A
sprung floor is a
floor that absorbs shocks, giving it a softer feel. Such floors are considered the best available for
dance and indoor
sports and
physical education. They enhance performance and greatly reduce injuries. Modern sprung floors are supported by foam backing or rubber feet, while traditional floors provide their spring through bending woven wooden battens. Many dance halls with sprung hard wood floors date back to the early 20th century, such as the
Willowbrook Ballroom in Chicago (1921), the
Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR (1914), and the Carrillo Ballroom in Santa Barbara, CA (1914).