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Tap dance floor: the art of plywood flooring

Tap dancer legs dancing on a plywood dance floor (closeup)

Ply Online Admin |

'Tap dance' also known as 'Step', is a unique art form in which the performer simultaneously changes the roles of dancer and percussionist (notably, American composer Morton Gould wrote an entire concerto for a tap dancer and orchestra). Its roots trace back to African-American culture in the 19th century, blending influences from traditional African dance, English clog dancing, and Irish jigs. To freely express themselves in music, the artists need a worthy instrument that matches their level of skill. Both shoes and flooring play important role in the performance.

Historical context of tap dance flooring

The early tap dancers performed on an available variety of surfaces, mostly wooden floors in theatres or street pavements. The sound produced by their shoes was integral to the dance itself, and thus, the quality of the flooring became crucial. In the first quarter of 20th century, as tap dance gained popularity in vaudeville and early movies, the demand for more specialized flooring emerged.

By the mid-1900s, hardwood floors were the standard in theatres, but their maintenance and cost posed challenges. It was during this period that plywood began to gain favour. Plywood, made by gluing together multiple thin layers of wood veneer, offered several advantages: it was lightweight, cheap, and could be produced in large sheets, making it ideal for both temporary and permanent dance stages.

Dance floor issues (and forget about carpet!)

Even the best hardwood floor laid on a solid concrete base without a cushioning underlay not only doesn’t produce sound but can also be harmful to the dancer's feet. The other extreme is a floor that is too soft: it springs and bends. Excessive flexibility hinders the performance of the dance and negatively impacts artist's technique. The ideal floor for tap dancing is a smooth parquet made of oak or beech, which produces a rich sound. In the absence of a proper floor, dense 15-20 millimetre plywood is sometimes laid on stage for concerts.

Tap dance floor must sound

Unlike other forms of dance, amplification is vital for tap. Conveying the sound of the taps and floor to the audience in a large hall is a complex task for the sound engineer. There are many methods of sound capture, each with its own pros and cons. A boundary layer microphone (commonly known as a "frog") is attached to the floor and picks up its vibrations. It only captures the tap sounds, but it doesn’t reproduce the sound of the taps clearly. A piezoelectric pickup behaves similarly, capturing the sound from the floor like a guitar’s body.

If the floor consists of several plywood sheets set on a frame, the pickup must be placed on each one, with the sound characteristics potentially differing between sheets. Finally, if the dancer strikes the floor with their heels while jumping, the sound can go unnoticed.

For optimal tap-dancing performance, the ideal plywood should consist of the birch or maple veneers for their sound quality and durability. A smooth, a bit glossy surface can improve sound clarity while providing sufficient traction for performers.

Installation of plywood dance flooring

Plywood floors are relatively easy to install and can be adapted to fit various stage configurations and sizes. This adaptability is needed for touring productions where rapid setups and takedowns are necessary. Full-length sheets of plywood can be laid over existing floors, such as concrete, providing a temporary solution for performances in diverse venues. 

Technological Advancements

Over the years, advancements in plywood technology have further enhanced its suitability for tap dancing. Modern manufacturing techniques have led to higher-quality adhesives and veneers, resulting in plywood that is not only much durable but also produces better sound due to various acoustics enhancement coatings.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the introduction of specialized tap dance floors—often combining plywood with other materials—provided dancers with even more options to optimize sound and safety, catering specifically to the needs of professional performers.