Health & Wellness
Your Gym Floor Is Wrecking Your Knees — And Nobody Told You
Not all floors are equal — and your joints notice the difference. What a sprung floor actually is, why dancers insist on it, and how to tell if a studio really has one.
You've probably felt it: after a jump class on a hard floor, your shins and knees complain for days. The floor is often the culprit.
What Is a Sprung Floor?
A sprung floor is a raised floor built on a flexible base — for example foam pads or a layered timber construction — so it gives slightly under impact and returns energy. On top sits a dance surface such as a vinyl dance floor (often called "Harlequin" after a well-known brand) that offers controlled grip for turns.
Why Your Body Cares
Every landing sends force up through your feet, shins, knees, hips and spine. A hard floor sends most of it straight back into your body. A sprung floor absorbs part of that impact, which is why dance teachers and physiotherapists recommend them for jumping, pointe and high-energy styles, and why dancers often report less fatigue after long rehearsals.
Floors That Look Fine But Aren't
- Wood laid directly on concrete — beautiful, but with almost no give.
- Rubber gym floors — great for weights, too sticky for turns.
- Tiles and stone — hard and slippery.
- Carpet — dangerous for turns and slides.
How to Check Before You Book
- Ask directly: "Is the floor sprung?"
- Jump on it: a sprung floor feels slightly softer and quieter.
- Look at the surface: a dedicated dance vinyl is a good sign.
Our Floors
All five studios of the Wiener Ballettakademie have sprung floors — Studios 1 and 4 with a sprung Harlequin-type dance surface — because our own students train on them every day. They're available to rent from €20 per hour, 07:00–22:00, at Längenfeldgasse 27, 1120 Wien.
Give your knees a break: book a slot in the availability calendar.
Studio Rental · Vienna
Why Dancers Choose the Wiener Ballettakademie
A real ballet academy — not a gym
Our studios were built for professional ballet training and are used by our own academy every day. You rent the same rooms our students and teachers dance in.
Five professional studios
From an intimate 55 m² studio to two 100 m² halls — over 550 m² of space under one roof, for 1 to 25 dancers.
Fully equipped for class and rehearsal
Full-wall mirrors, ballet barres, a sound system and climate control come with every studio.
Honest, simple prices
€20–€30 per hour for up to 10 people. No minimum booking, same price any time — 07:00 or 21:00, weekday or Sunday. Each extra person beyond 10 is just €5 per hour.
Open 07:00–22:00, every day
Early mornings, late evenings and weekends — when most other rooms in Vienna are closed.
Instant online booking
Live availability calendar and secure card payment. Your studio is confirmed the moment your payment is completed.
Easy to reach by public transport
Längenfeldgasse 27, 1120 Wien (Meidling). About five minutes on foot from the U6 and U4 station Längenfeldgasse, and also easy to reach by tram 62 and the Badner Bahn (WLB). Friendly on-site support when you arrive.
Your studio is reserved as soon as your online payment is completed.
Comments (6)
I run Pilates classes here and my clients always comment on the room.
The space is large enough that we can run two groups side by side without bumping into each other.
Our crew rehearses here twice a week now. Never had a problem getting a slot.
Booked a photo shoot here last month. The natural light in the afternoon is beautiful.
The mirrored wall and the sound system were both better than expected.
We split the cost across eight dancers and it still came out cheaper than our old place.