Kitchen Floor is not Slick Enough

[bonz]

I try to practice on my vinel Kitchen floor, but it isn't slippery enough. Any ideas on reducing friction?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Are you wearing dance shoes? Suede leather sticks less than rubber. But then the hard leather of formal shoes sticks even less than the soft leather of dance shoes.

If you are willing to clean up aftewards, you could try baby powder.

Or resole your shoes with teflon, if you can solve the age old question of finding a glue that will stick to it (actually, there are procedures...)

But practing on a sticky floor is a good way to mess up your knees.

 

[Vince A]

If you do this, you can't come back and sue me after you slip and crack your head, but . . .

I'll assume they are vinyl floors, as this will not work on tile.

Get some Pledge, apply one coat at-a-time according to the directions on the can - as if you were polishing a table! Dance in thick socks, like the white ones for sports.

Be very careful, as this can get way too slippery!

 

[dTas]

socks? slippers?

how big is your kitchen? do you really need to slide that much? are you practicing technique? or moves?

i can't imagine practicng any sort of smooth/standard technique in a kitchen. latin/rhythm technique should work fine in socks or dance shoes.

 

[Chris Stratton]

i can't imagine practicng any sort of smooth/standard technique in a kitchen.

Actually, practicing technique doesn't require a lot of space. Practicing full figures on the other hand does... but there's a lot of usefull work to be done just in the individual steps and transitions between them - 1/3 to 2/3 of a figure at a time.

 

[dTas]

i can't imagine practicng any sort of smooth/standard technique in a kitchen.

Actually, practicing technique doesn't require a lot of space. Practicing full figures on the other hand does... but there's a lot of usefull work to be done just in the individual steps and transitions between them - 1/3 to 2/3 of a figure at a time.

true... if you're concentrating on just one or two steps at a time focusing purely on technique then you could do this in a kitchen. how many people do this? bonz, if this is what you are doing then that's great!! and if you are doing this then you really don't need dance shoes, anything slippery would work. actually the slipperier the better to create muscle strength.

 

[tacad]

I practice on my living room rug and wear dress shoes with a smooth leather sole. So far this has worked quite well for me.

 

[Sakura]

I try to practice on my vinel Kitchen floor, but it isn't slippery enough. Any ideas on reducing friction?

Socks, socks, and more socks. :lol: The kitchen (and front hallway) is the only place in my house that is actually slippery enough to allow dance practice, (And it's TINY!!!!! I'd say about 2x1.5 meters (only 'cause I'm too lazy to put it in feet! :wink: )) so, yes, it is possible to practice in a kitchen. Socks work wonders on them crazy vinyl floors. :lol:

As far as it being tiny, in my case, it's impossible to work full figures unless I take REALLY small steps, but it's possible. My teacher once said it's better to practice in a small area because your footwork on the steps improves, rather than having the space to make mistakes. And interesting thought, as it were. 8) I don't know the size of your kitchen, so hopefully you have a bit more room to move around in.

Hope your practicing goes well!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

 

[Chris Stratton]

My teacher once said it's better to practice in a small area because your footwork on the steps improves, rather than having the space to make mistakes. And interesting thought, as it were.

I really agree... there is a lot to be said for practicing with emphasis on the foot actions, perhaps by leaving most of the leg action out.

For something interesting, try tying your knees together and dancing standard figures. Many things will work, though perhaps not with a partner.

 

[Sakura]

For something interesting, try tying your knees together and dancing standard figures. Many things will work, though perhaps not with a partner.

=O-o= Sounds interesting. I must try this sometime today....

SK :kitty:

 

[Chris Stratton]

The fun part is that if you can manage to simply hold your knees together, you can try it anytime!

Just make sure no one is watching... at a minimum they might decide to give you directions to the nearest restroom. Perhaps we should start a thread on "scaring the normals"' ???

 

[TemptressToo]

A little bit of flour will do the trick. It can be pretty easily gotten back up with a broom and a damp cloth. It won't "stay" like pledge will AND you can practice in proper shoes so that you can adjust your balance and weight appropriately. It is a totally different feel when comparing barefoot/socks with a shoe.

 

[standardgirl]

For something interesting, try tying your knees together and dancing standard figures. Many things will work, though perhaps not with a partner.

We have tried putting elastic around the thigh for Waltz and V Waltz. It helps a lot. Is this the same theory?

 

[dancin_feet]

I have polished wooden floors, but sometimes theystill are not slippery enough so I put on an old pair of dancing shoes and slip some socks over them. Works wonders!

 

[pygmalion]

My kitchen floor is ceramic tile! :evil: Fortunately, I'm finishing my garage floor as we speak. (Heaven only knows what'll happen when I sell the house LOL.)