How to Stop Your Feet from Sticking to the Marley Floor

Is there anything more frustrating during a ballet class than feeling like your feet are glued to the floor? In this quick guide from Broche Ballet, we dive into the common problem of sticky Marley floors and how to navigate this challenge to maintain fluid technique. Whether you are practicing at home or in a studio, 'sticky Marley' can disrupt your tendu, dégagé, and even your pirouette preparation.

The causes for a sticky floor are often twofold: environmental factors and technical habits. High humidity is a frequent culprit, making the specialized vinyl surface of Marley floors grip the skin or soles of your shoes more than usual. However, before reaching for a quick fix, it is vital to analyze your weight placement.

If you are not shifting your weight efficiently across the floor, your body weight creates more friction, making it feel like the floor is the problem when it might actually be a technique issue. In this lesson, we explore how shifting your weight quickly and decisively can alleviate that 'stuck' feeling. By staying lifted through your core and ensuring your weight is properly centered over your supporting leg during movements like a relevé or a glissade, you reduce the downward pressure that causes sticking.

For those times when the humidity is simply too high to overcome with technique alone, we discuss practical solutions. Many dancers use a small amount of baby powder or cornstarch to create a non-stick surface. We explain how to apply these materials sparingly to ensure safety and prevent the floor from becoming dangerously slippery.

At Broche Ballet, we believe that understanding the mechanics of your environment is just as important as mastering the steps. Watch this video to learn how to keep your movements smooth and your feet moving freely, no matter what the floor conditions are.