Robbins Sports Surfaces launches dedicated dance division and names new VP

Robbins Sports Surfaces has expanded Robbins Dance & Performing Arts into a dedicated division and hired former New York City Ballet principal dancer James Fayette as vice president of business development. The move deepens the company’s push into performance flooring for dancers and other artists across the U.S. and Canada.

Why it matters: - Robbins is betting that dance and performing arts need flooring engineered with the same precision the company has long brought to pro sports. - The expansion gives the company a clearer play in a market where dancer health, impact reduction and recovery are central concerns. - James Fayette’s background in dance, union advocacy and arts leadership gives the division a leader with credibility in the field.

What happened: - Robbins Sports Surfaces announced Robbins Dance & Performing Arts as a dedicated division on Sept. 15, 2026. - The company named James Fayette vice president of business development for the division. - Fayette is a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet. - The announcement said Robbins Dance & Performing Arts will focus on flooring for dancers and other performers.

The details: - Robbins Dance & Performing Arts designs precision-engineered, biomechanically informed flooring. - Fayette will manage the division’s go-to-market strategy. - The floor systems are designed to reduce ground-reaction force and harmful vibration. - The surfaces are intended to help dancers perform longer, recover faster and move with more confidence. - Robbins says the flooring provides a consistent surface that does not degrade and can last for decades. - Sale, delivery and installation will be supported across the U.S. and Canada. - The division’s floors are already installed in hundreds of locations nationwide. - The flooring is used in theaters, dance studios and K-12 schools. - The products support ballet, contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, dance team and cheer. - Named users include Jacob’s Pillow, Open Jar Studios, Ballet West, Alberta Ballet and Wonderbound Contemporary Ballet. - Robbins Sports Surfaces says it has more than 130 years of flooring innovation. - The company says it has long supplied flooring trusted by professional sports teams, including the 2026 champion New York Knicks. - More information is available at Robbins Dance & Performing Arts.

Between the lines: - The launch positions Robbins to compete more directly for institutional dance and performance buyers, not just athletic facilities. - Fayette’s hiring suggests Robbins wants a leader who understands both the artistic and safety sides of the market. - The company is framing dancer wellbeing as a performance issue, not only a comfort issue. - That approach mirrors how sports-surface companies often sell to athletes and trainers.

What's next: - Fayette will lead the division’s market expansion in the U.S. and Canada. - Robbins said the new division will support continued growth with the dance and performing arts community. - The company is aiming to set a new standard for dancer wellbeing through flooring design and installation.

The bottom line: - Robbins is turning its sports flooring expertise into a dedicated dance business, with an industry insider now steering the effort.