New Scottish Ballet HQ review

Architecture Today has reviewed the new Scottish Ballet HQ in Glasgow which has been equipped with Harlequin WoodSpring sprung dance floors. 

Dance champion appointed

According to BBC news channels former 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge Arlene Philips is taking on a new role promoting dance.  The Stage reports that the "Former Strictly Come Dancing judge and Youth Dance England patron Arlene Philips is to lead a group of “dance champions” in a national campaign to boost participation in the artform in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Photo: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features. Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ host a free dance class at the Peter Jones Store, Chelsea, London on a Harlequin Fiesta dance floor.

RIBA approved CPD Seminars for architects from British Harlequin

Leading dance floor manufacturer, British Harlequin plc, has announced that the company is now approved to offer RIBA recognised CPD seminars on the subject of 'specifying floors for dance, drama and performance'. These seminars are designed for architects who are required to undertake some 35 hours of CPD - Continuous Professional Development - training each year. The Harlequin seminar has been developed in conjunction with RIBA - the Royal Institute of British Architects. It explains how important it is to specify a floor that suits the dancers requirements, for performance, safety and according to the type of use. Also why sports floors are not suitable for performance any more than aesthetically attractive wood floors, or for that matter regular industrial and commercial grade floors. For dancers the floor is an essential part of their work environment something not always appreciated by architects. More information can be found on the Harlequin web site where there is an Architects' Area full of useful specification data, downloads, links to specification clauses and project references.

Harlequin WoodSpring sprung dance floor in new studios for Scottish Ballet

Scottish Ballet now has a new purpose-built headquarters on the south side of Glasgow. All the studios are equipped with Harlequin's WoodSpring basketweave sprung dance floors. Harlequin last year put in WoodSpring into two studios in converted stables at Tramway. Now three more studios have been added in the new building, one being a huge 382 sq. m. - probably the largest in Europe. All these 3 dance studios have a Harlequin Cascade vinyl dance surface. The new building was designed by Edinburgh based Malcolm Fraser Architects. The full story can be read at the Harlequin Virtual News Office.