Hey Organizers,
My home town, Columbia, MO, is building a welcome/community center for
multiple uses. Our contra group has asked them to consider something other
than smooth concrete for the floor.
The City parks and rec people were initially resistant, but since a lot of
the funding for the building will be coming directly from the community,
they seem to be softening their stance, but not to the point of approving a
hardwood floor. So the architect has done some research on alternative
flooring options that might be comfortable and safe to dance on, but also
have many of the conveniences of concrete floor for multiple uses and
maintenance.
Two products are listed in the attachments below. Unfortunately, the only
known installations are 300-450 miles from us in Indiana and Kansas.
Have any of you out there in dance land run across either of these kinds of
floorings, or maybe know of other alternatives to hardwood that would meet
low maintenance requirements of the City?
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Jim Thaxter
Columbia, MO
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Robbie Price
Date: Tue, May 9, 2023 at 9:12 AM
Subject: RE: Community building floor
To: Jim Thaxter <jathaxter47(a)gmail.com>
Dear Jim:
With a pure dance floor out of the question (too much friction for your
purposes and too expensive), I am looking for floor which gives you the
cushion you need and the durability to resist table and chair scratches,
dropped equipment, and food spills. My rep from Tarkett, one of the largest
flooring companies in the U.S. have a sports/recreation flooring division,
Zoche, which may work. He recommends their Omnisports system “Multi-use” or
the Lumaflex without the wood subfloor. Please find the spec sheets on
these two products attached.
I am also interested in an industrial wood flooring product which may prove
to be a possible solution – end grain wood blocks. It traditionally is used
in industrial applications with 3” – 5” thick,creosote impregnated wood
blocks which take all manner of abuse. Today they do away with the harmful
chemicals and hazardous materials and use oils and some polyurethanes to
finish them. It could be a beautiful floor and stand up to any abuse if
only it is acceptable to the dance community. Here are websites for your
review: Old Wood LLC. - End Grain Flooring <https://www.oldwood.us/endgrain>
, END GRAIN | Kaswell Flooring Systems <https://www.kaswell.com/end-grain/>
I need to do so more research on this. Please let me know what you think.
Thank you for any input you can provide.
Cordially,
Robbie
*Robbie Price AIA, LEED AP +*
*573.443.1407*
Architect / Associate
*soa*
*Architecture Interior Design Planning Sustainability*
*P* Please consider the environment before printing this email.
*From:* Jim Thaxter <jathaxter47(a)gmail.com>
*Sent:* Saturday, May 6, 2023 4:02 PM
*To:* Robbie Price <price(a)soa-inc.com>
*Subject:* Community building floor
Hi Robbie,
Thanks for being willing to consider a floor of something other than smooth
concrete. Keep us up to date on what you’re looking at.
Jim Thaxter
Just want to flag that the following dances in GA, NC, SC are doing
quite well:
Sautee (hour and a half above Atlanta, not quite middle of nowhere)
https://snca.org/contra/home.php
seem to be averaging 130-140 dancers at their monthly dances
last dance I attended the beginners' class completely encircled the
large gym
lots of family energy (very wide range of ages)
Old Farmers Ball, OFB, at Warren Wilson outside of Asheville
https://oldfarmersball.com/
at their peak they had over 200 dancers every Thursday evening
I don't know if they've gotten back up to that peak
but I've heard it's a strong, solid dance
River Falls Lodge, SC
https://www.facebook.com/groups/harvestmoonfolk/
this really is in the middle of nowhere
I'm _guessing _150 dancers would be packed.
I'm hearing that it's often packed now.
Charlotte, NC
https://www.charlottecontradance.org/
I first encountered this dance several years ago and loved that their
peak demographic was the 30-40 year old crowd that often
disappears to raise a family. They've had to move a couple of
times over the past few years and their numbers had dipped (down to
80??).
I was around for a few of their early post-covid dances with ok
numbers (70??).
I gather the dance has gathered steam and is now quite solid,
though I don't know demographics/numbers ... just that it's doing
great.
A lot of the above is hear say and may have changed since the last hearsay!
I apologize if I'm speaking out of turn.
Organizers are welcome to correct me.
Thought some positive numbers would be a nice thing ...
Heitzso
How many use twitter to promote your dance? Do you feel it is effective?
What hashtags do you use?
Thanks from Queen City Contra in Buffalo NY
Mary Collins
