A dance floor

Subject: A dance floor
From: GUEST,Advice please
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 07:50 AM

I need to put together a dance platform to go over grass for some step dancers to perform on.
Can I hire one? build one? and if so what does it need??

Any advice please??

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: nickp
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 09:41 AM

Assuming you are in the UK go to www.bluefields.org.uk then to the links page and on the right hand side there's a link to Graham Colyer who is 'the man' for that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: Michael from Manitoba
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 12:15 PM

A neighbor made a good dance floor for an outdoor wedding by laying 5/8in plywood sheets down on a frame of 2x6in studs, the flat side to the ground. Careful wedging eliminates the low spots. When the do was over he built a nice looking shed out of the materials. A cheap (fairly) and practical solution. Though, your professional would provide a polished floor.
Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 02:39 PM

thanks folks - good advice so far - now I just want it for free!

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 04:04 PM

Renting out tents for weddings and so-on has become quite popular. I'd suppose that those businesses may have a lead on stages & platforms. Try weighing the rental against the cost of lumber.
Just a thought.
Jim

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: GUEST,whistlin' gal
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 08:28 PM

I once played for a wedding reception held in the barn, on the farm where the wedding was held. Yes, they swept the barn out, first.   Everyone was in Civil War attire (including we in the band). They laid sheets of plywood all across the floor of the barn, on top of 2x4's which the plywood was nailed to.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 01:11 AM

Whatever solution you go for, get a dancer and/or a risk assessor to look it over before use.

You're better off using a professional stage as they will be insured. If you make your own and an accident occurs, you could be held liable for damages, which will certainly cost more than the hiring of a professional stage/floor would.

I've seen many a dance floor and a few dancers come to grief because a home made floor was badly supported, poorly laid and downright dangerously placed. Corners are the obvious place to look at for scuffs and bends but if the sides are not adequately nailed down every 8-10 inches, they can start to buckle or bow. Plywood can be quite flimsy and very flexible. The best thing to use would be industrial grade at more than 1/2 inch thick. You need to support the middle of the sheet as well as the edges. Ideally, there should be no more than 2 square feet unsupported across the body of the floor. On no account should you use hardboard other than as a topping over plywood. I've used a pretty good floor made with 8 industrial pallets over which had been carefully laid, rough side up, a hardboard 'veneer'. This served as a very good floor, as the rough side of the hardboard was less slippery than usual floors.

I've known floors to 'migrate' down hill during a dance because they had not been secured in place well enough, and I've seen them fly apart in the middle due to inadequate securing - cable ties are not enough!

Good luck!

LTS

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: s&r
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 04:05 AM

A lot depends on how many step dancers and the nature of their program. Talk to them first, they might have their own.If you are strapped for cash, ask the local Festival Organisers, Clog teams etc if they would loan one for a donation. If it's for a demo, for two or three performers, an 8 x 4 sheet of heavy ply/chipboard might suffice. The dancers have to be happy with the area and the surface.

Stu

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 04:25 AM

I danced on a 'dance' floor in Belgium which was no more than pallets pushed together. I wasn't too happy about this and suggested we dance on the grass. After I put my foot through the floor the team agreed I was right. After that the festival put us on proper stages.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 05:45 AM

I have seen a practice floor consisting of smooth wooden slats glued side-by-side to a piece of canvas. It was only big enough for one dancer, and a larger version would be very heavy, but it had the great advantage that it could be rolled up for transportation.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: nickp
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 06:49 AM

Topsie -that also was almost certainly made by Graham Colyer (see above). They work very well but are really for soloists.

Subject: RE: A dance floor
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 07:46 AM

I'd forgotten the hole through the middle incident! That's why you need sturdy plywood or chipboard and centre supports!

If you do make your own, use countersunk screws as they are less likely to be levered out when people jump on the boards, or put your nails in at an angle and make sure you clout them down flush.

LTS