What a beautiful, inspiring thought—having a gorgeous dance floor out in the wilderness, by the beach, or in some other stunning place on the planet. Weather is obviously the biggest concern. A ballet barre might get some rain on it but would probably survive. A sound system, however, would likely need to be covered.
Glass mirrors have actually been used underwater, believe it or not, and they don’t disintegrate. However, a floor can be vulnerable in many ways.
The biggest concern is that if you use a Marley-type surface, you should use white or a very light color. Darker colors—especially black—can get so hot in the sun that they can actually burn the skin. Of course, a canopy can help, but during early morning and late afternoon hours, the sun often comes in at an angle that the canopy doesn’t cover.
Also, Marley (a.k.a. PVC vinyl sheeting) can get very slippery when wet. So, early morning dew can be a problem. And of course, if it’s misty or rainy, the surface can become dangerously slick. You may recall that recreational fun thing called “Slip ‘n Slide.” I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure that’s just PVC vinyl with water running over the top. Pretty much the same thing as wet Marley—very dangerous. Please take extreme precaution.
If you have a subfloor underneath, that too can be vulnerable to moisture.
That said, if you understand all these potential issues and take the necessary precautions, it’s absolutely possible to create a stunning outdoor dance space—with inspiring views that bring the dance out of any artist.
If you’d like a more detailed explanation from Matt please contact us!
