All About Dance Floors

General information about dance floors. Includes dance floor properties, materials, and substrates most suitable for tap dancing floors.

Properties of the Best Tap Floors
The best floor for tap dancing (1) will produce a strong, rich sound, (2) must not be easily damaged by tap dancing, and (3) must have shock absorbing properties to prevent damage to a dancer's feet, ankles, knees, back, and legs.

Best Wood for a Tap Floor
Wooden floors made of the hardest varieties of wood, such as oak or maple, are most suitable as tap floors because they can withstand repeated strikes from tap shoes. Floors made of soft woods, such as fir or pine, are not suitable for tap dancing.
- WFCA Wood Flooring Hardness Chart
- Wikipedia "Janka Wood Hardness Test" Article

The Surface Under a Tap Floor
Tap dancing directly on concrete, or even on a wooden floor layed directly on concrete is hard on a dancer's body and can cause injuries. The best tap floor will have an air space between the tap floor and the underlying surface. A "spring floor" is a dancing floor separated from the underlying surface by a series of coils known as springs.

---

More About Dancing Floors

Products for Tap Dancers

Regional Tap Dancing Resources

All Tap Dancing Resources

---