Okay, here’s my blog post about putting together that portable wooden dance floor:

So, I’ve been wanting a decent practice space for dancing at home, and those flimsy roll-out mats just weren’t cutting it. I needed something with a bit more…oomph. Something that felt like a real dance floor. That’s where this “keel dancing plywood portable wooden flooring” idea came in.

The Brainstorm

I started by thinking, “What do I really need?” It had to be portable, so I could move it around or store it. It had to be relatively easy to put together, and I wanted that solid, sprung-floor feel. That’s where the “keel” part came in – I figured some kind of support structure underneath was key.

Gathering Supplies

First, I grabbed some plywood. I didn’t go super fancy, just regular old plywood from the hardware store. I decided to make the thing in sections, makes it easier to move.

Then, the “keels.” I ended up using some 2x4s. I wasn’t sure how to make a sprung floor, I just wanted something strong to keep the wood off the carpet.

Putting it Together

I cut the plywood into smaller, manageable squares. Then, I laid out the 2x4s like, well, keels on a boat, I guess! I spaced them out evenly to support the plywood sheets. Important: I made sure the keels ran perpendicular to the direction I wanted the top boards to go. That way, you get the best support.

Next, the exciting part! I put the plywood squares on top of my “keels.” I used wood screws to fix everything together, making sure the screws were sunk in so they wouldn’t snag my shoes.

• Cut plywood into squares.
• Cut 2x4s for the keels.
• Arrange keels on the floor.
• Place plywood on top of keels.
• Fixed it with wood screws.

Testing it Out!

Once it was all screwed together, it was time for the test run. And…it worked! It felt surprisingly solid. The whole thing could be picked up and moved in sections, which was exactly what I wanted. It’s not perfectly smooth, but it’s a heck of a lot better than dancing on carpet!

The Verdict

Honestly, it’s pretty good! It’s sturdy, portable, and gives me a much better surface to practice on. Plus, I built it myself, which is always satisfying. If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to make a practice dance floor, this keel and plywood method is definitely worth a shot!