Harlequin are exhibiting in Berlin

Showtech - the 15th International trade show and conference for stage technology, equipment and event services is currently being staged until 9th June at the Exhibition Centre Berlin. Here are some views from the busy Harlequin stand taken on the opening day.

New videos in dance interviews series posted

British Harlequin has posted three further interviews with dance directors in Europe and the USA. Click on links to view:-

1. Interview with Eric Vu-An, Artistic Director of Ballet Nice- Mediterranee (pictured left).
2. Interview with Jason Beechey, Director of Palucca Dance School (centre)
3. Interview with Brian Walker, Production Director Houston Ballet.

Harlequin hints at new advances in sprung floors

British Harlequin, recognized world leaders in dance floor technology are planning the introduction of a ground-breaking new development that seems set to generate considerable interest within the dance community. A major announcement will be made this summer.

Harlequin’s reputation in the dance community is well established around the world and includes many examples of support, including the long-running Dance Scholarships in America and the Prix de Lausanne in Europe, to mention just two. Consequently Harlequin enjoys a close rapport with the people who use dance floors and has developed a special understanding of what makes a good dance floor. Add to this the company’s expertise in materials technology and knowledge from dance medicine research and all the ingredients are there for a break through that will take dance floors to the next level.

Harlequin News re-launches in tabloid size

British Harlequin’s twice yearly newsletter has recently been upsized from the previous A5 to the larger tabloid format and re-branded asHarlequin News.

The 2011 spring issue features news of events from the United Kingdom, Europe, Hong Kong and America. Featured events include British Harlequin’s donation to the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, ‘Supper with the Stars’, ‘Dancing on Parliament’ and the TMA Theatre Awards.

Copies will be available from the Harlequin stand at current exhibitions, or a copy can be downloaded from the company web site .

Bright and colourful Harlequin Reversible is centre stage for Youth Theatre

Stage2 Youth Theatre , "Birmingham’s busiest and biggest youth theatre," used Harlequin Reversible™ as an essential feature of the set for the première of two new productions from the pen of Claire Dowie.

Better known as a floor where either side can be used as a dance surface, it was the "bright and colourful" appearance that put Harlequin Reversible™ centre stage in "Arsehammers". Set designers Acquis Media Ltd used the different colour options available to create a giant snakes and ladders board populated by young actors wearing luminous costumes and rolling giant dice to ascend ladders or slither back down snakes. The central characters, a young boy and his sister innocently believed that Arsehammers, their mispronunciation of the Alzheimers illness that had afflicted their grandfather, had given him super human powers.

By contrast "The Year of the Monkey" explored a darker theme where it was green Harlequin Reversible™ that complimented the themed costumes of the cast and a green tree that expanded to form a strand of DNA. Khalid Daley describing "The Year of the Monkey" said: "With the cast entering the stage, they sat down on black stools which were the only other set used in the play as the show unfolded into a masterpiece".

Supplied by Chris Cuthbert of Midlands based Acquis Media Ltd , "Harlequin Reversible™ was used in the Crescent Studio at The Crescent Theatre, Sheepcote Street, Brindleyplace where Stage2 Youth Theatre performed the premières of their two productions. Harlequin Reversible™ was also used at the Dovehouse Theatre, Olton, Solihull at the BDTG Festival where the casts ofArsehammersand The Year of The Monkey performed their shows for the One Act Play Category as part of Birmingham’s Festival of Acting and Musical Entertainment (BFAME). " Overall Stage2 Youth Theatre won eight awards including Best Direction (Liz Light), Best Adult One Act Play (The Year of The Monkey) and Best Youth One Act Play (Arsehammers) and nominated for an additional thirteen awards including two for technical achievement.

Dance injury researcher Luke Hopper thanks Harlequin for support

Luke Hopper PhD, a Lecturer of exercise, musculoskeletal and clinical biometrics at The University of Notre Dame, Australia has extended his thanks and gratitude to a number of individuals who have supported his research including "the invaluable assistance of Harlequin throughout my doctoral candidature."

As an ex-dancer, Luke Hopper is well aware of the demands of dance training and the associated injury risks. Since finishing dance training, Luke studied sport science at the University of Western Australia and has recently completed his PhD investigating the effects of dance floors on dancers.

Thanking "[the] representatives of Harlequin who have accepted and supported my research with openness and generosity. Their input has provided a major contribution to my research and I am grateful for the respect they have given my scientific obligations. I hope that my findings will significantly aid our common goal of improving the health of dancers."

Group Marketing Manager, Mark Rasmussen responded, "I know I speak for everybody at Harlequin when I say that we are proud to be associated with Luke’s work." Mark continued, " Attending meetings at the IADMS conference and with other professionals dealing with dancer's health in the last year, one name kept coming up, Luke Hopper."

Luke explained at the outset of the research, "Dance floors are an integral part of the dance environment, yet little information is available for the dance community that concerns how dance floors may affect dancer performance and injury. For the dedicated dancer striving to improve, injury can sadly be an all too common occurrence. By gaining knowledge concerning the relationship between dance floors and dancer performance and injury, the dance environment can be optimized in order to give dancers the best opportunities in their training."

Harlequin has a long tradition of working closely with the dance community to develop ‘research-informed’ dance floors and is a major supporter of IADMS - International Association for Dance Medicine & Science - in addition to sponsoring previous and on-going research in the USA, UK and Europe into dancers’ health related to the quality of dance floors. Harlequin also recently pledged £30,000 towards the creation of a National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science in the UK.

Photo: Luke Hopper assisted by Talia Wheeler with test equipment at the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

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