Performance Essentials

Floors and dance floor systems can range in price from $2.10 per sq ft to $19 per sq ft. When shopping, compare apples to apples. Wood is more expensive, while foam- backed roll out marley floor systems cost less than a floor surface with a floating wood subfloor. The average price for a multi-purpose studio floor should run from $10-$17 per sq ft for all materials plus shipping and without installation.

Stagestep works with CMG Flooring as our official floor installer. They have hundreds of Stagestep installations completed over the past decade and they guarantee their work. Their phone number is 610-495-1712. You can use a local installer as all directions are online in our installation guide.

Stagestep offers flooring that is designed to be installed over a concrete floor without the use of a subfloor. Dancestep Plus, Woodstep Plus, Balletdanse Plus, Woodstep Ultra are multipurpose dance floors that have a foam backing and an exceptionally realistic wood design. They can be installed temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently over a concrete or hardwood floor. The concrete floor must be sealed against moisture before installing any floor.

When opening a new dance studio or renovating your current space, choosing the right dance floor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. The surface your dancers train on directly impacts performance quality, safety, injury prevention, and your studio’s professional standard.

Two of the most common studio flooring choices are Marley dance floors and wood dance floors—but they serve different needs. Here’s how to determine which one is right for your space.

What is a Marley Dance Floor?

A Marley dance floor is a flexible vinyl roll-out surface, widely used in professional studios, universities, performing arts centers, and theaters.

Why Studio Owners Choose Marley

• Controlled slip (safe traction without sticking)
• Suitable for multiple dance styles
• Professional, uniform studio appearance
• Durable and easy to maintain
• Can be permanent or portable

If your studio teaches ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, or hip-hop, a Marley dance floor is often the most versatile and safest choice.

What is a Wood Dance Floor?

A wood dance floor provides a natural feel and lively response—especially for percussive or foot-articulated dance styles. Wood dance floors are typically more expensive and difficult to maintain than marley dance floors.

Best Uses for Wood

• Tap
• Irish Step
• Flamenco
• Ballroom / Latin
• Swing

Important: A wood surface must be paired with a floating wood subfloor to provide impact absorption.

Installing wood directly onto concrete increases the risk of:

• Shin splints
• Joint stress
• Fatigue-related injury

The Real Secret: The Support System Under the Floor

The subfloor matters as much as the surface.

A safe studio flooring build typically includes:

1. Concrete base
2. Floating wood subfloor (shock-absorbing layer)
3. Marley vinyl dance floor (style-appropriate surface)

This structure:

• Protects joints and muscles
• Reduces overuse injuries
• Supports safe landings and controlled movement

This is why most studios use Marley over a floating wood subfloor, especially when teaching multiple styles.

Alternative Option: Marley Floors with Built-In Shock Absorption

If building a floating wood subfloor isn’t feasible, Stagestep offers Marley dance floors with a built-in dual-density foam backing, designed to provide shock absorption directly—allowing installation right over sealed concrete.

Ideal For:

• New studio build-outs
• Ground-level or concrete slab spaces
• Situations with height or budget constraints

Shock-Absorbing Marley Floor Options

• BalletDanse™ Plus
• Dancestep™ Plus
• Woodstep™ Plus
• Woodstep™ Ultra

These floors:

• Reduce dancer fatigue
• Support repetitive daily training
• Help protect long-term joint health

If your studio has concrete floors and you want a safe, professional dance surface without constructing a subfloor, this is an excellent solution.

Need Help Choosing the Right Floor?

Stagestep has been helping studios create safe, high-performance dance environments for over 50 years.

We can assist with:✔ Flooring recommendations based on your dance style mix✔ Whether you need a floating wood subfloor✔ When a shock-absorbing Marley “Plus” floor is the best fit✔ Room measurement, pricing, and installation planning

There is often confusion about what a floating wood subfloor (sometimes called a sprung subfloor) actually is, and why it is essential for safe dance training.

If dancers are practicing directly on concrete, or on any surface attached to concrete — such as hardwood, vinyl, tile, laminate, or carpet — the impact on the body is approximately three times the dancer’s own body weight with every landing, jump, and directional shift.

Over time, this can lead to:

• Fatigue
• Shin splints
• Knee and hip joint pain
• Lower back stress
• Hairline fractures in the feet

Hardwood installed directly on concrete may look beautiful, but in terms of dancer safety, it is no better than dancing on the concrete itself.

This applies to all dancers — including young children.Growing bodies are actually more vulnerable, not less.

Raised Subfloor vs. Floating Wood Subfloor — Not the Same Thing

A common misunderstanding is thinking that placing 2x4s and plywood over concrete creates a safe floor.

That is called a raised floor, not a floating wood subfloor.

Wherever the wood touches the concrete, the impact transfers directly back into the dancer’s body. This creates an uneven “hard/soft/hard” experience that actually increases injury risk, rather than reducing it.

So What Is a Floating Wood Subfloor?

A floating wood subfloor is a floor system designed so that:

At any point on the surface, if you draw a line straight down, you hit air before concrete.

This layer of air space + energy-absorbing material allows the floor to:

• Flex
• Compress
• Disperse impact safely
• Return energy to the dancer

There are several safe ways to achieve this:

• Closed-cell foam blocks, cubes, or pads
• Foam “L-shaped” shock-absorbing supports
• Basket weave construction, where offset wood lattice layers create lift and flex
• Hybrid systems using both foam and structured wood layers

The guiding principle is:Air everywhere, no direct contact to concrete.

Why the Wood Layer Matters

A subfloor must also provide lateral (side-to-side) support for balance and alignment.If you simply place a dance floor directly over foam, the dancer will sink into the surface, similar to dancing on a trampoline — unstable and unsafe.

This is why:

You must have a wood layer between the foam and the Marley or wood top surface.

This wood layer distributes weight evenly and supports clean technique.

Why a Floating Wood Subfloor Is Essential for Dance

A properly built floating wood subfloor:

• Reduces physical stress and overuse injuries
• Allows dancers to train longer and with less fatigue
• Supports safe jumping, landing, and pointe work
• Ensures long-term joint and muscle health
• Enhances movement quality and performance ability

Simply put:A floating wood subfloor is not optional — it is a dancer safety requirement.

Stagestep offers:

• Prefabricated subfloor systems for fast installation
• DIY subfloor designs for contractors and studio owners

Where to Learn MoreContact us to discuss your studio layout, flooring needs, and get a customized quote.

The cost of a dance floor depends on three key factors:

1. Type of dance surface (Marley vs. wood)
2. Whether you need a subfloor for shock absorption
3. The size of your studio space

At Stagestep, our Marley dance floors are priced by the square foot, so you only pay for the flooring you need. Most studios choose between budget-friendly roll-out surfaces, professional multi-use Marley, or Marley with built-in shock absorption that can go directly over sealed concrete.

Marley Dance Floor Price Range

• Economy / Practice Marley: Great for home studios and light useApprox. $2.50–$4.50 per sq ft
• Professional Multi-Purpose Studio Marley (e.g., Timestep™, Bravo, etc.)Approx. $4.50–$10.00 per sq ft
• Marley With Built-In Shock Absorption(BalletDanse™ Plus, Dancestep™ Plus, Woodstep™ Plus, Woodstep™ Ultra)Can be installed directly over sealed concrete — no subfloor requiredApprox. $7.50–$14.50 per sq ft

Floating Wood Subfloor Systems

If your studio will be built on concrete, you may need a floating wood subfloor to reduce impact and prevent injuries (unless you choose Marley with built-in cushioning).

• DIY Subfloor Materials:Approx. $3.50–$7.00 per sq ft
• Prefabricated Subfloor Systems (faster installation, modular)Approx. $8.00–$14.00 per sq ft

What Most Studio Owners Spend

Here are typical full-studio investment ranges, depending on size:

Studio Size

Marley Only

Marley + Floating Wood Subfloor

Marley Plus (Shock Absorbing, No Subfloor Needed)

Small Studio (400–800 sq ft)

$1,200–$6,000

$3,200–$11,200

$3,000–$11,600

Mid-Size Studio (900–1,500 sq ft)

$4,000–$15,000

$8,000–$22,500

$7,000–$21,500

Large Studio (1,600+ sq ft)

$7,000+

$12,500+

$10,500+

Tip: Many studios start with one finished room, then expand flooring in phases as enrollment grows.

How to Get a Personalized Quote

Because every studio’s space, use, and style mix is different — the easiest way to get accurate pricing is to measure your room and let Stagestep help you select the right floor type.

Stagestep is headquartered just outside of Philadelphia, PA, and our primary warehouse and distribution center is located in Bolingbrook, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

This central warehouse location allows us to ship quickly and cost-effectively to studios across the U.S. and internationally.

Address

Stagestep, Inc.4701 Bath Street, Suite 46B, Philadelphia, PA 19137 USA

Warehouse & Distribution

Bolingbrook, IL (Chicago Metro Area)

Need Assistance or Want to See Samples?

Our flooring specialists are available Monday–Friday 9am – 5pm EST to help with:

• Floor selection & dance style recommendations
• Studio layout & measurement guidance
• Quotes & shipping estimates
• Samples for comparison and planning

Call: 800-523-0960Email: [email protected]

Shipping cost depends on the weight of your order and the distance to your studio, so pricing will vary based on flooring type and location. Once you know the products and quantities you need, a Stagestep representative will provide a no-obligation shipping estimate so you’ll know the exact cost before you place your order.

Most orders ship from our centrally located warehouse in Bolingbrook, IL (just outside of Chicago) and arrive within 7–10 business days from the time your order is placed. Custom cuts or large studio installations may require additional processing time, which your Stagestep sales representative will review with you.

What Affects Shipping Cost & Timing

• Size of your studio (sq. ft. of flooring ordered)
• Whether you’re ordering Marley only or Marley + subfloor
• Delivery location (commercial / residential)

Good to Know

• You will receive tracking information once your order ships.
• We ship nationwide and internationally.
• If you have a deadline (grand opening, showcase, new session start), let us know — we’ll help coordinate delivery and scheduling.