Marley is a must. But which one is best for your studio? Which one has what you need, for the space you have and the styles of dance that will be danced on it? Here, Gerriets, a leader in the performing arts and entertainment industry for decades, walks us through some of their Marley flooring options so you can pick what’s best for your needs.
When asked what sets Gerriets apart from other dance flooring brands, Bill Brown and Molly Sugg, of the Sales and Marketing team at Gerriets, say, “Years of real-world feedback and continuous testing have helped us perfect our floors for every style of dance. From internationally recognized performing arts venues to neighborhood dance studios, every customer receives the same expert guidance, personalized service, and attention to detail from our flooring specialists.”
Let’s highlight some of the different Marley floor offerings and what makes them different, so that studio owners know what’s best for their space!
Vario Beat: “Our most versatile Marley floor!” Brown explains. “Great for every style of dance, including tap. It can be used portably or installed permanently or semi-permanently.”
What it is: A versatile vinyl dance floor, with a hardened vinyl that is perfect for tap dance, while its slightly embossed surface makes it great for other styles of dance.
Colors: Black/Grey reversible
Best for: Studios offering all styles of dance; tap-heavy dancers
Vario Move: “A thicker Marley floor with more grip and support,” Sugg explains. “It’s great for pointe, ballet, jazz and contemporary, but may feel too grippy for advanced tap dancers.”
What it is: A thick, heavy-duty Marley floor that allows for natural give while creating the ideal amount of grip for many dance styles.
Colors: Black/Dark Grey reversible, and Black/White reversible
Best for: Ballet- and contemporary-focused dance studios and performers, and dance studios and theaters looking for more durability
Vario Pro: “A durable, budget-friendly Marley floor that works well for all styles of dance,” says Sugg. “It rolls out quickly and lays flat, making it a great portable option, but it can also be installed semi-permanently.”
What it is: A double-sided dance floor, and the lightest dimensionally stable Marley on the market, which is ideal for semi-permanent taped installation.
Colors: Black/Grey reversible, Black/White reversible, Red/Beige reversible, Chromakey Blue/Chromakey Gree reversible
Best for: All around dance studios, touring productions and competitions
Vario Motion: “Our thickest and most durable floor!” Brown explains. “Great for your ballet, jazz and contemporary dancers with the most grip.”
What it is: A super heavy duty Marley with a fiber reinforcement layer for minimizing bubbling, and one that is designed for theaters and performing arts centers.
Colors: Black/Dark Grey reversible, Black/White reversible
Best for: Multi-use spaces and permanent theater floors, and dance companies that need extra durability for large rolling scenery and sets
Vario Uni: “Need a fun colored floor?” Sugg asks. “We got it! Great for most styles of dance, but best for your musical theater and jazz dancers.”
What it is: A multipurpose floor for stages and studios, which can be installed over a sprung floor or a stage when slight cushioning is needed.
Colors: 20 standard colors available!
Best for: Jazz, musical theater, and studios wanting a fun look
And now the home studio floor options!
Vario Pro Reversible Dance Mat: “A portable Marley floor made with the same professional surface used in many studios and dance competitions,” Brown describes.
What it is: A Marley dance mat designed for at-home use, and that is easy to roll up and roll out. It rolls out to 5’3” x 10’ and weighs 25 pounds.
Best for: home practice and dancers on the go
Sprung Ballet Practice Floor: “Combine the surface of the best ballet floor with the extra safety of a professional grade sprung floor!” Brown says.
What it is: Designed for at-home use at 5’ x 5’ and 60 pounds, this practice floor lets you practice leaps and sautés while keeping your joints safe. It folds in half for convenient storage and easy transport.
Best for: Everyday home practices
Sprung Tap Practice Floor: “Get the best tap sounds with a high quality wood surface, while keeping your joints safe with a professional sprung floor underneath,” Sugg says.
What it is: A 4’ x 2’8” practice board that lets you practice your tap moves while protecting your joints. It comes with a fabric carrying strap for easy transport.
Best for: Tap dancers wanting the most out of their sounds.
And the sprung floor options – which are a must for dance studios!
Vario Ergodance: “A professional portable sprung floor designed for touring productions, competitions and temporary dance spaces,” Sugg explains.
What it is: A sprung sub-floor system for use in temporary or semi-permanent installations, constructed of Baltic birch plywood with high-quality elastomer pads for great shock absorption.
Best for: Traveling productions and companies
Vario Ergodance 200: “A high-quality sprung floor made to be installed permanently or semi-permanently,” Brown says. “The best part, they are made custom to your space, so there is little to no cutting involved in your installation! When installed and cared for properly, this floor can last decades!
What it is: This sprung floor is made with professional dance studios in mind, with overlapping panels that can be screwed and glued together for easy installation.
Best for: New dance studios building or renovating their current space
Vario Ergodance 600: “A high-quality, budget-friendly sprung floor with excellent shock absorption,” Sugg says. “It’s also custom-made to fit your studio for a simpler installation.”
What it is: A sprung sub-floor system that uses EVA foam strips instead of elastomer pads, but that still maintains a shock-absorbing surface for dancers.
Best for: New studios or dancers looking for an economical sprung floor
It’s so cool that Vario Beat is great for many dance styles, including tap! What makes this floor in particular optimized for tap?
Brown
“Vario Beat is great for tap because of its hardened surface. This helps tap sounds be crisper and clearer, which all tap dancers love! Because of the hardened surface, the floor is also more durable, and will withstand your more tap classes over time.”
We’ve heard that the idea for Vario Beat actually came about from chatting with studio owners about their needs. Can you elaborate on that?
Sugg
“One thing we kept hearing from studio owners was that they wanted one floor that could truly handle every style of dance, especially tap. There were plenty of floors that claimed to do it all, but we knew there was room for improvement. Working closely with studio owners and dancers, we tested different options until we found the right balance. The result was Vario Beat, a floor that performs well for every style of dance while still giving tap dancers the crisp, clear sound they were looking for.”
Of course, a Marley floor is important, but not the only thing studio owners should be looking for. A proper, safe, durable, long-lasting dance floor comes from the entire flooring system. “The right Marley paired with a quality sprung floor creates the best surface for dancers,” Sugg explains. “It helps absorb shock and, most importantly, keeps dancers safe so they can perform at their best.”
Brown adds, “The best floor depends on a few different factors, including which styles of dance are being done, how much the floor will be used, and whether you will be installing it permanently or if there is a chance the floor may need to be moved in the future. The good news, Gerriets Dance Floors specialists are here to make the process as simple and smooth as possible! With free samples and personal guidance available, we’ll be sure to find the best fit for your space!”
Gerriets is having a summer Marley floor sale! Get 15% off all dance Marley rolls until August 31. Visit gerrietsdancefloors.com for options and to get a quote.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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