"I use something that is a real staple in the directing world. It's called a dance floor. You lay it down so that it's so smooth you can roll around, and you can put furniture on top of it. It's seamless and you don't see it"
- Debbie Allen
About this Quote
Debbie Allen, renowned for her multifaceted contributions to the fields of dance, acting, and directing, provides insight into an essential method utilized in directing and choreography in her quote about the "dance floor." When she refers to it as a "genuine staple in the directing world," she underscores its essential function in production environments, especially those including complex motion or dance sequences.
The "dance flooring" she discusses is not simply a metaphorical term however a literal, physical tool utilized in film, television, and stage productions. It consists normally of a smooth, hard surface overlay that is laid atop existing flooring. This layer is designed to provide a smooth, slick surface on which entertainers can move fluidly without the hindrance of unequal flooring textures. Its value covers beyond simply dance numbers; it's crucial for scenes needing smooth tracking shots as well.
By describing the dance floor as one you can "roll around," Allen highlights how it facilitates elaborate electronic camera movements, too. The existence of such a surface area allows for elegant, unblocked tracking shots, which are crucial for preserving fluid visual stories. The capability to place "furnishings on top of it" without compromising the visual continuity or safety of the production speaks to the flexibility and practicality of this tool.
When Allen points out that it is "seamless and you don't see it," she touches on the magic of production, whereby the mechanics behind an aesthetically sensational scene remain hidden from the audience. This seamlessness is essential; it makes sure that nothing diminishes the audience's immersion in the world being portrayed. The dance flooring becomes an unnoticeable structure upon which movement, emotion, and narrative are easily constructed.
In essence, Debbie Allen clarifies the technical precision needed in premium productions and the dance flooring's role as an unnoticeable however vital aspect of stagecraft and filmmaking.
About the Author