This question is a great one to muse over while on the dance floor. I have to agree in spirit with Telemark's responses. You need enough length on the long sides of any floor to complete figures that require at least 6 to 7 measures of music, and then have room remaining to make certain you don't steer your partner into a wall. When dancing at the silver level and above, you can cover alot of floor space in little time. I am an intermediate student of American Smooth, and I have been questioning my teacher as to what figures to commence when I find myself in tight situations such as at the end of run down one wall or another. It's a great way to exlpore your knowledge of the syllabus and to improve your floorcraft.