Dance floors too sticky or too slippery are a common problem.
30/04/2024
Category: advice-tips
One challenge rock 'n' roll dancers often face is the condition of the dance floor. Can you easily spin on it, or is it sticky?
This concern became apparent to my partner and I recently when we visited a venue we hadn't been to in a while. Instead of smoothly jiving, we found ourselves nearly ice skating due to the excessively slippery floor. We were ill-prepared for such conditions.
Many dance opportunities arise in venues like pubs and social club halls that feature a dance floor or designated dance area alongside their regular business. However, many of these floors tend to be quite sticky, especially those in pubs where the floor serves dual purposes as a dining area. Management is understandably hesitant to polish these floors to prevent accidents among the wait staff carrying meals. Unfortunately, this lack of polish makes rock 'n' roll dancing quite challenging and less enjoyable. Moreover, it increases lateral stress on the knees.
To address this issue, we take matters into our own hands by adjusting our shoes. Some dancers opt to carry dance slippers in a bag and change shoes before hitting the floor, while others resort to using duct tape. Applying duct tape to the front ball area of your soles makes spinning much easier and enhances the dancing experience.
Stick-on felt on a shoe sole.
However, if you find yourself on an overly slippery dance floor, adding friction reducers to your shoes is definitely not advisable. Unfortunately, we learned this the hard way on one occasion, resulting in a performance that resembled figure skating rather than rock 'n' roll dancing.
Dancing under such conditions is undeniably risky, especially as you age. Older dancers are more susceptible to injury and slower to recover, both physically and in terms of pride.
Before heading to a new venue or revisiting one you haven't been to in a while, it's wise to ask a friend about the condition of the dance floor. For avid rock 'n' rollers, keeping a spare pair of shoes with different soles in the car ensures you're prepared for any scenario.
That particular evening, we made a brief appearance on the dance floor before calling it quits. Our night out was disappointingly cut short due to lack of preparation. However, it's better to leave early than risk embarrassment or injury.