Abstract: A method for treating the soil in a performance arena. An effective amount of a treatment composition is applied to the soil in a performance area in the performance arena. The treatment composition is a water absorbing substance having a slow water releasing capability whereby the treatment composition absorbs water and slowly releases the absorb water for substantially reducing dust resulting in performance activities. The treatment composition in a preferred form is a gel-forming, water absorbing polymer or, more particularly, a crosslinked polyacrylamide polymer. The method particularly is directed to treating the performance area in an animal arena such as an indoor or outdoor facility where horse shows or rodeos or the like occur.