Home » Misc » How to make a dance turning board

How to make a dance turning board


How Turning Boards and Practice Mats Can Revolutionize Your Dance Training

When it comes to equipment, dancers don’t need much—just shoes and whatever can fit in their dance bag. But between rehearsals in the studio and performances on stage, one major piece of equipment often goes overlooked—the floor.

Dancers too often find themselves warming up on the concrete or carpet backstage, or wanting to practice in a location without a proper floor. For years, Harlequin Floors has offered a solution to this problem with its innovative turning board, offering a portable and personal floor that can be flipped between marley and wood. Now, they’ve revolutionized portability again with their practice mat, offering dancers the option to roll up their own personal floor and sling it over their shoulders like a yoga mat.

We spoke with experts from every corner of the dance industry to see how Harlequin‘s products have become their everyday essentials:

Courtesy Burns

Safety is key.

“I see a lot of photography where dancers are asked to shoot on surfaces that are unsafe,” says dance photographer Chris Stark, who is a dance dad of two. Having access to Harlequin‘s flooring off-site with the turning board and practice mat satisfies his number-one priority. “I can take them on-location to help preserve dancers’ safety,” Stark says.

Physical therapist Holly Burns uses the practice mat at her clinic with dancers for similar reasons. “I’ve seen a lot of videos on social media of dancers practicing at home on their kitchen floor, and you can see them slipping,” she says. Similarly, Ashley Allen of Dance Physio & Training takes her Harlequin practice mat to work with dancers in high schools, theaters, studios, and in her own home, and appreciates having a consistent surface that’s a slip-resistant option for dancers.

Studio Bleu student Jaxon Keller

Chris Stark

The injuries that can occur from practicing on an improper floor include sprained ankles and strained hamstrings, knees, and Achilles tendons, says Allen. Not to mention the likelihood of slips and falls on unsafe floors, which can result in injuries as dangerous as concussions and bone fractures, says Burns.

Courtesy Burns

It pays to practice on the real thing.

When shooting dance competitions, Stark often sees dancers preparing on concrete and linoleum backstage before performing. “It’s just not a good emulation of the surface they’ll be performing on,” he says, noting that the studio he works with—Studio Bleu in Ashburn, Virginia—solved this problem by using Harlequin’s turning board backstage.

Andile Ndlovu, a dancer with The Washington Ballet, finds a similar need before his performances. With convenient and portable Harlequin flooring, “your warm-up is in your hands,” he says. “If there are too many people in one place warming up, or if you want to be in another part of the theater, you can go there.”

Indeed, to optimize your performance, wouldn’t it make sense to always practice on the same surface you’ll encounter on the stage? Harlequin‘s vinyl dance floors—which were developed specifically for dancers—are used by top companies around the world, from the Paris Opéra Ballet to the Bolshoi Ballet to American Ballet Theatre. Having a personal, lightweight version of the floor means you have constant access to professional flooring—and most likely what you’ll encounter at any high-tier performance setting.

Studio Bleu student Hazel Hay

Chris Stark

Allen has noticed that dancers are more confident on her practice mat because they’re working on a high-quality and familiar surface. “If they have an injury, I know exactly how they’re feeling that day because they’re not holding back,” she says.

Since Burns got her practice mat, she has had many dancers ask about getting one themselves to practice turning on their own. It’s large enough to prep for pirouettes in a wide fourth position, giving the dancer the proper simulation they need for turns. “It’s also perfect for making sure you’re not traveling too much in your fouettés,” she says.

Courtesy Burns

They’re made for use.


Harlequin
‘s turning board and practice mat are meant to be used anywhere and any day. Kaycee Jones, co-founder of Apolla Performance Wear, uses Harlequin’s turning board at conventions to give dancers a proper surface to try their signature Shocks. “We got the turning board over four years ago, and it’s been shipped all over the country,” Jones says. Even after extensive traveling and hosting countless dancers, “the durability of the marley and wood is still fantastic.”

30" Dance Halo - Portable Dance Floor - Turning Board

$200.00

$180.00

(No reviews yet) Write a Review

30" Dance Halo - Portable Dance Floor - Turning Board

Rating Required Select Rating1 star (worst)2 stars3 stars (average)4 stars5 stars (best)

Name

Email Required

Review Subject Required

Comments Required

  • Size

    ×

    Size Chart

    Medium Bags

    Our medium bag is designed to fit a total of 8 garments. You can hang your Rac N Roll Garment Bags directly inside the bag using our signature hanger loops.

    • Width 25"
    • Height 16.6"
    • Depth 13.5"
    • Rack Height 48"

    Size Chart

    Large Bags

    Our large bag is designed to fit a total of 15 garments. You can hang your Rac N Roll Garment Bags directly inside the bag using our signature hanger loops.

    • Width 30"
    • Height 16.5"
    • Depth 13.5"
    • Rack Height 52"
    • Medium
    • Large

Description

The Dance Halo is a light weight, portable dance floor (Marley Flooring), with a rubber gym mat base. It is perfect for the dancer who is on the go or in tight spaces but needs to work on their technique. Built with Marley flooring material that is used in dance schools across the world. From tap dancing to ballet, The Dance Halo gives the dancer a sturdy floor base with the perfect amount of cushion and friction for dancers to perfect their moves.

Kitchen tiles or hardwood flooring is no surface to be practicing your turns on! Dance Halo is more than just a space to practice dance. It’s YOUR space to replicate the feeling of the stage we know and love.  Reduce the risk of injury and work on your moves with Dance Halo. 

Features:

  • Marley flooring (studio flooring)
  • Tapered Edging
  • Rubber Gym Mat Base
  • Slip-resistant
  • Lightweight, Portable, and Easy to Store
  • Seamless surface with no cracks or bumps.
  • 30” in diameter
  • Size

    ×

    Size Chart

    Medium Bags

    Our medium bag is designed to fit a total of 8 garments. You can hang your Rac N Roll Garment Bags directly inside the bag using our signature hanger loops.

    • Width 25"
    • Height 16.6"
    • Depth 13.5"
    • Rack Height 48"

    Size Chart

    Large Bags

    Our large bag is designed to fit a total of 15 garments. You can hang your Rac N Roll Garment Bags directly inside the bag using our signature hanger loops.

    • Width 30"
    • Height 16.5"
    • Depth 13.5"
    • Rack Height 52"
    • Medium
    • Large

Repair of the floor in the dance hall: photo, do-it-yourself

It is important for a dancer not only to learn how to dance, but also to have a stable and reliable surface under their feet. And the floor in this case plays a paramount role, since it is one of the main elements of any dance hall. It is important that floors are non-slip, comfortable to avoid injury and damage. Therefore, if you are going to make repairs to the floor in the dance hall with your own hands, we recommend that you pay special attention to the choice of material.

Thinking about how to equip a dance studio, you first need to think about high-quality flooring. Its "walking" boards, bumps and similar flaws, which are imperceptible at first glance, can play a cruel joke on the dancers.

Serious demands are always placed on the floor for the stage, since the quality of the dancers' performance directly depends on their quality. Of course, the reliability and quality of the floor plays an important role here.

The floor in the dance hall must be:

  • resilient;
  • perfectly flat;
  • resistant to abrasion and high impact and static loads;
  • non-slip.

Moreover, the dance floor must be highly durable, because the replacement of the floor covering is a technically complex and time-consuming process, and this can disrupt the schedule of concerts and rehearsals for a certain time.

For high-quality dance hall equipment, all the nuances must be taken into account, since it must be comfortable and practical. It is worth considering all the little things: from the renovation of the premises itself to such additions as a locker room and showers.

The dance floor is regularly subjected to high loads, so it is important that it is of the highest quality, but at the same time not too hard. You should not save on it, since its constant replacement will cost much more.

So, what materials are most often used for arranging the floor in the dance hall:

  • parquet board;

  • wood;

  • laminate;

  • linoleum;

  • bulk coating.

As a rule, a wooden floor is chosen for a dance hall, due to its low cost. It is timeless and great for all types of dance. Nevertheless, a tree is not the most budget option in terms of cost, so a parquet board can be an alternative to it.

When choosing linoleum, you should immediately take into account that it is not suitable for all types of dance. For example, traces of heels will immediately ruin it. It is more suitable for yoga and fitness exercise.

Laminate is also not suitable for all types of dance. Moreover, the floor for the dance hall should not be made of chipboard or concrete, although their cost is quite attractive. Chipboard is slippery and concrete is too cold. Many experts recommend giving preference to unvarnished parquet. Such material does not slip, and the dancers will be able to feel more than comfortable.

In recent years, floor materials such as self-leveling floors and dancing linoleum have gained particular popularity on the market. Bulk coating in many respects outstrips even traditional materials. They have the following properties:

  • durability;
  • smoothness;
  • do not slip;
  • hygiene;
  • vibration resistance;
  • resistance to various influences;
  • high security.

There are several types of self-leveling coating, but the most popular of them are epoxy and polyurethane floors for the dance hall. The latter is highly wear resistant and is made on the basis of polymeric substances. It differs in design and color. By adding certain additives, certain properties of this coating can be significantly improved. Epoxy self-leveling floors are also not much inferior in terms of characteristics. Their advantage lies in resistance to vibration, so they are often placed on sports fields.

But when installing a self-leveling floor for a choreographic hall, it is better to turn to specialists. They will do their job efficiently, quickly and provide a guarantee for long-term operation.

Do-it-yourself floor repair in the dance hall with materials from the best manufacturers

To provide the possibilities, methods and purposes of floor coverings for dances and stages, it is enough to get acquainted with professional floorings from the world's leading manufacturers for dance, ballet and stage.

We will consider the products of the world leader from the manufacturer "Harlequin" / "Harlequin" (Luxembourg). Next, the main collections will be considered, as well as their descriptions.

Collection "DUO"

The most common floor covering made of PVC, consisting of two layers, forming on each side a non-slip surface of high wear resistance. It is used for stationary laying and touring with adhesive tape on wooden tablets.

  • Roll length: 30, 25, 20, 15, 10 m.
  • Roll width: 2 m and 15 m.
  • Thickness: 1. 2 mm.
  • Weight: 1.6 kg/m 2 .

Studio Collection

One of the most popular floor coverings available. Multi-layered PVC construction, including a canvas that is reinforced with fiberglass, as well as a shock-absorbing foam backing to reduce the likelihood of injury to the legs. With temperature fluctuations, the coating retains its dimensions. It can be laid on any leveled surface.

  • Roll width is 1.5 m.
  • Length - 30, 25, 20, 15, 10.
  • Thickness - 3 mm.
  • Weight - 2.3 kg/m 2 .
  • Color: white, grey, black.

Cascade Collection

The ideal flooring used for classical ballet. Advantages: optimal for spinning, no slipping, perfect foot grip on the floor. It is used both for stationary styling and for tours.

  • Roll length: 25, 20, 15 and 10 m.
  • Width - 2 m.
  • Thickness - 2 mm.
  • Color: white, grey, black.

Allegro Collection

Specially designed for the dance hall with a rigid base. Among all the floor coverings known in the world, it has the maximum thickness. Material: PVC, which is reinforced with fiberglass, a substrate (reinforcing) made of foam rubber with a closed structure. An alternative to springy floor options.

  • Roll length - 20, 15, 10 m.
  • Thickness - 8.5 mm.
  • Width - 20, 15, 10 m.
  • Weight - 6 kg/m 2 .
  • Colour: grey, black.

Tempo collection

Used in multifunctional dance halls, discos and barefoot dances. The covering has additional protection against rough floors. For stationary and mobile installation. Has high wear resistance.

  • Length - 25, 20 m.
  • Thickness - 3.7 mm.
  • Length - 25, 20 m.
  • Weight - 3.13 kg/m 2 .
  • Colour: grey, black.

"Standfust" collection

For multifunctional halls and stages with harsh conditions. Recommended as a stage cover for modern and classical dance, for concert halls and drama theatres. It is intended for stationary laying on glue with special welding of seams.

  • Roll width - 1.5 m.
  • Length - 20.15 m.
  • Thickness - 2.6 mm.
  • Weight - 3.5 kg/m 2 .
  • Colour: light grey, grey, dark grey, black.

Showfloor Collection

Monochromatic multi-layer PVC flooring, reinforced with fiberglass, based on honeycomb foam. Used for dance halls, TV studios, exhibition stands, stages and podiums. Fits on any leveled surface with fixation by adhesive tape.

  • Roll length - 25, 20 m.
  • Thickness - 1.8 mm.
  • Width - 2 m.
  • Weight - 1.5 kg/m 2 .
  • Color: white, light grey, grey, dark grey, black.

"Hi-Shine" collection

Cover for quick installation on the stage. Used for any show using wet surface or mirrored floors. Glossy surface composed of a hard polymer with good scratch resistance.

  • Roll length - 30, 20 m.
  • Thickness - 1.5 mm.
  • Width - 1.5 m.
  • Weight - 1.96 kg/m 2 .
  • Color: white, black, red, blue.

Fiesta Collection

For drama theaters and halls. An alternative to conventional parquet. For fixed laying with butt welding. The coating is characterized by high wear resistance. It is used for the dance floor, which is subjected to a high load (step, tap dance, etc.).

  • Roll length - 25, 20 m.
  • Thickness - 2 mm.
  • Roll width - 2 m.
  • Weight - 3 kg/m 2 .
  • Colour: oak imitation.

The ultimate roundup of the best dance longboards in 2022

My love for longboard dancing started with a viral video a few years ago. I was completely captivated by Hans, Doyoung and Moon's demonstration. easy glide around in belgium.

While everyone knew a longboard could do tricks and tricks, no one expected it to be able to dance at full speed!

Going back to the video, the second thought that came to my mind was, "Hey, this looks cool and this is what I want to do."

So I went looking for a dance longboard and ordered something I thought would be good for dancing.

In short, our first few attempts ended in complete failure. Of course, I still felt a little insecure, but I quickly realized that longboarding is not a sport that can be practiced blindly.

You see, to the untrained eye, longboarding may seem like just walking up and down the length of the board.

However, experienced athletes understand the subtleties of weight transfer to the deck and its consequences. More importantly, you need the perfect longboard to help you get there.

While longboarding is one of the best longboarding tricks you can do, it does require some effort. It takes impressive skill and a light touch to master this mesmerizing form of longboarding, but don't underestimate the importance of board selection for a successful dance on a moving longboard.

Dance longboards are slightly different from traditional boards as they provide more comfort, maneuverability and agility.

Of course, any longboard can be used for dancing, but special boards for dancers have the added benefit of EFP (Efficient Foot Platform.), which helps beginners perform more freestyle tricks.

Now, if you want a longboard that you can shift your weight on to allow you to dance while keeping the board under carving motion, keep reading.

Below are the top five longboards for dancing.

Content

Quick comparison table!

Loaded with Bhangra V2

4.8/5 9002 check price

more

Loaded taraba bamboo

4. 6/5

check price

more

0.05 check price

more

Volador 46" Maple Dance Longboard

 903 9034 check price

more

Playshion Direct

4/5

check price

more

Best money dancing longboards

#1 loaded Bhangra V2 - EDITOR'S CHOICE