Performance Surface - Requirements

Requirements

The sprung floor article deals with the standard requirements for dance or sports floors. However there are many differences between what would be the best floor for the various disciplines. Most of the customization depends on a choice of suitable performance surface.

The standards listed in the sprung floor article have sections which apply to the performance surface. The standards are applicable to both dance and sport.

These differences are mainly in:

• The optimum traction e.g. more for sport, less for ballroom dancing
• The colour of the surface e.g. for theatre or basketball.
• The sound e.g. for Irish stepdance, tap dance or ballet
• The softness e.g. for ballet or basketball
• The durability e.g. for a community hall or for a dance salon

A sprung floor with a hard surface provides protection from serious injuries rather than minor injuries. A fall can still cause bruises. A soft performance surface on the other hand can provide protection from minor injuries but not serious injuries. Providing sufficient protection from serious injury for adults using a thick performance surface alone would render it unsuitable for most dance or sport. This is because a performance surface is point elastic whereas area elasticity as provided by a sprung floor is mainly preferred.