Your Ultimate Guide to Dance Studio Mirrors
Dancing is an imaginative as well as visual art. It requires a lot of practice and observation. That is why most dance studios usually put up mirrors. With the right set of mirrors on the wall, a dancer can get to see every one of his or her moves and improve on them.
What type of dance studio mirrors is the best for your studio?
Dance studio mirrors make a big difference in altering the appearance of a professional studio. Anyone who wishes to own a professional dance studio will want it to be inviting and welcoming for those coming to train.
The studio mirror goes a long way in determining the appeal of the room for it to be a professional studio.
You could build a new location, rent, or use a room in your apartment to create your dance studio. What matters more is how well the room is designed to match the standard of professionalism.
Apart from having the perfect floor for the studio to make it easier for dance enthusiasts to practice their moves, it’s also vital to install the right dance studio mirrors.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing the type of dance studio mirror that will fit your professional studio and bring it up to standard.
Size of the Space
You need to consider your space size when opting for a mirror. You need to determine whether you want a large seamless mirror or you wish to place mirrors side by side, having multiple mirrors in the room.
There are pros and cons to both options. For a large seamless mirror, it is easier to see yourself from every angle; you can easily study how you move your legs and body. The disadvantage, however, is the cost of purchase and mounting.
This becomes a tougher challenge for those who own a studio that doesn’t permit structural improvements.
For multiple mirrors, it’s way cheaper to purchase various mirrors when compared with owning one standard mirror hung on the wall.
A rolling mirror even makes the work more comfortable; this is because you can move it from one angle to another at any time, and you can even move it entirely outside the room to another location if you prefer.
The disadvantage, however, is in the ease of mobility, when dancing, one can get carried away in the dancing and make moves towards the mirror causing it to fall and shatter.
Also, there is no guarantee that one will be able to have a perfect view from every angle when using multiple mirrors, you will have to roll the mirrors to the side mechanically any way you desire and anytime you want it. This can be tiring and frustrating.
So, you need to measure the size of the room to know what fits best for your structure.
Type of Mirror
The exact kind of mirror you can use, to a large extent, determines how your studio will look. The truth about the matter of choosing the type of mirror is that the more expensive, the better the quality. Low iron glass, for instance, is the best in the glass mirror family.
This is because they give a better and brighter reflection than other glass mirrors. However, they can be more costly.
Another type of glass mirror to consider for your studio is tempered glass. This glass mirror is stronger than the other mirror types. This means it does not break easily, and even when it does, it usually shatters into tiny bits making it rather harmless when compared with the other glass types.
The plastic and acrylic glass mirrors are easier to purchase, but the disadvantage is the quality. They do not give clear reflections when compared with the other glass mirrors, and this can be very frustrating when dancing as concentration is needed, and having a blurry mirror can give unnecessary distractions to the dancer.
Another option that most professional studios now prefer is the non-glass mirror, especially the Mylar mirror. Mylar mirrors are easier to install and maintain than the other mirror types.
It does not break or shatter because it is not glass, and it also provides a better quality reflection than the acrylic and plastic glass types.
The kind of audience you will be inviting into your studio will determine the type of mirror you will choose. If you are working with professionals, you might need to get a standard mirror to make the place look classy and welcoming.
Sice and Frame of the Mirror
The size of the mirror is another important consideration. Mirrors usually come in different sizes, and you can choose whatever size you want, depending on your budget.
When choosing the height of the mirror and how best to mount it on the wall, you can make it cover the entire height of the wall, although this is not necessary if all you want to use the studio for is learning how to dance.
As long as you place it 16′ to 22′ above the ground, you can create more space from the ground up, and dancers can still be able to view their every move.
If you, however, decide to take other classes such as yoga classes with sitting involved, you might have to consider a mirror that fits the height of the wall.
Another thing to note is whether or not you want to frame your mirror and divide it into sections. A frameless mirror is usually more appealing and gives a full complement to the room.
However, the support is generally weak, and if for any reason, carelessness comes into play, the mirror can shatter at any time.
A framed mirror, on the other hand, can cover up for the weakness of the mirror and serve as a form of support. Frames help to cover the edges and sides of the mirror; this means it can hold up a glass mirror and prevent it from shattering when stumbled upon.
Mirror Thickness
One last consideration that needs mentioning is the thickness of the mirror, whether or not the mirror is framed, the thickness of the mirror can go a long way in holding up the mirror for a more extended period.
Thick mirrors do not shatter easily as opposed to thinner mirrors that can break at a careless move upon them.
This is more applicable to glass mirrors, though, because the mylar mirror is thin and does not shatter.
Depending on your budget, you can determine the thickness of the dance mirror you wish to purchase.
Wrap-Up
Every professional studio should have a wall mirror; this is very important in helping the dancers and trainers get better when making different moves.
The factors listed above should, however, be considered before making a choice and deciding on the kind of dance studio mirror you wish to spend your money on.