuff is more shock absorbent and is the top of the line stuff. He said people may end up complaining if I go with the maple tongue and groove system I originally picked out. Alright...

So.... would it be best to foot the bill for the better stuff or go with my first choice? The first choice is still floating and has a good subfloor, but the other is "top of the line" etc etc... As far as difference in pricing, I'm looking at about another $8000 from my original estimate.

Anyone have experience with the Boflex foor? It's by a company called Centaur. I would imagine something like hardwood maple with a good foam layer would be good enough for a floating floor.

From what I understand, the boflex floor has foam underneath as opposed to a "floating"floor. My experience with this type of floor is it "absorbs" your body weight. It doesn't give back and the end result is your legs can become tired quickly. Especially if you are jumping around doing Jive or quickstep. I would go with what the first guy offered, because it sounds like the other guy was trying to up sell and it may not help you that much.

[Yanou]

How much the floor gives is very important, especially for instructors who need to dance on it many hours a day. In addition to the construction/basic materials of the floor, the surface quality or the finish of the floor is also important. By this, I mean how fast or slow the floor is. My old studio had 2 rooms; one was perfect for latin and the other was good for smooth. My small practice room is made of slick engineered wood and I've been trying several methods to make it slower.

Can you at least take a look at some samples?

[SassySamba]

How much the floor gives is very important, especially for instructors who need to dance on it many hours a day. In addition to the construction/basic materials of the floor, the surface quality or the finish of the floor is also important. By this, I mean how fast or slow the floor is. My old studio had 2 rooms; one was perfect for latin and the other was good for smooth. My small practice room is made of slick engineered wood and I've been trying several methods to make it slower.

Can you at least take a look at some samples?


This is a good idea! More studios need to do this.

[flyhere]

I've been doing some research on floating floors and have received some quotes as far as pricing. Now one company told me the tongue and groove clip system is great. It's real maple and the subfloor would be a nice high end foam layer....
You may want to google "dance floor construction" or "dance studio construction", also look at youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAc8-jqcV1E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2VWSrveRKE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR_XvhWG7Fc&feature=related

I think what's important is the construction of the floating frame underneath, and the materials for the subfloor. I would be skeptical about being upsold to "top of the line" without understanding the benefits.

I think it also depends on your expected usage. If it's designed for professional gyms, it may be heavy duty for things like basketball. Is that what you need? or may be more than you need?

[Joe]

I think a sprung floor is better than a floating floor installation.

[etp777]

May just be remnant of gymnastics, but I'm partial to a sprung floor too.

[Larinda McRaven]

A floating floor is nothing special, it simply means that it is not anchored to the walls. BUT it does not imply ANY type of cushioning underneath.... I can't see any use for it by dancers or any atheltic activity.

In a home installation setting, although a floating floor is nice, as it can expand and contract across the seasons, they don't really want a sprung (or cushioned or suspended) floor. Because people don't like it when the floors in their house bounce or their china cabinets rattle because the floor is flexing as someone walks by.

[lcdancesport]

I'm interested in hearing more about a sprung floor. I did look at some videos online and saw there is a layer of wood, then insulation, then foam? This would be for a studio, not at home.

I'm not so much interested in this gym flooring, I know it absorbs the weight, but it doesn't sound like it is geared towards dancers, who need that spring back.

[lcdancesport]

You may want to google "dance floor construction" or "dance studio construction", also look at youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAc8-jqcV1E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2VWSrveRKE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR_XvhWG7Fc&feature=related

I think what's important is the construction of the floating frame underneath, and the materials for the subfloor. I would be skeptical about being upsold to "top of the line" without understanding the benefits.

I think it also depends on your expected usage. If it's designed for professional gyms, it may be heavy duty for things like basketball. Is that what you need? or may be more than you need?

Wow, that is a lot of material! Is this the standard for floors today?

[flyhere]

Wow, that is a lot of material! Is this the standard for floors today?
Sorry my "knowledge" of dance flooring is limited to googling the net for info. Some people I know give private dance lessons out of their living room at home. They simply have regular tongue-and-groove hardwood flooring which are laid over an underlay.

[Ampster]

I'm interested in hearing more about a sprung floor. I did look at some videos online and saw there is a layer of wood, then insulation, then foam? This would be for a studio, not at home.

I'm not so much interested in this gym flooring, I know it absorbs the weight, but it doesn't sound like it is geared towards dancers, who need that spring back.

Sprung floors for dancing can go from the highly professional ones that are shown on the video. The one's used for studios and clubs are similar in construction.

For home use, as long as your wood floor is built on a subframe that gives when weight is applied and pounded (e.g. suspended wood cross beams), it will work.

Wooden floors that are overlayed straight over concrete, have very little (if any) give. There is very little difference between the hardness of wood and the concrete. It is in essence, a solid hard floor that is smooth enough to dance on. The effect of this can be felt in your feet, knees, lower back after only a few hours of dancing.

On a sprung floor the pain will be on the feet from bearing your body's weight in ways it is not used to. Depending on what dance you do (I'm an Argentine Tango dancer), if you're not particular about looks, you can try dance sneakers when dancing on solid hard floors.

[fascination]

my floor is "floating"...it is built atop concrete but has three layers which create a give...the first layer is a lego sort of griding attached to squares of plywood which elevates the squares from the concrete, the second layer is a thin moisture barrier of some sort of plastic then more plywood ...the third layer is board by board top grade maple

[Larinda McRaven]

floating (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_floor)means not permanently attatched (nailed) to the walls or subfloor. Not anchored to anything.
sprung (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprung_floor)means suspended off the sub-floor.

Fasc, you have a sprung floor. Proabably it is also floating, but the important part is that it is sprung.

[fascination]

correct...it is both

[Ampster]

correct...it is both

Does that mean, its "Sproating?" :nope: Haha, I kid, I kid!

[Larinda McRaven]

no, I like "flung".

[wonderwoman]

Gotta tell me buddy, who runs his studio's website, that it is inaccurately described as having floating floors, when they are really sprung. He should know, he designed it.

[wonderwoman]

Although they might be flung.

[Larinda McRaven]

Sprung is a FAR better thing to advertise... but most people don't know the finer nuances of the carpenters language and so saying "floating" does just as good a job. And if they are "flung" then floating is quite appropriate!

[lcdancesport]

Looking into flooring system, DanceFlex is often advertised, since it is used on DWTS. They say it is "floating" and is installed as a clip lock system, but is their quality any better than buying your own pre-finished floor with foam subfloor?

http:// w w w .dancevision.com/store/DF/

With a sprung floor, I take it this is a more permanent structure versus a removable floor system?

[Joe]

I wouldn't say a sprung floor is any more permanent, just more involved in installation. You could probably take up both kinds of floor to move them to another location if you wanted to.

DV says their floor is floating, which only means that it isn't anchored to anything; just laying on top of the subfloor (whether or not there are any other layers between it and the subfloor). As far as quality, it's hard to say. They claim their floor is hardwood, and if it is solid wood, that is much better than the prefinished engineered floors, which can feel a little hard compared to real wood.

A sprung floor—shockingly—has spring to it, to help give you a little rebound when you dance/walk on it, which helps preserve your joints from getting a pounding. The spring is provided by the rubber or neoprene pads and the battens which underlay the wearing surface. The typical floating floor will also have some give, but there is only so much give a thin layer of foam can have.

[Spitfire]

The studio I go to and take lessons at is called Ambiant Dance. It's in N. Scottsdale. They have dances on Friday nights too.

I went there for a NYE dance, a year ago this last NYE.

[lcdancesport]

Getting some pricing on sprung floors. What we have at the studio now is not good! Just wood and a really thin pad underneath.