The term “Marley” is commonly used in the dance industry to refer to virtually any roll-out vinyl floor that is utilized as dance floor tiles. It turns out that the name can refer to a number of quite distinct dance floors that are utilized for a range of purposes, which makes it a little bit confusing. So, tell me, where do you get the idea for the name? But what exactly is it? And where do you use it?
Where Did People Get the Idea to Call It “Marley”?
Although the word “Marley” is used in a variety of contexts, dance vinyl flooring got its name from the Marley Company, which was the first company to start producing the material.
The Company of Bob Marley
During the 1960s, the Marley Company in England produced many vinyl flooring, wall coverings, and roofing materials. They came up with the concept of “Stageflor,” a flexible thin vinyl floor that is black and gray on both sides.
According to the urban legend, the daughter of a high-ranking businessman was a professional dancer who griped to her father about the several different theater stage surfaces she had to perform on while she was on tour. It was his idea to use Stageflor. It makes no difference whether this is an urban legend or the truth. Each floor was created to order by the Marley Company, and the purchaser’s responsibility was to manage the paperwork, shipping, and duty. In those days, it would take five months to install a floor.
Stagestep Takes Over
Stagestep, based in the United States, started taking care of the necessary paperwork and logistics to get Stageflor into the country. Not long after that, Stagestep began custom-cutting dance floors in the United States using entire rolls that were imported from Europe.
By the middle of the 1970s, the wait time for a floor was reduced to just one month. The number of color options expanded, giving customers the opportunity to select:
Black and gray.
Grayscale and monochrome
Reversible between black and tan
Of course, these days, you may choose from a wide variety of colors and patterns that are meant to resemble marble or wood.
The Marley Company ceased production of Stageflor in the year 1979. The original corporation went through several ownership transitions before dissolving entirely during the course of its history. By the time Marley ceased manufacturing Stageflor, Stagestep had already introduced a wide array of unique flooring options, which we’ll go over in the following section. The stage was manufactured by Stagestep.
In the beginning, Stage Step introduced the concept of the reversible floor to industrial factories in the United States. However, when those plants ceased operations, the firm relocated the operation to Europe.
What on earth is Marley?
In the context of dance, the term “Marley” refers to any roll-out vinyl dance floor. However, Marley is also the name of a registered trademark. They can contain several layers and are designed expressly to meet the requirements of various dancing styles.
Different Styles of Flooring Made of Marley
You can’t just state that you need a “Marley” floor if you’re purchasing a dance floor because “Marley” refers to many distinct goods and varieties of flooring. They are versatile enough for various dancing forms and often paired with a floating wood subfloor and surface treatments.
The following is a list of our available Marley flooring selections.
Timestep dance floors: Timestep is the most adaptable alternative, with a heavy-duty surface that can accommodate various dancing styles, from flamenco and tap to ballet and ballroom dance. You can roll it up for use as a portable option, or you can permanently install it. Even for touring and other uses that are only temporary, we offer a solution that is both smaller and lighter.
Bravo dancing floors: Our Bravo floors offer outstanding durability without losing portability, and they are equally well-suited for permanent installations as they are for temporary ones. The Bravo floors are reversible, and their fiberglass lining improves both lie-flat properties and overall stability.
Dancestep Plus dance floors: Dancestep is the best option for installations that are to be performed directly on concrete. In addition, it can be installed on stages and other surfaces made of hardwood for either portable or permanent use. The cushioning layer of Dancestep features multiple densities, which work together to absorb energy and reduce sound. As a consequence of this, it is appropriate for all forms of dance other than tap.
Rave dance floors: The bright, lightweight, and cost-effective Rave dance floor is always a fantastic choice for any occasion that calls for a dance floor. It has a thin foam backing and is ideal for ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance, while it will work well for almost any other type of dance technique except tap.
The dancing floor at Shaw 10: Our Shaw 10 Marley floor is an extra wide 10-foot portable alternative that is excellent for current, jazz, pallet and a variety of other genres of music. It is ideal for both the stage and the studio. Additionally, our Shaw 10 floor comes with free shipping anywhere in the United States!
Quietstep dance floors: Quietstep is a foam-backed, non-slip floor that is ideal for the ballet dance form. Because it is lined with fiberglass, it has exceptional attributes in terms of how well it lies flat.
Step dancing floor made of wood The final type of flooring we offer is called Woodstep, and it mimics the beauty of genuine wood while also having the durability and portability of Marley vinyl.
How to Install Flooring Made of Marley
Some types of Marley flooring are portable, allowing the user to transport the flooring to a variety of performance venues, while other types of Marley flooring are better suited for more permanent installations. In either case, they are often designed to function in conjunction with a subfloor system; nevertheless, it is possible to install several of them directly on concrete or hardwood.
Subfloors are resilient surfaces installed beneath the Marley and provide support for various dance styles by absorbing impact and springing back into place when applied. We make use of floating wood subfloors that come in a variety of configurations, each of which provides the appropriate amount of stress absorbancy.
Our dance floors are designed to be installed quickly and easily, and Stagestep provides a number of different alternatives to assist you with the process of setting up your new dance floor.
The Ever-Growing Appeal of Marley Floors
The first Marley dance floors were used on stages, but these roll-out vinyl floors and flooring systems were also quickly installed in recording studios. Why waste time practicing on a wooden stage when you’ll be performing on a Marley surface in the actual theater? The name “Marley” has endured, and as a result, it is now a generic term that may be applied to a wide variety of products that are created to a variety of specifications and used for a variety of reasons.
Your comment submitted.