Whew, If I had to cancel all the gigs I had that had sticky, or otherwise less than optimum dance floors, I'd lose half my work! Outdoor gigs on the grass (often sloping or uneven or with holes) or on weddings on rented "dance floors", indoor school (or other) gigs on super sticky polyurethane gym floors sometimes wood on cement, church hall or other "local venue" dances on linoleum/concrete floors, or indoor-outdoor carpet, etc etc etc.. In these cases, (and I do so many of them I don't even think about it much any more,) I just have to adjust the dancing to the venue. true, these dances are mostly family/community type affairs, so they don't last that long, run at a slower pace and the choreography isn't that difficult!
I agree that it's best not to "mess with someone's floor" certainly not without permission!! They are often very proprietorial about their floors, especially schools! The sad thing is a lot of venues think a "shiny floor" is the best floor.. the finish the heck out of them with shiny stuff (polyurethane normally) and this is almost always sticky when it's humid. It also comes off when danced on and covers everything with white power (nice having it stuck in your nose too!).. But unless we OWN the venues, and that is happening in some places, (Guiding Star Grange, Capitol City Grange for two) all we can do is try to educate the venue owners. This is a long process for sure..
Blah blah, what am I saying here?? I guess I am saying, "it ain't that easy" and there isn't one solution that fits all the possible situations. My way of dealing as a dancer is to "take it easy" (less twirls and flourishes maybe) or in extreme cases (and this is bad for sure) to stay away.. and as a programmer, more forgiving choreography..
Finally, there has been a lot written about finish on dance floors, I'm sure someone will point us all to the correct archive again. Stan Fowler did a lot of work on this for Glen Echo and it's written down somewhere.. Others have done work at the above mentioned venues. BUT this doesn't help us at a one night stand or at a venue where everything else might be just fine (acoustics, stage, parking, rent) but where the owners have their own idea about the floor.. I will be interested to see what more people have to say about this!
bill
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:28:49 -0400
To: lynzimd(a)yahoo.com
CC: jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com; callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] sticky floors
From: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
I don't think you should *ever* “put up with” a super-sticky floor. It damages dancers' knees and ankles. If the floor is too sticky to dance on, and the venue isn't allowing any options for fixing it, cancel the dance.
On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 3:21 PM, Lindsey Dono via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Thoughts from the organizational perspective:
Be very, very careful about adding anything to any floor you don't own! A number of dances have lost their venues over issues such as this. Question: is this floor chronically sticky, or newly so? My generic plan of action would go something along these lines:
1. Put up with the sticky floor for the one evening (question for all: What are good dances for a slow floor? I'm assuming heys and whole-set promenades would work better than Petronella/Rory O'More figures). If you're at the hall early enough, you can try mopping particularly awful spots with JUST water. Unless you own the hall or have checked in with the owners in advance, probably best to avoid adding anything to the floor.
2. Immediately contact the owner/rental coordinator for your hall, and let them know about the sticky floor. Try to find out why the floor is not danceable (spills, new finish, humidity...) and find a short-term solution (mopping, adding a tiny bit of dance floor powdered wax, etc). One time, our hall was used the night prior for a party, and sugary drinks had been spilled everywhere! This wasn't the norm and the owners were apologetic. They put a lot of effort into cleaning up, and there haven't been issues since.
3. Make long-term plans for a danceable floor. A local grange coordinated with the contra community on the best way to refinish the floor. We faced a rather pungent month of dancing, but afterwards, the floor was excellent.
4. If the hall is unable or unwilling to work with you regarding the sticky floor, probably best to start looking for a new venue. This certainly isn't a pretty scenario, but the lousy floor will drive down attendance, and adding anything to the floor without permission will certainly put you in trouble with the owners.
Lindsey
From: Perry Shafran via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>; "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Callers] sticky floors
I was trying to figure out which was the right one - one is good to make it less sticky and the other makes it more gummy and a lot worse. Could have sworn it was cornmeal. I'm not the one who usually does it but I think that the people who run our dance use the right thing. Perry
From: Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com> To: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>; callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:52 PM Subject: Re: [Callers] sticky floors Not cornmeal - corn starch. Cornmeal would likely scratch the floor!Sent from Outlook
On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM -0700, "Perry Shafran via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you don't have any sticky spots remaining. Perry From: Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM Subject: [Callers] sticky floors Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to alleviate the problem?thanks. Mary C. - Buffalo-- “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
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I must have missed the suggestion about windows. I was curious if
this hall is air-conditioned. And I would think it would be useful
to know the condition of the floor before the dance begins.
I'm thinking the only real solution is increasing the capacity of the
HVAC system to remove humidity. In the summer months opening the
windows would just allow more humid air to enter the hall.
T
I am going through some old English Dance & Song magazines and found this
from December 1964:
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
East Meets West
This dance has been in vogue for many years now and in response to repeated
requests, we reprint it here. It was composed, we understand, by Ralph Page
after a visit to the west coast of the U.S.A. and called " East Meets West '
as the dance incorporates certain west coast square dance movements within
the framework of a New England style contra.
Formation: duple improper.
Music: 32 bar reels (see note below) although some prefer jigs.
A.1. Lines of four move down the room (holding hands, ones between the
twos), turn towards
contrary and return, bringing twos in front of ones (progression).
A.2. Circle four, left and right.
B.1. Western style do-paso, i.e. men turn contrary lady with left hand,
cross and turn partner with
right hand, cross again and turn contrary lady with left hand straight into
...
B.2. Half promenade across, and half right and left back.
NOTE: if the tune " Little Old Log Cabin " (Swing Partners, p. 7) is used,
the following singing call might
be found useful :
Oh go down in fours together,
turn round and come back home,
To that little old log cabin in the lane,
Then you circle to the left
and then you circle back again
To that little old log cabin in the lane.
Allemande left your corner;
allemande right your own
And give left hand to that corner girl again.
Then you promenade across the set
and right and left back home,
To your little old log cabin in the lane
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
But Zesty Contras (1983) says:
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
East Meets West (by Herbie Gaudreau)
Contra; Improper
A1 Neighbour Allemande Left 1/2; Ladies' Chain; Ladies' Chain back
A2 Circle Left; Circle Right
B1 Neighbour Allemande Left; Partner Allemande Right; Neighbour Allemande
Left
B2 Half Promenade; R & L Through
Only a decade ago this was a very innovative dance
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
The reference to a "decade ago" seems to imply that Herbie wrote the dance
around 1973. But the version at the top claims to be old in 1964.
They are obviously the same dance since they have the same name and only
differ in the A1 (and I can understand why the A1 was changed as the
transition from R&L Thru into Lines of Four doesn't appear to be
particularly smooth!).
Does anyone know any more about the history of this dance and its various
versions?
Thanks.
Happy dancing,
John
John Sweeney, Dancer, England john(a)modernjive.com 01233 625 362
http://www.contrafusion.co.uk for Dancing in Kent
Talc is a mineral, in character like asbestos. Not only is it a hazard for anyone with breathing problems, it's a problem for everyone. Please, do not talc the floor!
Andrea
Sent from my iOnlypretendtomultitask
> On Jul 20, 2015, at 3:05 PM, Jerome Grisanti via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
> If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a small area to see if it works on your floor.
>
> Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
>
> --Jerome
>
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
> "There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no point being unhappy about things you can."
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I have used cornmeal many times on many floors. Caution, a little bit
goes a long way.
As far as corn starch, well, corn starch and water (humidity) makes a
great glue (google it).
I have never noticed the floor getting noticeably scratched with
cornmeal as it is used sparingly
just on sticky spots. Have never noticed any other unpleasant after
effects either. But as mentioned
earlier think about the owners of the floor. My knees often remind me of
the effects of a sticky floor.
I also recommend using sweeping compound before and after a dance.
Before if the floor is dusty
and after to keep the owners happy.
On 07/20/2015 03:28 PM, Charles M. Hannum via Callers wrote:
> I don't think you should *ever* “put up with” a super-sticky floor. It
> damages dancers' knees and ankles. If the floor is too sticky to dance on,
> and the venue isn't allowing any options for fixing it, cancel the dance.
>
> On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 3:21 PM, Lindsey Dono via Callers <
> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Thoughts from the organizational perspective:
>>
>> Be very, very careful about adding anything to any floor you don't own! A
>> number of dances have lost their venues over issues such as this. Question:
>> is this floor chronically sticky, or newly so? My generic plan of action
>> would go something along these lines:
>>
>> 1. Put up with the sticky floor for the one evening (question for all:
>> What are good dances for a slow floor? I'm assuming heys and whole-set
>> promenades would work better than Petronella/Rory O'More figures). If
>> you're at the hall early enough, you can try mopping particularly awful
>> spots with JUST water. Unless you own the hall or have checked in with the
>> owners in advance, probably best to avoid adding anything to the floor.
>>
>> 2. Immediately contact the owner/rental coordinator for your hall, and let
>> them know about the sticky floor. Try to find out why the floor is not
>> danceable (spills, new finish, humidity...) and find a short-term solution
>> (mopping, adding a tiny bit of dance floor powdered wax, etc). One time,
>> our hall was used the night prior for a party, and sugary drinks had been
>> spilled everywhere! This wasn't the norm and the owners were apologetic.
>> They put a lot of effort into cleaning up, and there haven't been issues
>> since.
>>
>> 3. Make long-term plans for a danceable floor. A local grange coordinated
>> with the contra community on the best way to refinish the floor. We faced a
>> rather pungent month of dancing, but afterwards, the floor was excellent.
>>
>> 4. If the hall is unable or unwilling to work with you regarding the
>> sticky floor, probably best to start looking for a new venue. This
>> certainly isn't a pretty scenario, but the lousy floor will drive down
>> attendance, and adding anything to the floor without permission will
>> certainly put you in trouble with the owners.
>>
>> Lindsey
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Perry Shafran via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *To:* Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>; Mary Collins <
>> nativedae(a)gmail.com>; "callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net" <
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 11:55 AM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> I was trying to figure out which was the right one - one is good to make
>> it less sticky and the other makes it more gummy and a lot worse. Could
>> have sworn it was cornmeal. I'm not the one who usually does it but I
>> think that the people who run our dance use the right thing.
>>
>> Perry
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
>> *To:* Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>;
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 2:52 PM
>> *Subject:* Re: [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> Not cornmeal - corn starch. Cornmeal would likely scratch the floor!
>>
>> Sent from Outlook <http://taps.io/outlookmobile>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM -0700, "Perry Shafran via Callers" <
>> callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>>
>> Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be
>> forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of
>> the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you
>> don't have any sticky spots remaining.
>>
>> Perry
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> *To:* callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> *Sent:* Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
>> *Subject:* [Callers] sticky floors
>>
>> Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming
>> sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to
>> alleviate the problem?
>>
>> thanks.
>> Mary C. - Buffalo
>>
>> --
>> “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning
>> to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Callers mailing list
>> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
I was trying to figure out which was the right one - one is good to make it less sticky and the other makes it more gummy and a lot worse. Could have sworn it was cornmeal. I'm not the one who usually does it but I think that the people who run our dance use the right thing.
Perry
From: Jack Mitchell <jmitchell.nc(a)gmail.com>
To: Perry Shafran <pshaf(a)yahoo.com>; Mary Collins <nativedae(a)gmail.com>; callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: [Callers] sticky floors
Not cornmeal - corn starch. Cornmeal would likely scratch the floor!
Sent from Outlook
On Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM -0700, "Perry Shafran via Callers" <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you don't have any sticky spots remaining.
Perry
From: Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
Subject: [Callers] sticky floors
Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to alleviate the problem?
thanks.
Mary C. - Buffalo
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
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And please don't do any of this without checking with the venue!
It's never OK to put down substances on a rented floor without the owner's
permission.
On Jul 20, 2015 3:05 PM, "Jerome Grisanti via Callers" <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a
> small area to see if it works on your floor.
>
> Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
>
> --Jerome
>
> Jerome Grisanti
> 660-528-0858
> http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
>
> "There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no
> point being unhappy about things you can."
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Callers mailing list
> Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
>
>
If you can find UNscented talc (and good luck with that!), try it in a
small area to see if it works on your floor.
Do NOT use scented baby power -- the cure would be worse than the disease.
--Jerome
Jerome Grisanti
660-528-0858
http://www.jeromegrisanti.com
"There's no point in being unhappy about things you can't change, and no
point being unhappy about things you can."
Generally cornmeal is used to make the floor less sticky. But be forewarned - don't use too much of it or else you'll have a new problem of the floor being too slippery. Also try to distribute it evenly so you don't have any sticky spots remaining.
Perry
From: Mary Collins via Callers <callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
To: callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2015 2:36 PM
Subject: [Callers] sticky floors
Has anyone experienced issues with their wooden dance floors becoming sticky during humid weather? If so, what if anything has been done to alleviate the problem?
thanks.
Mary C. - Buffalo
--
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass ... it's about learning to dance in the rain!” ~ Unknown
_______________________________________________
Callers mailing list
Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/callers-sharedweight.net
