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Planning a dance studio? Get the new Harlequin planning guide.

British Harlequin has announced a new dance studio planning guide that should provide a helpful source of information to dance schools developing or expanding their facilities. 

The 16-page, A4 colour guide – ‘The Harlequin Quick Guide to Planning a Dance Studio’ – covers a wide range of issues that should be taken into account when thinking about developing a studio suitable for dance. The guide discusses dance floors in some detail, but does not over look other important studio essentials such as barres and mirrors. Other topics include storage and importantly acoustics. Poor acoustics can be a problem both for teachers and pupils, or have an impact on people nearby unless properly controlled. Accompanying the guide is a ‘Checklist for Planning a Dance Space’ that can be completed by ticking a few boxes and faxed to Harlequin for advice. It also points out other factors to think about including, lighting, heating and ventilation, seating, height of the space and disabled access requirements. 

Copies of ‘The Harlequin Quick Guide to Planning a Dance Studio’ can be requested without charge by calling British Harlequin on 01892 514888 or registering online at www.harlequinfloors.com.

Harlequin Studio floor - now also in pale blue

For generations of dancers British Harlequin’s famous Studio dance floor has been black or grey, but now a new version Studio 149, is available in pale blue. 

Harlequin Studio is a special hardwearing floor covering designed for dance, studio and stage use. The hard-wearing vinyl surface, now with a pale blue option, provides a slip-resistant floor to reassure performers and offer a predictable surface to give confidence to dancers for demanding choreography and movement. The firm but lightweight foam backing helps to protect against hard sub-floors and stays firmly in place when laid on any hard, smooth surface, such as particle board, hardwood, terrazzo or concrete or affords an excellent surface for a sprung sub-floor. 

Harlequin Studio 149 pale blue is in stock now with samples available on request. For larger studios, British Harlequin can discuss the possibilities of producing customised colours.

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New dance studios featured on TV programme

When a three-story office building came under the auctioneer’s hammer in Maidstone, Kent, it was with planning permission to convert into apartments. But winning bidder Mandy Ellen had other ideas to expand her nearby performing arts school, complete with two new dance studios. 

Mandy whose vision of converting the empty office space in central Maidstone was documented in the TV series ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ explained that the current facilities close by where tap, ballet and modern dance are taught had proved so popular over the last 15 years that more space was needed to not only teach other dance forms, but also add a singing area, student common room, dance shop, plus add those two new dance studios. In Mandy’s words, “lay down a proper Harlequin floor and away you go.” So it was not surprising that Mandy turned to British Harlequin for Cascade dance floor. 

Following its signature format the TV programme showed the deserted offices before conversion, followed the story to the auction and then returned 4 months later to view the completed project. As Mandy remarked her performing arts school was a far cry from the days when she ran her first classes in village halls. 

Set designer embodies Hi-Shine into project

The exciting glossy wet-look finish of Harlequin Hi-Shine floor has inspired designers and artists to create exciting stage sets, displays and exhibition stands. Recently takis, an experimental set, costume and installation designer used white Hi-Shine to stunning effect when engaged as set and costume designer for Kompany Malakhi’s “Rotations”. 

Described as “an innovative and compelling celebration of art and sport working towards the 2012 Cultural Olympiad” the Rotations project is set to start a UK tour in June. According to Kompany Malakhi, “Rotations began as project 360° in 2008 and currently exists as a duet between a BMX flatlander and B-Boy (breakdancer). It is now going into its next phase of development that will produce an outdoor performance and a dance on film.” 

takis was previously Designer-in-Residence for the 2008 and 2009 HighTide Festivals, which recently produced the very successful STOVEPIPE in collaboration with the National Theatre. takis is also the artistic director of his own company Artluxe, which produces installation and performance art. 

Hi-Shine rolls out instantly to a breathtaking wet-look finish provides perfect display floor for the entertainment industry and benefits from a special laminated hard polymer ultra-gloss surface, which is superior to urethane for scratch-resistance.