How to Choose a Dance Floor
Whether you’re looking for a professional Marley dance floor for your studio or searching for something to use for social dancing at weddings and events, we’ve got you covered. Check out our dance flooring options and discover which choice is best for you.
Hello. So, you need to buy a dance floor? One moment while I get out my crystal ball and proceed to blow your mind with everything I know about you.
Hello. So, you need to buy a dance floor? One moment while I get out my crystal ball and proceed to blow your mind with everything I know about you.
- You need to purchase a dance floor.
- You're a dancer - you know the lingo, you’ve danced on many a dance floor, but you have basically zero idea how to actually purchase the stuff.
- You are incredibly impressed by my fortune teller abilities.
Super impressive, am I right?
Okay, but seriously, I danced, taught and choreographed for years. I knew that everyone uses Marley floors (or what they refer to as Marley floors...more on that later). But years later, I stared at our selection of dance flooring and had no idea which option to choose.
You know when you’re looking for something and, at first, you’re like “Sweet! So many options!” Then, you start looking and you’re more like “OMG, so many options. How do I ever choose?!”
Well, that’s what I’m here to help you with. You can just consider me your dance flooring personal shopper. Here, you will find all the info you need to avoid the Paradox of Choice.
Okay, but seriously, I danced, taught and choreographed for years. I knew that everyone uses Marley floors (or what they refer to as Marley floors...more on that later). But years later, I stared at our selection of dance flooring and had no idea which option to choose.
You know when you’re looking for something and, at first, you’re like “Sweet! So many options!” Then, you start looking and you’re more like “OMG, so many options. How do I ever choose?!”
Well, that’s what I’m here to help you with. You can just consider me your dance flooring personal shopper. Here, you will find all the info you need to avoid the Paradox of Choice.
Dance Floor Tiles
Dance floor tiles are most popular for social dancing and at-home practice spaces. The great thing about using tiles is they come together in a snap and they are ultra portable so you can move them around as you need.
Do you do weddings and events? You will save a boatload of money by purchasing your own portable dance floor tiles upfront rather than continuing to rent them for every event.
I mean, let’s be honest; you’re going to be insanely successful and book, like, 300 gigs a year, so it really makes sense to make the purchase one time.
Dance tiles are also the go-to choice for studio dancers looking to get a little extra practice at home. Chances are you aren’t lucky enough to have your own dedicated dance studio in your home (or maybe you do, in which case, I’m jealous).
However, you can create a temporary dance floor using dance tiles that you can easily pack up and store in the closet once you’re finished. Win, win.
Do you do weddings and events? You will save a boatload of money by purchasing your own portable dance floor tiles upfront rather than continuing to rent them for every event.
I mean, let’s be honest; you’re going to be insanely successful and book, like, 300 gigs a year, so it really makes sense to make the purchase one time.
Dance tiles are also the go-to choice for studio dancers looking to get a little extra practice at home. Chances are you aren’t lucky enough to have your own dedicated dance studio in your home (or maybe you do, in which case, I’m jealous).
However, you can create a temporary dance floor using dance tiles that you can easily pack up and store in the closet once you’re finished. Win, win.
Pros of Dance Floor Tiles
Dance tiles. What are they good for? I’ll tell you.
- Portable: This is mandatory for events and most social dancing. You need a floor that can pick up and move with you. It’s also great for creating a temporary practice space.
- Easy to install/uninstall: Time is money. Ain’t nobody got time for a 10-hour installation every time you have an event or want to practice. These babies are a synch.
- Lightweight: Because, no matter how easy they are to install, if you have to hire 5 CrossFitters to carry your dance tiles every time you move them, that’s not good for anyone.
- Tough and durable: The whole point was to only make this purchase one time, right? Not to worry; many of our dance tiles boast impressive 3-year warranties and can last far beyond that.
Cons of Dance Floor Tiles
It’s true. There are some applications where you just don’t want to go the dance tile route. Here are a few things to consider:
- Price can be limiting for large spaces. Dance tiles are more expensive than options like Marley. This isn’t a big deal if you’re putting up a dance floor for a wedding, but if you try to fill a 1,000 square-foot studio...oof.
- They're not as versatile as Marley. While Marley rolls are great for virtually every style of dance, dance tiles are usually more suited for social dance or as a very small practice space for other styles.
- Installation can be tedious for large spaces. I mean, you have to click each tile together. This is wonderful and easy in a small-moderate space, but you can imagine how it would get old in a large open space.
Dance Floor Tile Options
Think dance floor tiles might be your jam? Let’s chat a little about your options.
Modular Grid-Loc Tiles
These ultra-durable 12”x12” tiles are American-made and boast an impressive 12-year warranty. Even better, they come in natural wood and stone looks!
These tiles are super popular for weddings and events. When I think of the perfect home setup for our Modular Grid-Loc Tiles, I imagine a basement or den area that you want to use as a family space, but also for dance practice and/or some at-home cardio/yoga/pilates. They’re also great for commercial spaces for yoga, pilates, social dance, aerobics, and more.
Modular Grid-Loc Tile Installation Options:
- Indoor & outdoor
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Dance Tiles
These babies are tough, durable and easy on the eyes. They are American-made and come with a nice 3-year warranty.
Like our Modular Grid-Loc Tiles, our Dance Tiles are most popular for weddings and events, as well as a basement or den area that you want to use as a family space and for dance practice and/or some at home cardio/yoga/pilates. They’re also great for commercial spaces for yoga, pilates, social dance, aerobics, and more.
Dance Tile Installation Options:
- Indoor & outdoor
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Dance Tiles - Deluxe
Our Dance Tiles - Deluxe tiles come with real wood inserts and a gorgeous high-gloss finish that protects them from scuffs and scratches, even with the toughest shoes and movements.
Dance Tiles - Deluxe are best for tap dance, weddings and events.
Dance Tile - Deluxe Installation Options:
- Indoor & outdoor
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Studio Tile
The Studio Tiles are a thin vinyl Marley that lays directly on the floor. This means you need a perfectly flat subfloor. Additionally, because there is no sprung subfloor or anything between your dance tile and regular ceramic tile, you don’t want to do a lot of jumping on them.
These guys have a very fast surface, which is great for tap, but make sure you use caution if you practice ballet or jazz turns on them.
Studio Tile Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Temporary
Vinyltrax Dance Tiles
You can choose between wood look, stone look and even carbon fiber. I think the carbon fiber one is super cool!
Vinyltrax Dance Tiles are best for weddings and events.
Vinyltrax Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Plank Flex Dance Tiles
These planks come with an amazing 15-year warranty so you know they are going to last you for the long haul.
Plank Flex Dance Tiles are best for tap, weddings and events, and aerobics.
Plank Flex Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Portable Dance Floor Kits
These are for the dancer who just can’t get enough and wants an extra space to practice at home. I would have begged my parents for one of these when I was dancing in a studio and wanted to practice every second of every day.
Portable dance floor kits are an easy, relatively inexpensive option perfect for practicing tap, turns, ballet barre, centre and adagio, and more.
Portable dance floor kits are an easy, relatively inexpensive option perfect for practicing tap, turns, ballet barre, centre and adagio, and more.
Pros of Portable Dance Floor Kits
Portable dance floor kits are a package deal, giving you everything you need in one easy purchase. Here’s what we love about them.
- Portability: In case that one wasn’t obvious...
- Super easy installation: It’s basically the opposite of Ikea furniture.
- Price: You can get an entire finished home practice space for less than $70. It makes a great holiday present for any studio kid.
- Maintenance: All our portable dance floor kits require is occasional sweeping and mopping with a gentle cleaning solution.
- Versatility: You can use these kits for just about any style.
- Durability: The 3’x3’ Practice Dance Floor even comes with a 12-year warranty!
Cons of Portable Dance Floor Kits
There’s not a whole lot of bad things to say about these rock stars, but of course, they’re not perfect for everything.
- Size limitations: These kits are great for a small, compact space, but they only come in so many sizes and the size of your dance floor kit will limit what you’re able to use it for.
Types of Portable Dance Floor Kits
Stoked about these dance floor kits? Let’s talk options.
Dance Floor Kits
Maybe you want to practice your tap dance at home? Or maybe you teach a small social dance class in a community space and you just need a temporary floor you can easily put down and take apart?
If that sounds like you, I’d recommend checking out the Dance Floor Kits. They come in multiple sizes to fit your needs and space.
Dance Floor Kits are best for tap, weddings, events and aerobics. However, you can use them as a practice space for other dance styles, as well.
Dance Floor Kit Installation Options:
- Temporary
3’x3’ Practice Dance Floor
Okay, so this is the studio dancer’s practice floor. This is the thing Teenage-Me always dreamed of as I actively sought after any open non-carpeted space to practice my pirouettes.
What makes this practice floor a little extra special is that it has a perfect, smooth, non-glossy texture that makes it perfect for tap practice, but equally perfect for barre, center and technique work at home.
Additionally, it was specifically designed for dancers with extra resiliency similar to what you would get on a sprung floor. This means you can also practice your petite allegro at home without worrying about the extra stress on your joints that typical home flooring can cause.
3’x3’ Practice Dance Floor kits are best for tap, ballet and jazz technique work and aerobics.
3’x3’ Practice Dance Floor Installation Options:
- Temporary
Marley Dance Flooring Rolls
I’m going to tell you a little secret. What we consider “Marley” these days isn’t truly Marley. I know, I know. I’ve been confused about this for years, apparently. What we refer to as Marley rolls are, instead, vinyl rolls that mimic the original Marley flooring.
It’s kind of how we still call off brands of tape "Scotch tape." The brand name became such a popular staple that it caught on as the generic term. Our vinyl "Marley" rolls are made out of the same material and give the same slip control, but they’re all technically just vinyl rolls.
It’s kind of how we still call off brands of tape "Scotch tape." The brand name became such a popular staple that it caught on as the generic term. Our vinyl "Marley" rolls are made out of the same material and give the same slip control, but they’re all technically just vinyl rolls.
Pros of Marley Dance Flooring Rolls
Marley-style dance flooring rolls are definitely the big guys in dance flooring. Let me tell you why.
- Best slip-resistance / grip: It is the safest option for turns and jumps. No wood floor will ever be able to compare.
- Super easy installation: Roll, tape, voila!
- Price: Compared to dance tiles, Marley is a steal!
- Maintenance: All Marley requires is regular sweeping and mopping with a gentle cleaning solution.
- Portable options for touring companies: Dance tiles aren’t the only portable option! There are plenty of Marley options that you can pick up and take on the road.
Cons of Marley Dance Flooring Rolls
Okay, so nothing is perfect. I am a big fan of Marley, but here are a couple things you might want to consider.
- Large / bulky: Marley comes in large rolls and they can be bulky and difficult to maneuver on your own. This, however, is no longer an issue once you install the flooring.
- Not as portable as tiles: While there are portable touring options, transporting Marley is still a process. If you’re using a community space and you need to move your floor daily, Marley is probably not the right choice for you.
Marley Dance Flooring Options
Here’s where people tend to get confused. There are a lot of options, but don’t stress!
Below, you’ll find a description of each roll, which styles it’s best suited for, how portable it is and how much it costs. That way you can decide exactly which Marley roll is best for you.
Below, you’ll find a description of each roll, which styles it’s best suited for, how portable it is and how much it costs. That way you can decide exactly which Marley roll is best for you.
Adagio Dance Flooring Rolls
This medium-fast floor offers just enough slip resistance to keep you safe during ballet without tearing up your feet during contemporary. They’re also specifically designed not to absorb sound. That means they won’t muffle your time steps and wings during tap class.
Adagio Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Adagio Tour Dance Flooring Rolls
The thin, lightweight, medium-fast speed Adagio Tour rolls are excellent for tap - offering slip control without muffling the sounds. They are also super versatile, making them ideal for ballet, jazz, contemporary and more, as well.
Adagio Tour Installation Options:
- Temporary
Dance Floor Rolls
The Dance Floor rolls are the best if you do any tours or travel. These rolls are super light and easy to install and reinstall over and over again.
Our Dance Floor rolls are excellent for traditional styles, such as ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop.
Dance Floor Installation Options:
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Arabesque Dance Flooring Rolls
Also, this is a fast floor. Triple pirouettes and fouettes will come easy on this turn-friendly Marley. These are the opposite of the Dance Floor rolls - they are thick, heavy and best for permanent and semi-permanent installations. This is not the floor you want to take on the road.
This bad boy is so durable it can handle tap, ballet, jazz and even things like Irish step and flamenco.
Arabesque Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Roscoleum Dance Flooring Rolls
If your studio gets a ton of traffic and specializes in styles such as tap, flamenco, Irish step or other hard-soled styles, Roscoleum could be your best bet.
If you’re a more traditional ballet studio, however, this could be overkill.
Roscoleum Installation Options:
- Permanent
Performance Floor Dance Flooring Rolls
The Performance Floor isn’t ideal for tours - it’s more of a permanent deal because you want to keep it looking beautiful and performance-ready.
These rolls are tough and gorgeous, making them perfect for all types of dance, both in class and performances. They have a lot of grip to them, making them a medium-slow flooring option.
Performance Floor Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Studio Floor Dance Flooring Rolls
This Marley roll looks fantastic on stage or in a ballet studio. It has a good amount of grip, offering medium speed.
Studio Floor Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Wood-Look Dance Flooring Rolls
If you’ve ever been to the fancy studios in NYC, chances are you’ve seen those Marley rolls that somehow look like hardwood. How do they do that?!
It’s easier than you think! Those floors are nothing more than a traditional vinyl dance flooring roll with a wood look.
And good news; we have them!
It’s easier than you think! Those floors are nothing more than a traditional vinyl dance flooring roll with a wood look.
And good news; we have them!
Impact Roll - Wood Series Dance Flooring Rolls
Our impact rolls are like attaching a vinyl Marley roll to a 5mm rubber underlayment. These can be especially helpful if you don’t have a dance subfloor.
Because they are thicker, we don’t recommend them for tap - they won’t produce the best sounds. These rolls are best for ballet, jazz and contemporary.
Impact Roll Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Eco-Impact Roll - Wood Series Dance Flooring Rolls
Eco-Impact Roll Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
Dance Subfloors
So, why do you need dance subfloors and what the heck do they even do?
Most dancers have heard the term “sprung flooring” and at least know that it’s a fantastic thing to have. Many know that home dance subfloors and sprung subfloors protect your joints from injuries and help absorb the impact from jumps and explosive movements.
What many people don’t know is just how necessary it is. The truth is you really do need dance subfloors if you plan on dancing on these floors for multiple hours per day.
If you have a non-competitive studio with most dancers coming in for an hour once a week or a home practice space, you can choose a foam or foam and plastic dance subfloor to help save your joints and your wallet. But, for professionals, we recommend the full sprung dance subfloors.
Dance subfloor Installation Options:
- Permanent
- Semi-permanent
- Temporary
Pros of Dance Subfloors
There are so many reasons to choose dance subfloors. Here are our top 4:
- Safety: Safety is the most important. Always. Preventing injuries will keep your dancers dancing, which means less time working understudies for shows and competitions.
- Comfort: A resilient subfloor also feels better. It makes it easier to rehearse and take class for 6 hours a day.
- Easy to install: You can do it yourself super easily.
- Attracts new students and company members: This is something that dancers look for when choosing a studio. It’s also something professionals look for when they have multiple company offers. Be the best. It pays off.
Cons of Dance Subfloors
Can we say none? Okay, okay, I suppose everything has some type of drawback.
- Extra cost: An extra cost that’s worth it, but still, an extra cost.
Ready to get started?
