Topic: Fast floors - how to deal with them

[John Gimber: Webmaster]

OK, there's been a fair bit of discussion recently about fast floors, and it seems (from the comments so far) than in general people aren't too keen on then when it comes to modern jive.

I have two questions on this then:

1. Are there any particular dance disciplines (within jive or otherwise) which are complemented by a fast floor?

2. If you are doing jive, are there any techniques that people adopt in order to cope with the floor?

I know from a theatrical point of view it's possible to coke the floor (I believe Andy talked about this a while back), but how do you dance on a fast floor?

John.

[philsmove]

 I think it might to useful to define ?fast ?

How would most people describe

 BAWA or  Winter Garden WSM

I have never heard any one complain about either

Are people being polite when they say ?fast? when they really mean ?dangerously slippery ?

I would say the coal exchange Cardiff is fast, but not slippery

I would say  Elmgrove is ?slow ?

[Frodo]

OK, there's been a fair bit of discussion recently about fast floors, and it seems (from the comments so far) than in general people aren't too keen on then when it comes to modern jive.

I have two questions on this then:

1. Are there any particular dance disciplines (within jive or otherwise) which are complemented by a fast floor?

2. If you are doing jive, are there any techniques that people adopt in order to cope with the floor?

I know from a theatrical point of view it's possible to coke the floor (I believe Andy talked about this a while back), but how do you dance on a fast floor?

John.

Am also interested if 'fast' = slippy.  I don't know of an obvious difference.


As dances go I think Modern Jive may be one of the better ones for slippy floors.

In general on a slippy floor you don't want to be moving fast, and in MJ you have the ability to limit movement, stay closer, take smaller steps, and it is more a walking rather than running dance.

[John Gimber: Webmaster]

OK, think of fast as... it's easier to do two spins rather than one, and it's easier to lose traction than stop or reverse direction!

John.

[Dave @ Trinity]

Floor Speed            Control             Safety

All three of the above make or break a dance floor,


A floor can be quick as long as both man a lady have full control, any one of them start sliding and it becomes unsafe. example Man does drop, foot slips, hurts lady.

Too sticky can be also a problem, Tango moves require a level of slip, try Tango on carpet and it won't be long before one of you tweaks a knee.

That be honest, Newman Hall, Good Parking, Good Bar, Lovely to Deal, Floor like Glass. Trinity ran a once a month class and some dances, it does not work because of the floor. Its a real shame! Too many people fell on Saturday Night, luckily nobody has taken things further.

What I think is an even bigger shame is that two classes now have run at Newman Hall without listening to either Dancers or This Forum. If it does not work for one class, its not going to suddenly change.

[John Gimber: Webmaster]

Well, true, different styles of dance may be better suited to a faster floor, and as you say - when you start losing traction then problems come in.

I wouldn't personally write off the Newman Hall though - floor friction can change with time.  Look at Elmgrove - dancing on that's the closest thing I've seen to lucky dip for speed - it varies from week to week!

There's a chance the floor may slow down with time at Newman, depending on what the owners do with it.

I suppose the problem (from a jive perspective) with that hall is that it isn't used purely for dance.  If it was, I'm sure the setup would be somewhat different.

John.

[Elaine]

Message deleted!

Elaine

[Dave @ Trinity]

Newman is a lovely Venue, the floor has always been a problem, even before Trinity used it, Im sure Nick Caen once told me Elmgrove tried it once before?

They look after the whole place very carefully, if you have ever been to a Am Dram performance their you will realise how seriously it is taken. The stage is huge, it even has an Orchestra Pit and full below stage facilities.

In simple terms the Vicar who got the hall built was well into G.O.S. performaces.

Im sure nobody needs the floor like glass, but unless they are asked to change how they do the floor, nothing will change. For that it would take a regular class, of which nobody wants to run especially when during the Am Dram productions the hall can be un-available for several weeks.

If it could work, we would use it as before on a BAWA free Tuesdays.

Checkmate I Say

[ClaireLSt]

well i wore my trainers, as i have done before in such circumstances, and i was fine! i think the best thing to do is to  bring a few pairs of shoes with you (a la mr rees)  and always wear danceable 'streetshoes' to a dance.

[Graham W]

..how to deal with fast floors?, er, change the venue... , it was ok on sat but I felt for the girl from reading who had high heels, she kept clutching on to my shoulder after trying to spin...,I wonder if Phils Move has any comments ;-)?

G

[Anita]

The floor needs re-surfacing-- some people were slipping even when walking across the floor. No dance requires the floor to be that slippery--it was dangerous. I fell heavily on my hip-- luckily no damage was done, but it could have been a different story.

[philsmove]

..I wonder if Phils Move has any comments ;-)?

G

I wore Dane sneakers with a rubber soles but after one dance they became slippery

If rubbed them on the carpet, between dances, they were fine but if I did not something (I suspect polish) seemed to build up on them

 I had a nasty fall, which may have been my own clumsiness but as was not the only person to fall I suspect the floor did not help 
 
I?m not a floor expert but I suspect the problem is with  what ever they clean the or polish the floor with

[ClaireLSt]

someone takes a pride in that floor! they can come and polish in my house anytime!! 

[Mr Cool]

Give me a fast floor every time slow sticky floors are the pits and for me not worth the effort.   

[Nick M]

..how to deal with fast floors?, er, change the venue

Or spray the floor with coca cola