Please enjoy your time here at Dance Equipment International’s blog. This article serves as our comprehensive reference for Marley discos. Marley refers to any type of performance vinyl dance flooring used for rehearsal and performance purposes by dancers. It has numerous applications, including but not limited to: dance and theater venues, schools with active sports programs, athletic facilities, yoga and physical therapy studios, worship centers, performance stages, private homes, etc. This manual will assist you in making well-informed decisions regarding your facilities, and it covers a wide range of relevant topics.
Just one more thing before we begin… The term “Marley dance floor” is often used to refer to any type of vinyl dance surface. In this article and in the dance community generally, the terms Marley and vinyl dance flooring are used interchangeably but have the same meaning.
Click the button below to view a summary comparison chart of Marley dance floors.
What is Marley Flooring?
Marley floors are widely considered the best surface for dance and are frequently installed in studios, theaters, and classrooms all over the world. They’re made of vinyl that won’t slip and can be rolled out for quick, painless setup.
Marley is favored by dancers because it provides a stable base on which to perform a wide variety of moves, from big jumps and fancy footwork to turns and gliding turns.
If you want to get technical, the first vinyl dance flooring rolls were sold under the brand name Marley. Due to its widespread adoption, the name “Marley” is now commonly used to refer to any type of vinyl floor roll.
Do you wish to locate the ideal Marley flooring for your home? You should probably begin by looking at the products that sell best.
Customer Favorite Marley Flooring
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProStep | VersaStep | An Adagio for Strings | Roscoe ‘Dance Rolls’ | Rolls of Rosco Adagio | |
| Variety of Dance Forms | Styles of dance: Ballet, Pointe, Modern, and Jazz | Jazz dance, waltz, Irish dance, Drill Team, The genres of Flamenco, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop |
Synonyms: Lyrical Tap, Drill Team Steps, Contemporary Tap The arts of dance (including but not limited to Ballroom, Irish, Jazz, Spanish Flamenco, Classical Ballet |
Artistic Expressions in Ballet, Modern Dance, and Lyrical Dance Drill Team, Hip Hop, and Jazz |
Salsa, Bachata, Rumba, Irish dance, Flamenco, Jazz, Drill Team, Hip Hop and lyrical dance |
| Floor Velocity | Medium-Fast | Medium-Fast | Medium-Fast | Medium-Fast | Medium-Fast |
| Installation | Short-Term or Long-Term | Short-term, long-term, or permanent | Temporary | Either Temporary or Permanent | Short-term, long-term, or permanent |
| Size | 63” wide | 63” wide | 63” wide | 63” wide | 63” wide |
| Thickness | 1.2 mm | 1.5 mm | 1 mm | 1.2 mm | 1.5 mm |
| Price | $ | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$$ |
| Warranty | Assurance for Three Years | With a 5 Year Guarantee | Guaranteed for 5 Years | Three-Year Guarantee | Coverage for Five Years |
Why Choose Marley Floors?
Rolls of dance flooring in the Marley pattern are the best option. Reasons why
- Marley floors offer the best slip resistance and grip, making them the best choice for gymnasiums. There is no wooden floor that can compete with this.
- Setting up is a breeze: Simply unroll it, tape it down, and you’re good to go!
- When compared to other flooring options, the cost of Marley flooring is surprisingly low. And because they are so easy to set up yourself, you can avoid spending money on labor.
- Care: Our Dance Floor Cleaner is all you need to keep Marley looking like new.
- Dance tiles aren’t the only portable option for touring companies. Picking up and taking a portable Marley dance floor with you is easy, as there are many options available.
Where to Use Marley Dance Flooring
There is a dance roll created specifically for your dancing needs. Find out what we think are the best options for both stationary and portable dance floors.
Marley Floors for Dance Studios
You can expect to see everything from pointe to hip hop to contemporary dance being practiced in a dance studio. Lots of people walking around means lots of pressure from their shoes.
Your dance floor needs to be durable and adaptable if it’s going to make it in a space like this, and it also needs a nice, cushiony warranty.
Marley Floors for Home
Looking for a place to do pirouettes outside of class? For serious skill development, this is a must.
Our portable/touring Marley floors are the best choice for your home. You wouldn’t put a heavy stage floor in the basement, for example. Just not feasible, unfortunately.
Dancers who want to practice their moves at home would benefit greatly from a portable, flexible option that can accommodate a variety of dance styles.
Marley Floors for Tours
It is essential for traveling dance and theater companies to have a high-quality Marley floor that can be easily packed up and moved around. It is expected that these floors will be set up and taken down dozens of times. Do not bother with those cumbersome, heavy Marley rolls; they will only slow you down and add unnecessary strain to your work.
Don’t fret; you can locate a sleek and lovely Marley floor that is both lightweight enough for transport and flexible enough to accommodate a variety of design schemes. Even after repeated use on tours and in buses, these rolls retain their exceptional durability.
Marley Flooring for Your Dance Style
There are a wide variety of dance genres, and each one has specific needs in terms of the floor surface. Ballet dance flooring must have the ideal combination of grip and slip, while tap dance flooring is primarily concerned with sound quality.
That’s why it’s crucial to settle on a flooring option that complements your taste. The good news is that you can choose from many different styles of Marley flooring. Each of our dance floors is carefully designed to accommodate a wide variety of dance styles.
The Best Marley Floors for Ballet
Without a doubt, the best surface for ballet is Marley. To avoid injury, ballet dancers, and pointe dancers in particular, need to strike a careful balance between slide and grip.
Rosco Dance Rolls are highly recommended.
Rosco Dance Rolls are great for modern dance and ballet studios, touring companies, and more due to their adaptability and portability. They’re exceptionally durable and offer the ideal amount of slip resistance.
The negatives include their unsuitability for tap, ballroom, and fixed installations.
The Best Marley Floors for Tap and Irish Step
When we tell people that we recommend Marley floors for tap dancing, they are often taken aback. Unfortunately, not all vinyl Marley floors can withstand the repeated pounding of tap shoes, and others don’t give off a very good sound.
But there are many Marley floors that are made to withstand your shoes and have great acoustic qualities as well.
Adagio Rolls are what you should get.
The tap sounds produced by Adagio Rolls are excellent. They were built to withstand any dance routine, venue, or setup.
Disadvantages: They’re bulkier and heavier than other touring choices.
The Best Marley Floors for Jazz
It takes a sturdy floor with just enough grip to prevent you from sliding out of those kicks and turns to perform jazz dance, which is known for its speed, precision, and high-energy movements. Marley is the ideal surface for the rapid, powerful movements typical of jazz.
We advise using VersaStep:
The advantages of Adagio Rolls are that they work well with any type of dance and can even withstand the intense motions of jazz.
The negatives include the fact that they are bulky and cumbersome to move around.
The Best Marley Floors for Contemporary and Lyrical
Because of the extensive use of one’s core muscles, the use of contractions, and the use of choreography that forces one to move out of one’s natural alignment, the right floor is essential.
The best surface for contemporary dance is Marley, but if the dancers will be barefoot, they should avoid a surface with too much grip.
We advise you to get the ProStep Dance Floor because:
Benefits: The anti-slip properties of ProStep Dance Floor rolls are ideal for use in today’s state-of-the-art dance studios.
ConsThey aren’t up to par for use in a ballroom, a tap, or a permanent installation.
The Best Marley Floors for Hip Hop
When it comes to upkeep, hip hop is easy breezy. You’re essentially free to do it anywhere and on any surface.
Marley is unnecessary for hip hop, but a fantastic option for any other dance styles. If you want to do hip hop, you can use almost any Marley floor, but you should avoid the most delicate and the highest grip options.
A great option is VersaStep, which we highly recommend.
VersaStep has the advantages of being our heaviest and most sturdy Marley flooring option. This was made to withstand the wear and tear of shoes with thick soles.
Negative: You can’t take them on a tour.
The Best Marley Floors for Ballroom
It is true that traditional wooden floors are ideal for ballroom dancing, but there are some Marley options that are sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of those sharp heels while still allowing for enough slide for turns and quick footwork.
Our top pick is VersaStep.
The benefits of using VersaStep include its durability and resistance to wear from hard-soled shoes.
The rolls are cumbersome and difficult to transport.
The Best Marley Floors for Flamenco
Footwork of this intensity and force necessitates a sturdy, long-lasting surface. Not all Marley floors are suitable for flamenco, just as not all Tap or Ballroom floors are.
The same holds true for dance shoes, only a select few have sufficient grip to ensure the safety of dancers.
VersaStep comes highly recommended from us.
The Versastep rolls we sell are built to last. They are tough enough to withstand the wear and tear of shoes with tough soles.
Cons: They’re too cumbersome to tour with.
The Best Marley Floors for Drill Teams
Precision is essential on the drill team. You can trust that Marley will give you the balance of stability and slide you need to nail those turns with confidence.
Adagio Rolls are a great choice, and we highly recommend them.
The tap sounds made by Adagio Rolls are superior. They were built to withstand any dance routine, venue, or setup.
They’re bulkier and heavier than other touring options.
Marley Dance Floor Installation
The first thing you should do when putting in a dance floor is decide how long-lasting you want it to be. Plan out your floor layout carefully. Is it a home studio you plan on setting up, or are you taking it on the road with you?
Pick from options such as portable, semi-permanent, or fixed dance floors.
- This solution is perfect for pop-up dance studios, one-time performances, and traveling dance troupes.
- A semi-permanent installation is one that can withstand regular use but can be taken down quickly and easily if the need arises.
- Flooring for commercial dance studios and educational facilities should be installed permanently.
Marley Dance Subfloor
When laying down Marley Flooring, the subfloor is often overlooked. Most people believe that by laying these rolls over a soft foam underlay, everything will be fine; however, this is not the case.
A sprung subfloor is recommended to ensure the safest floor and reduce the risk of injury. Nobody wants their dancers hurt, whether they’re part of a studio, school, or professional troupe. Having a sprung subfloor installed first is the best way to reduce the likelihood of accidents happening.
Dancers can continue to jump, leap, and roll with reduced risk of injury thanks to the sprung flooring’s ability to absorb and distribute the impact of their feet.
Thankfully, we provide an easy solution by stocking subfloor tiles. Simple and secure subflooring can be made by interlocking them.
How to Install Marley Dance Floors
Marley dance floors can be easily installed by the customer by simply laying the rolls out flat and taping over the seams with vinyl floor tape. It goes without saying that you should always read the product manual before putting it into use. Detailed instructions for a quick or permanent setup are provided below.
- In order to get the flooring to lay flat, you should unroll it and let it sit for a couple of days. Put the matte side up and the shiny side down.
- Use a straight edge and a utility knife to cut the rolls to size. Don’t forget to leave a 1/4″ space around the rolls for expansion and contraction.
- Wrap the underside of each roll in double-sided carpet tape, and then press the edges firmly to the floor to remove any wrinkles.
- If you’re laying tiles over a foam subfloor and there’s a lot of waste around the edges, you can create a ramp or tapered installation by taping the excess down with Mat Tape. Using Mat Tape, secure the roll’s outer edge directly to the subfloor tiles if installing over foam tiles and there isn’t enough room to cut it.
- Mat tape is used to join the ends of several rolls of flooring together on top.
The tape may need to be replaced after some time due to wear and tear from footwork. Every few months, you should replace the top tape. A few years is a reasonable lifespan for the double-sided tape beneath.
To make the roll’s installation more permanent, you can use pressure-sensitive adhesive to stick it to the floor.
How to Clean Marley Dance Floors
The Marley floors we install are made to withstand years of rigorous dancing. Actually, we have options that look like wood that come with a 10-year warranty, and the majority of them have warranties of at least 5 years.
Keep the floor spotless to speed up the process. Simple as can be! Stick to these guidelines:
- Get rid of the dust and dirt that has settled. Don’t just leave it there where it can grind your floor up.
- Immediately wipe up any accidents. Our Dance Floor Cleaner is ideal for a thorough cleaning with a damp mop.
As simple as taking care of any other floor in your house, in most respects. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule, and you’ll be fine.
Marley Dance Floor Reviews
ProStep Dance Floor – Custom Cut
My 15-year-old daughter, like many other dancers, has been practicing her craft at home with the help of zoom. When dancing en pointe, especially, our hardwood floors were a hazard.
The installation of our Marley flooring was a game-changer. It’s the ideal dimensions for dancing, it rolls up neatly for storage, and it provides a great surface for dancing. Our satisfaction with this product is very high, and we enthusiastically endorse it.
Jeannie in Port Townsend, Washington
VersaStep Dance Rolls – Custom Cut
While our daughters were quarantined, we put a roll of this flooring over our rubber mat gym floor so they could continue taking dance classes. They’ve been using it for tap, ballet, and jazz and claim it’s just like the studio floor they’re used to.
— Anna, a native of Omaha
Rosco Dance Floor Rolls – Custom Cut
This floor will serve as our daughter’s personal ballet studio at home. With new padding on top of the old carpet and padding, we sprung the subfloor with plywood. Rosco flooring was easy to install, and the company’s support staff was friendly and informative throughout the process.
The finished product is gorgeous and long lasting, and my daughter says the floor is the ideal “speed” for her pointe work. In addition, we were able to save a ton of money by installing the products ourselves after purchasing them from your company.
A Walnut Creek, California resident named Kelly F.
History of Marley Dance Floors
As was mentioned earlier, “Marley” is a catchall term for any kind of vinyl dance floor that can be rolled out. The name was coined by a company in England called The Marley Company. The Marley Company is widely credited with being the first to commercially produce a variety of vinyl dance floor surfaces.
Traditionally, dance floors on stages were made of hard linoleum or planked hardwood. Thin, reversible vinyl dance floors in black and gray were among the earliest to be manufactured. It was a vinyl portable floor that touring dance companies could use for performances anywhere.
The vinyl dance floor was easily movable between venues and worked well on virtually any smooth surface. This meant that dancers could always perform on the same floor surface they were accustomed to.
This Marley flooring was frequently seen in theaters, dance studios, and other performance venues. Flooring installation was a complete success. It took an extremely long time for the package to be delivered from England to the United States.
The mid- to late-1970s saw the emergence of vinyl dance floors manufactured in the United States. The original English Marley Company was sold multiple times and eventually went out of business over the subsequent years. Though it was originally used to describe a specific type of roll-out vinyl dance flooring, the name “Marley” has since become generic.
How A Marley Floor Should Be Used
Do you prefer dancing on a Marley vinyl dance floor or a sprung wood floor? They are both correct. Experience has taught us that the right answer depends on a number of factors, including the dancer’s personal tastes and level of expertise, the type of performance that will take place, and the venue’s aesthetics.
Keep in mind that the Marley vinyl dance floor is intended solely for use in public performances. Use it over a wood-sprung floor for the best results. A well-constructed wood-sprung floor is crucial for safety reasons.
If you want to dance on your Marley vinyl dance floor, don’t put it over carpet, rubber, or cement. If you put vinyl dance flooring directly on a cement floor, it will still feel like you’re performing on cement and injuries will be more common, so keep in mind that Marley is a dance surface only. Carpet should never be used for this purpose because it creates an environment that is both too soft and too pliable for effective performance.
Choosing The Right Marley Dance Floor
Marley dance flooring is long-lasting, easy to control, and safe for dancers. It has a wide range of potential applications, from dance studios and gyms to churches and physical therapy clinics to private homes and public spaces. Numerous elements must be considered when settling on the best Marley dance floor. Among these are the following:
- In what dance genre will the show culminate,
- Venue requirements, and
- How is the area being put to use?
What Style of Dance Will Be Performed
Vinyl dance floors are available in a wide variety of surface textures, including smooth, stipple, and matte. The amount of friction a floor has is indicated by the surface description (Smooth, stipple, etc.). And that’s how quickly or slowly it goes.
Vinyl floors, which are softer, slower, and more slip resistant, may be preferred by ballet dancers, for example. This not only reduces the risk of falling but also muffles any outside noise. Faster floors may be preferable for tap, jazz, barefoot, or other similar types of performances. That’s because their sound is clearer and they can move across the ground more quickly.
Vinyl flooring’s effectiveness also shifts with the footwear type of the users. Different types of soles are used, such as hard, suede, tap, or no soles at all. The weight and type of vinyl surface determine the resulting feel and sound quality.Knowing the intended purpose of the vinyl dance floor is crucial.
To help you determine which type of Marley or vinyl dance flooring surface is best suited for your needs, we’ve provided a comparison sheet for your perusal below. Details are provided as to which floors must be installed permanently and which can be installed only temporarily.
The Needs Of The Venue
Marley dance floors can vary in a wide variety of dimensions, including thickness, weight, width, and length.
Some vinyl dance floors, for instance, are lightweight and cost less than other options. They may be less expensive, but that has nothing to do with their quality. However, this does not necessarily translate into a lower retail price; it simply means that they are lighter in weight and thus less expensive.
More lightweight Those who frequently travel may favor marley floors for their convenience. Having the option to roll it up and take it with you to different venues or competitions is crucial. A multi-purpose building could also be part of your arsenal. The Marley floor’s portability in this situation is crucial.
“Studio weight performance vinyl flooring” refers to the heavier weight Marley dance floors. In most cases, this flooring option is used when the flooringwill nothave to be rolled up and down frequently. To the hefty side Although Marley dance floors can be rolled up and stored or transported, doing so is cumbersome and requires more effort.
more substantial mass It is also common practice for theaters and performance venues to use Marley dance floors. When comparing vinyl and Marley, the latter is preferable due to its greater durability in the face of heavy foot traffic, equipment, and the rigors of the filming and photography industries.
Schools are a great example of a building that would benefit from having a Marley floor installed on a temporary basis. Wood floors or a Marley vinyl surface rolled out may be preferable for dance and drill teams depending on the requirements of the routine. It’s convenient to have the option of dancing on a finished wood sprung floor underneath the vinyl flooring, as the floor can then be used for other purposes when the vinyl dance floor is rolled up. A sprung sub-flooring without a hard wood finish can be used if the Marley vinyl dance floor will never be relocated.
What Is The Space Usage & What Type Of Facility Is It?
Marley dance floors, as was previously mentioned, are best utilized when placed atop a wood sprung floor. The right flooring can help prevent injuries and maximize performance, as we discussed in detail in our Wood Sprung Floor Guide.
The cost of installing a wood-sprung floor can sometimes be prohibitive. Perhaps your building already features a cement slab, tile, or non-sprung wood floor. It’s possible you’ll have to decide whether or not to replace the flooring.
If so, a Marley dance floor made specifically for such areas is what you need. One such Marley roll-out vinyl that works well both permanently and temporarily is the Nufloor #300 Ultra Woodfoam Dance Floor. It’s vinyl flooring that comes in a roll and has a foam backing that’s thicker than average. This produces a soft, pliable response that’s great for dancing, muffles outside noise, and insulates the floor.
Whether you’re considering Marley or vinyl dance flooring, you may want to get samples and price quotes once you’ve made your final decision. A precise cost estimate is possible after taking the width and length measurements of the room in question. Don’t give us a ballpark figure; give us nothing. Flooring cannot be accurately cut using square footage alone.
Marley flooring for dance floors can be found in a variety of widths. This means that it is not sliced in accordance with its width. If anything, it needs to be shortened so that it fits in the available space.
Installation
When installing a Marley dance floor, it is important to first clean the sub-floor. Dust, dirt, and sanded-down sheet rock shouldn’t be allowed to accumulate on the floor, especially in newly constructed structures. Subfloor debris, if not removed, will transmit through the vinyl dance floor and be visible to the dancers below. This creates an uneven and potentially dangerous surface.
If the subfloor is wooden, any imperfections should be filled with wood filler and sanded smooth before the floor is installed.
If you’re installing Marley, we recommend doing so over a wood sprung dance floor as the sub-floor. Having a finished hard wood sub-floor is ideal if you plan on using the floor for multiple purposes (i.e., the Marley floor will be used only occasionally). Choose an unfinished hard wood sub-floor to save money on flooring and time if you’re installing your Marley floor permanently.
Whether the dance vinyl flooring is intended to be permanent or temporary has an impact on the installation process.
When a Marley dance floor is installed permanently, it is adhered to a Sprung Sub-floor. Later, the joints are sealed with a hot weld. Permanent vinyl flooring installations benefit from the use of glue and heat welding rods manufactured by the same company. Dance Equipment is where you should go if you need welding rods or glue.
For a more permanent look, the Marley floor is “top taped” down with vinyl floor tape to hide the seams and open edges. Double-sided tape is an alternate to standard tape. Used for adhering the underside of Marley vinyl flooring to a Sprung subfloor. If you use double-sided tape to install your Marley vinyl flooring, it will be difficult to reposition later.
When installing a Marley floor, the planks are typically placed as close together as possible. This is something you should not do. In this state, neither growth nor shrinking is possible.
If the flooring is rolled out too tightly, a ridge will form along the seams, and air bubbles will form beneath the surface. If you want to install the floor yourself, remember to leave a space between each roll the size of a dime when it is standing on end. Marley vinyl dance floors should be given at least 48 hours to acclimate before applying top tape.
Summary Installation Notes For Marley Flooring
Here is a comprehensive installation guide:
- Verify that the Marley dance floor rolls and packaging are undamaged upon receipt. Assuming the flooring is undamaged, you should give it 24 hours to adjust to room temperature.
- Use a straight edge and a sharp utility knife to cut the Marley floor.
- Spread out the Marley and make sure there is some room in between them. There should be about a dime’s width (on its edge) between each word.thinches in size.
- If you are taping along the perimeter, make sure to leave a small gap.
- Allow the floor to acclimate for another 24 to 48 hours after it has been rolled out.
- Seal the edges and seams with tape. All entrances and exits to the dance floor should be taped as well.
Cleaning & Maintaining Your Marley Dance Floor
The use of a dust mop and vacuum cleaner are also part of routine maintenance. This may need to be done as often as once per week if the facilities aren’t heavily used every day.
The lifespan of your Marley dance floor will be greatly enhanced by regular cleaning maintenance. So, you get the most out of your money. Floors should be cleaned frequently because debris and dirt can cause accidents by increasing the surface’s slickness. Furthermore, oils from bodies and sweat are present but not always visible on the Marley vinyl floor surfaces. The minimum frequency for floor cleaning should be once per week.
Here are some tips for maintaining a clean Marley floor at your party. This multi-purpose cleaner from Dance Equipment International was developed specifically for use on Marley vinyl dance floors.Avoid using wax, store-bought vinyl wax cleaners, or anything containing ammonia on Marley dance floors.
- The floor should be swept, dust mopped, and/or vacuumed before any “wet cleaning” is performed.
- Two ounces (a quarter cup) of the recommended cleaning solution from Dance Equipment International should be combined with one gallon of water.
- Make sure the mop is thoroughly wrung out before use. There’s no requirement to wash it off.
- Add 8 ounces of cleaning solution to 1 gallon of water for a more thorough cleaning.
- To clean vinyl flooring, use a mop that has been thoroughly wrung out. Then, give it a brief soaking in water.
- It is possible to apply the cleaning solution to the floor with a sponge or mop in order to remove stubborn spots, stains, or tape residue. If you want to protect your skin, you should wear rubber gloves. The Marley vinyl dance floor should be washed down with clean water after being scrubbed.
Storage Of Marley Flooring
When putting away your Marley dance floor, be sure to give it a good cleaning before rolling it up. It’s important to have a dry surface before rolling it up.
Most orders of Marley flooring will arrive rolled onto a sturdy corrugated core.Save the inner cardboard cylinder.
The vinyl floor can be rolled up with the right side facing outward for storage. Marley flooring is rolled on a cardboard core. Do not let the edges of the roll become uneven; instead, keep the roll tightly wound. As soon as the floor is rolled up, it can be secured with either floor tape or velcro strips.
Never stack Marley floors or store them standing up in a corner. Vinyl flooring is prone to creasing and folding, often into an egg shape. If this happens, you may need to buy a new Marley floor because of the difficulty of fixing it.
DIY shelving units for your closet or attic are simple to construct. Shelving brackets, used to secure wooden shelving, can be purchased at most any hardware store. After that, you can nail them to the wall studs. In addition, you’ll need a length of PCV pipe that’s 10 to 12 inches longer than the width of your Marley vinyl flooring roll.
You can now hang the Marley floors from the brackets by inserting the PCV pipe through the center of the cardboard core upon which they were rolled. The vinyl flooring rolls can be transported to storage with ease thanks to the PCV pipe’s extended edges.
For long-term storage, rolls can be protected from dust and dirt by being wrapped in plastic or covered with visqueen.
What Is a Marley Dance Floor?
The term “marley” is commonly used in the dance community to refer to any type of vinyl roll-out dance floor. It turns out that the name is a bit of a mouthful, as it can refer to a wide variety of distinct dance floors with different functions. So, tell me, why do we call it that? I’m curious, what is it?
Where Did the Name “Marley” Come From?
Despite the widespread use of the term “marley,” the Marley Company is actually responsible for giving the dance vinyl flooring its name.
The Marley Company
Marley, an English company, produced a wide variety of vinyl ceiling, wall, and floor tiles and shingles in the ’60s. They came up with this great thin vinyl black/gray flexible floor called “Stageflor.”
The daughter of a high-ranking executive was a professional dancer, and she once griped to her father about the many different types of stage flooring she encountered on her travels. The idea for Stageflor originated with him. It makes no difference if the story is based in fact or urban legend. Since each floor was custom-made by the Marley Company, the onus was on the buyer to take care of all the necessary red tape, including shipping and duty. In those days, waiting for a floor to be installed could take up to five months.
Stagestep Takes Over
With the intention of facilitating Stageflor’s entry into the United States, Stagestep has begun coordinating the necessary paperwork and logistics. Stagestep promptly began shipping full rolls to the United States and beginning making custom cuts for dance floors.
When I moved into my house in the mid-1970s, the flooring took about a month to arrive. The number of available hues grew, allowing for the production of:
- Colors of the night
- Simple binary opposition
- Two-tone (black and tan)
Many different colors and patterns that look like natural materials like wood or marble are readily available today.
The production of Stageflor was halted by the Marley Company in 1979. The original company went through multiple ownership changes and ultimately disappeared. When Marley ceased manufacturing Stageflor, Stagestep had already introduced several new flooring options, which we’ll discuss below.
After introducing the concept of the reversible floor to American factories, Stagestep relocated to Europe after those facilities shut down.
What Is Marley?
Although “Marley” is a trademark, the term “marley” is commonly used to describe any portable vinyl dance floor. They are tailored to the requirements of various dance styles and may feature multiple layers.
Types of Marley Flooring
You can’t just say you need a “marley” floor when shopping for a dance surface, as that term refers to too many different products and flooring options. They are compatible with a variety of dance styles and go well with a floating wood subfloor and finished surfaces.
The following are some of the marley flooring choices we offer.
- Temporal discotheques:Timestep is the best all-around choice because its durable surface can be used for a wide variety of dance styles, from tap and flamenco to ballet and ballroom. It can either be permanently installed or rolled up for easy transport. For more mobile and short-term uses, we also offer a more compact and lightweight solution.
- Extend my gratitude to the dance halls:Our Bravo flooring is exceptionally sturdy without compromising on portability, making it suitable for both temporary and permanent settings. The fiberglass lining of our reversible Bravo floors contributes to the product’s steadiness and lie-flat characteristics.
- Enhanced dance floors with Dancestep Plus:Dancestep is the best option for permanent installations on bare concrete. Stages and hardwood floors are also suitable for temporary or permanent installations. Because of its dual density cushioning layer, Dancestep is able to absorb impact forces and muffle unwanted noise. Therefore, it can be used for every type of dance except tap.
- Dance floors for raves:The lightweight and cheap Rave dance floor is always a great option for a bright and colorful floor that stands out. It’s ideal for ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance, but can be used for any dance style except tap thanks to its thin foam backing.
- The Shaw 10 Dance Floor:Our Shaw 10 Marley floor is a 10-foot, extra-wide, portable option that works great for a variety of genres, including but not limited to contemporary, jazz, pallet, and more. All orders placed on our Shaw 10 floor receive free domestic shipping.
- Dance floors designed for quiet stepping:Quietstep’s foam backing and nonslip surface make it a great ballet floor. As a result of its fiberglass filling, it has superior lie-flat qualities.
- Floor for wood-stepping:Last but not least, our Woodstep flooring brings together the natural look of wood with the convenience and low upkeep of marley vinyl.
How to Use Marley Flooring
Some varieties of marley flooring are designed to be moved from one performance venue to another, while others are better suited for fixed installations. In either case, a subfloor system is typically used with them, though many can be installed directly on concrete or hardwood.
Subfloors are resilient and shock-absorbing surfaces that are installed beneath the marley and provide support for a wide variety of dance styles. For the best in shock absorption, we have floating wood subfloors of varying constructions.
Our dance floors are designed to be set up quickly and easily, and Stagestep provides several options to facilitate this.
The Popularity of Marley Floors
Originally designed for use on stages, Marley dance floors and other vinyl flooring systems have found a home in recording studios. When you perform on a marley floor in a theater, there’s no reason to practice on a wooden stage. For this and other reasons, the name “marley” has become genericized and applied to a wide variety of products with varying specifications and applications.
Inquiring about a “marley dance floor” is too general a request for dance companies and school facility directors looking for a replacement floor. Learn more about the floor by learning its specific name and its many applications. Not all dance floors are created equal; some are better suited to tap than others, while others are better suited to ballet, touring, or a combination of the two.
Bear in mind that, with the exception of every roll-out dance floor on Earth, there is no such thing as a “marley dance floor.”
FAQs
How much is a marley floor?
When compared to Home Depot’s price for marley floor, our customers find that they save a ton of money by coming to us. At a starting price of just over $2 per square foot, it’s affordable for any dance studio, no matter how big or small. When you consider the elegance of its construction, the surprisingly low price becomes even more remarkable. Cost per square foot is reduced when purchasing in bulk. However, the fact that a customer will not waste any product when ordering to their specifications makes this option financially sound as well.
Can you tap on marley floors?
Absolutely. Tap dancing, on the other hand, is best done on dark floors because it is easier to hide the marks made by the shoes. The oxidation marks on the shoe are less noticeable when paired with darker colors than they would be with a neutral gray.
What do you put under marley floor?
Foam tiles, rubber rolls, or foam atop a plastic base are all suitable alternatives to cement. Use a polypropylene tile instead of carpet if you need to cover an existing surface.
How long does marley floor last?
Despite its lightweight construction, it offers impressive durability. Our products are so long lasting that many of our clients are professional and academic performance venues. It typically has a warranty of five years or longer.
How thick is marley floor?
Its typical size is between 0.06 and 0.12 inches (1.5 and 3 mm). Marley flooring is easier to work with than other types because it is thinner and can be easily trimmed to size. Customers typically end up with a total thickness of 0.5 to 1 inch when the sprungtypical underlayment is factored in.
We guarantee prompt and reliable delivery of all orders placed with our Wisconsin distribution center.
The thin vinyl used in this product’s flooring doesn’t soak up any spills or liquids from a mop or other floor cleaner. Since it provides dancers with the grip they need, it has maintained its popularity. It has a springy quality that helps dancers stay fit.
It can be temporarily, semipermanently, or permanently installed using marley tape or glue. Each customer’s intended purpose is met by our product.
Some forms of dancing, for instance, are more suitable for soft soled shoes than for hard soled shoes. Any shoe type will fit comfortably in other styles. That’s why we keep a large selection of styles in stock: to cater to the preferences of all our customers. This is a popular choice among aspiring dancers. It’s essential for any professional band or performer.
Our dance floor marley for classrooms must be as adaptable as the curriculum. Our most popular all-purpose rollout is the Rosco Adagio Tour. The performance-ready non-skid surface is also ideal for ensuring student safety.
In particular, the no-glare coating on the top of some of the dance marley floor tiles we offer makes them ideal for use in a theater. The bright lights can be annoying to those sitting in the audience. Our no-glare coating, however, solves this issue entirely.
It’s useful for those working in video production as well. A shine can trick cameras and video recorders into thinking the lighting is better than it actually is, which will negatively affect the quality of the resulting photo or film.
The non-reflective surface is just as stable and comfortable to stand on as other models. Its top layer is dark, so it doesn’t reflect any artificial light. If you’re considering this for use in a theater, know that it’s sturdy enough to handle common, lightweight pieces of scenery without damage.
Fix any protruding nails or boards on the stage that will prevent you from laying out the space properly. The 2 mm thickness of this one may highlight any flaws in its construction.
Reversible Vinyl Dance Flooring
Colors on opposite sides of a double-sided product. Use marley floor tape to adhere them to the floor for easy removal at a later date or to showcase a different color scheme. This gives them the freedom to select the color scheme that best suits their needs, both in terms of performance setting and product durability.
The ballet floor can be used with either hard or soft soled shoes, thanks to its reversible design. The semi-matte, nonslip coating prevents falls. It’s a reasonable option for production companies.
It weighs only 1.9 lb/ft2, making it very portable. This makes it convenient for touring or moving performances because it can be easily packed away. It’s simple to set up again and again.
Rosco’s Vario Reversible Dance Floors are another excellent option. They come in an array of colors, from black and white to black and gray, Chroma Key blue and green, brown and gray, and even red and beige. Their width is 63 inches, and their length is 131 feet. Instantly, they enrich the atmosphere of performance spaces and practice rooms.
Portable surface dance marley is an indispensable piece of gear for any traveling dance company or solo performer. It was made with the requirements of a touring company in mind. Use it on a sporadic basis at most. It can be installed on stages and in theaters and can be used with both hard and soft shoes. Thinner and lighter than conventional materials, but still capable of withstanding extreme stress.
Each roll measures 5.25 feet by 101 feet, and at only 165 pounds, it’s much lighter than other options for used marley dance floors for sale. They can be rolled up many times over the course of a tour without tearing, and they lay flat in a flash for a safe installation.
Full bolts and custom lengths are both available from us. Take the setup procedure into account when making your decision. Because of their heft, bolts require the assistance of multiple workers when being installed.
Sizes that are cut to fit make handling much simpler, which is great for smaller teams. Particularly helpful for set-up and takedown on a stage multiple times.
Ideal surfaces can be made from recycled marley flooring. However, the quality of the subflooring over which they will be installed significantly affects the final results in terms of comfort and safety, so this must be carefully considered.
Rosco Dance Floor Use Cases
Greatmats has a wide variety of options to suit any decor.
- The components of a sprung floor are constructed from closed-cell foam and medium-density fiberboard. Together, they provide a responsive bounce while maintaining the flexibility to cushion a dancer’s landing.
- For less money, smaller groups and productions can have access to our Pro Subfloor Studio Elite. This is not a spring system, but it does have a rubber pad for comfort. The quick-to-assemble sports tiles are risk-free and highly effective.
- Because of its low price and portability, our Home Dance Surface is frequently used on the road. The subfloors made from these materials are comfortable and simple to install and remove. It can hold up under moderate stress.
Note that the subflooring is not included in the sale of our marley floor installation and rollout materials. Combining the products in this way ensures that they can meet the requirements of any situation.
Applications for Stage Floors Made of Vinyl
- Practice
- Venues for performances
- Household rehearsal and practice facilities
- Theater sets and stages
- Mobile performance venues for itinerant actors
