Harlequin to present floor health matters talk at dance teachers’ conference

Mark Rasmussen, Harlequin Group Marketing Manager will be talking about floors and health matters tomorrow, at the first ever International Dance Teachers’ Conference currently taking place at The Royal Ballet School in London.

Sponsored by Harlequin, the International Dance Teachers’ Conference is described as “four days of inspiration, innovation and imagination.” The conference opened last night with a glittering Gala Evening featuring top calibre performers including Wayne Sleep, Steven McRae, Sarah Lamb, Lizzie Gough and Two and a Half Men. “What an incredible lineup!” commented Mark and “oh yes, they all performed their magic on Harlequin Cascade”.

Addressing the conference Tuesday morning, Mark will turn to the subject of dancers’ health and the importance of a good quality sprung floor in helping reduce the high levels of injury associated with dancing on hard, unyielding floors. His presentation will recognize the outcomes of research studies correlating the contribution of a sprung floor with providing a safer working environment for dancers.

Charity dance event to be staged on Harlequin sprung floor

The Gary Avis & Friends Charity Gala event in aid of The Hunger Project. is due to take place at the Ipswich Regent Theatre on Sunday 11th September. A Harlequin Liberty sprung floor used in conjunction with black Harlequin Reversible dance surface will be installed for the performance.

Gary Avis is a Principal Character Artist and also Ballet Master at the Royal Ballet. Bryony Wells of The Hunger Project explains, “the performance, which will be hosted by Angela Rippon involves 10 Principal Dancers from the Royal Ballet and we therefore need to put in place a good sprung floor.” She continued, “Harlequin provided the floor for an event involving the Royal Ballet last year in Lagrasse, and all the dancers were very happy with this floor. Additionally, Gary Avis teaches at the Wells Summer Schools at which a Harlequin floor is used, and has been very impressed with it.”

Tickets for the event are still available from the box office of the Ipswich Regent Theatre.

Expressions Dance Company scoops Harlequin sponsored award in Australia

Expressions Dance Company won the Harlequin sponsored ‘Outstanding Performance by a Company Award’ for Where the Heart Is, at the 2011 Australian Dance Awards, held in Brisbane.

Natalie Weir, Artistic Director of EDC and choreographer of Where the Heart Is said "EDC was both proud and humbled to be awarded in a category with such amazing artists and companies from around Australia. Where the Heart Is was a joyous journey for the creative team" she added.

Where the Heart Is was nominated by the judges "for the dancers’ beauty and technical excellence in telling a powerful emotional story with great characterisation and intensity".

Taking two further awards on the night were dancer Amy Hollingsworth and choreographer Rafael Bonachela, both from Sydney Dance Company.

‘Outstanding Performance for a Female Dancer’ was awarded to Amy for Irony of Fate for her “outstanding technique articulation, clever variation of dynamics and powerful stage presence; an exceptional artist”.

Rafael Bonachela’s award meanwhile, in the ‘Outstanding Achievement in Choreography’ category, was for 6 Breaths. Cited for "a delicate combination of skill and vision to create an exquisitely crafted beautifully balanced work; for a wonderful collaboration with video artist and musician".

Harlequin Group Marketing Manager, Mark Rasmussen who was on hand to congratulate the winners said "… just a few days earlier I had been in Sydney filming an interview with Rafael about his new Harlequin floors and the next thing I knew I was in Brisbane applauding his win. Congratulations not only to all the winners on the night, but to all the nominees given that the standard of the shortlists were so incredibly high. What a wonderful celebration of Australian dance."

Photos:

Expressions Dance Company's Richard Causer, photo by Justin Nicholas, Atmosphere Photography.

Natalie Weir, Artistic Director of EDC winners of Outstanding Performance by a Company award.

Winners Amy Hollingsworth & Rafeal Bonachela both of Sydney Dance Company with Mark Rasmussen, Group Marketing Manager Harlequin (centre).