Dance Studio Guide
The Dance Studios Guide is published with the support of the Ministry of Culture.
Why this guide?
To provide guidance on any project involving the design, construction, upgrading to current standards or renovation of a dance studio;
To ensure the safety and quality of dance practice, whilst taking into account issues of inclusion and accessibility, social and environmental responsibility, and energy efficiency;
To help identify the needs the studio must meet according to its intended uses.
Who is it for?
A resource for venue owners, operators, management teams at educational institutions and cultural organisations, local authorities, teaching and technical staff, artists, programme curators, architects and design consultancies…
How?
A method based on an analysis of usage patterns
Legal and technical information
Feedback and advice
Thematic focus sections on the challenges of energy and environmental transition, accessibility and health
The publication of this guide follows numerous meetings and discussions with dance artists, teachers, technical managers and healthcare professionals, who have highlighted the need for a framework for reflection and recommendations for dance studios. This guide therefore sets out the fundamental elements required to ensure the safety, comfort and quality of all dance activities, whether involving amateur or professional artists of all ages. It covers creative and rehearsal studios as well as teaching studios and even the stage itself. The sections cover the building as a whole, the floor, lighting, thermal and acoustic insulation, ancillary spaces and equipment, with particular attention paid to issues of accessibility, energy and environmental sustainability, and the protection of users’ health.
Whilst not claiming to be exhaustive, this guide sets out the knowledge, practices and regulations current at the time of writing, and we urge readers to remain vigilant regarding any subsequent developments – particularly regulatory changes – that may need to be taken into account.
Table of contents
- Introduction
- Key Focus Areas
- Regulatory Requirements
- Dance Studios
- Public Access Premises (ERP): Legal Framework and Requirements for Dance Studios
- Accessibility for People with Disabilities
- Environmental Sustainability
- General Characteristics
- The Dance Studio Space
- Thermal Comfort and Air Quality
- Acoustic Comfort
- Visual Comfort
- Upkeep and maintenance
- The floor: a key factor for health and performance
- The fundamentals: shock absorption, flexibility, glide and uniformity
- Safeguarding the health of dancers
- An inadequate regulatory framework
- The dance floor: a comprehensive system
- The main categories of technical solutions
- Choosing a suitable finish or surface
- Maintaining a dance floor
- Environmental considerations and the health safety of materials
- Equipment Mirrors and curtains
- Bars
- Sound and audiovisual equipment
- Other equipment
- Additional facilities
- Showers, toilets, changing rooms and dressing rooms
- Social and communal areas
- Services and ancillary spaces
- Mobile studios
- Temporary and travelling dance studios
- Outdoor and demountable stages
- Resources
© Centre national de la danse
Download the practical guideline
Contributions and testimonials
Writing and editorial coordination
Camille Casale
Contributors
Technical section: Dominique Hurtebize, technical director in the performing arts; Christophe Poux, technical director in the performing arts; Bernard Schlaefli, technical director at Pôle Sud – CDCN Strasbourg and representative of REDITEC – Association of Technical Directors; Frédéric Vannieuwenhuyse, technical director at CND
Energy section: Pascal Lenormand, Energy Designer® engineer, co-founder of Incub’ and his entire team
Health section: Audrey Lucero, sports doctor, Sports Medicine and Traumatology Unit, Clinique du Sport Bordeaux-Mérignac
With the support and testimony of
Dominique Avril — Vice-President of the French Dance Federation
Xavière Barreau — sports physician, coordinator of the Dance Medicine Department, Paris National Opera
Noélie Carretero — project manager and expert in environmental performance and building comfort, Cerema
Marine Combrade — dancer, teacher, AFCMD trainer
Didier Coquelet — Technical Director of the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon
Nicole et Norbert Corsino — choreographers and artistic directors, SCENE44
Cyril Crépet — co-director, Boom’ Structur, CDCN Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Camille Enault — technical director, Chaillot National Theatre of Dance
Olivia Fortuné — Head of the Architectural Advisory Mission, Ministry of Culture
Rodolphe Fouillot — choreographer, dancer and teacher
Maxime Gueudet — Project Manager for the Ecological Transition in the Creative Arts, Ministry of Culture
Christophe Haleb — choreographer, La Zouze
Mehdi Idir — Inspector for Artistic Creation, Ministry of Culture
Anne Lefevre — Programme Officer, Dance Delegation, Ministry of Culture
Robert Le Nuz — Dancer, teacher and trainer at AFCMD
Clément Leybros — Head of Energy Management, Ministry of Culture
Bruno Magueres — member of the Federal Executive Committee of the French Dance Federation
Emilie Peluchon — Director of La Maison danse CDCN Uzès Gard Occitanie
Agathe Pfauwadel — choreographer with Cie Pasarela
Pierre-Marie Quéré — Director-General of RésoNAnces, Bordeaux Nouvelle-Aquitaine Higher Education Centre for Music and Dance
Thomas Roquier — Head of Projects and Technical Advice, Odia Normandie
Chloé Saumade — Osteopath (DO), Coordinator of the Dance Health Centre, Rosella Hightower National Centre for Higher Education in Dance
Anne Sauvage — Director of the Atelier de Paris / National Centre for Choreographic Development
Emilie Wittmer — Occupational Ergonomist, Thalie Santé
Thank you to the manufacturers for the discussions and the technical documentation provided
Harlequin Europe: Chantal Lagniau, Managing Director, and Nicolas Ferrand, Technical Director
Junckers France: Patricia Haegeman, Regional Manager, and Pascal Bourdon, Technical Advisor
Parquet Miel: André Mercoiret, Founder and Chairman, and Coline Exertier, Managing Director
Spectat: Loïc Durand, Founder and Chairman, and Arthur Durand, Managing Director
VTI Menuiserie scénique: Christine Droual, managing partner
Thank you also to everyone whose feedback helped shape the creation of this guide.
The guide to dance studios was produced following the consensus conference on the design of dance studios, organised in 2019 by the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the CND (National Centre for Dance).
Updated on the
53 pages
Collection : Hors collection
ISBN : 979-10-97388-51-5
Dépôt légal : septembre 2026
Gratuit