Universal Ballet has the world at its feet thanks to Harlequin Floors

Shim Chung (Dancer: Hyemin Hwang); photograph courtesy of Universal Ballet. 

It was during a world tour when dancers of South Korean based Universal Ballet first discovered the delightful experience of performing on a Harlequin dance floor. 

General Director, Julia H Moon elaborates: “When we visited Les Grands Ballet Canadiens while we were on tour in 2001, our dancers fell in love with their floors, which were Harlequin Studio™. Ever since, Universal Ballet has danced on Harlequin in our studios at home, during our local performances and on our overseas tours. Our dancers feel at home in every theatre around the world with Harlequin underfoot.” 

Universal Ballet recently purchased more Harlequin Studio™ in dark grey, to furnish two of their studios, plus more for touring. Tough but lightweight, Harlequin Studio™ has long been popular with ballet companies for both permanent installation in dance studios and for touring. With further tour dates scheduled during 2012 and 2013, thanks to Harlequin Floors, Universal Ballet has the world at its feet. 

British Harlequin at ABTT Theatre Show 2012

A brand new stand furnished with bright red Harlequin Hi-Shine display flooring was on show when British Harlequin exhibited at the eagerly anticipated ABTT 2012 Theatre Show this week.

Harlequin Liberty dance floor on Big Dance tour

Big Dance 2012 and the Big Red Bus, now touring various London venues, plus some in the Midlands, is taking along a Harlequin Liberty sprung dance floor. 

As part of the Cultural Olympiad the Big Dance Bus tour is “set to get everyone dancing this summer.” It will be stopping at shopping centres, squares and parks, plus a few famous London locations – “anywhere where there are people who might be in need of some fun and dancing.” The Big Dance Bus will host a multitude of dance styles and activity, from street to folk via contemporary and tango. “The Big Dance Bus brings its own resident dance company and presents a mixture of performances from local acts and schools to professional. plus the opportunity to join free workshops in swing, folk, hip hop hula and Zumba®. 

On tour with the Big Dance Bus and provided by British Harlequin, is 100m² of Harlequin Liberty™ sprung dance floor. Liberty is a floating floor system composed of sprung floor panels, which can be quickly latched together, then covered with a Harlequin Cascade™ dance surface to create a professional quality sprung floor at each of the 30 venues on the seven week tour. 

The iconic red double-decker London Routemaster bus is described by the organisers as “the ultimate pop up ballroom and ready-made rave... complete with it its own dance-floor, pumping sound system, compere and DJ - perfect for showcases, portable raves and impromptu dance offs.” 

Harlequin hint at bright future for award winning product

British Harlequin plc, world leaders in floors for the performing arts, will also be showcasing the product that was awarded ‘Widget Product of the Year 2011’ on their stand (4) at the ABTT Theatre Show 2012. 

The award winning Edge-Safe, will be featured along with Harlequin’s comprehensive range of floors for theatre, dance and display when the 2012 show opens at the Old Truman Brewery in London on 13th June. Announcing Harlequin’s move to display the product, Group Marketing Manager, Mark Rasmussen hinted a further announcement could be anticipated in the next month or so. 

Edge-Safe is a revolutionary theatre stage safety product that improves the safety of working on and off the stage by greatly reducing the chance of equipment, crew and performers falling from the stage edge. The judges felt that “Edge-Safe can make a significant contribution to safety in theatres, by providing a low profile barrier to stop wheeled items like flight cases and Tallescopes falling from the front edge of the stage as well as protecting Performers and Crew.” 

Harlequin roll-out dance floors ideal for schools

British Harlequin offers four Education Dance Floor Packs specifically designed for use in schools. Whether for dance study at GCSE and A-level, or for extra curricula activity, there is a ready-to-use package available. A new brochure explains the choice of packs in greater detail. 



The right floor is essential to ensure dance students achieve their best performances in safety. Ordinary wood floors or sports floors are too slippery for safety and too hard or unyielding for most dance disciplines. Without a purpose-designed dance floor, there is higher risk to health through injury from falling or muscle strain. British Harlequin's dance floor technology provides dance students with floors that offer the right degree of "traction" and controlled "spring". 



Dance Floor Pack A is ideal for infant, junior and lower schools needing a roll-out floor for dance lessons and performances that can then easily be stored away. Harlequin Reversible is a double-sided flooring suitable for both dance and stage, with an alternate colour on the reverse. There are 7 combinations to choose from, each quick to roll out and lay flat to provide a slip-resistant dance surface. 



Dance Floor Pack B is well suited to secondary schools for A-level work. Pack B contains a larger quantity of Harlequin Reversible to comply with the recommended minimum 10m x 7.5m dance floor space for A-level work. 



Dance Floor Pack C is ideal for secondary schools looking for a hard-wearing floor suitable for dance and stage use. Harlequin Studio is a specially developed vinyl formulation that meets the needs of dancers and has a cushioned backing, This pack also complies with the recommended minimum 10m x 7.5m dance floor space for A-Level work. 

Harlequin Education Dance Floor Pack ‘D’ is based on the renowned Liberty sprung floor panels, which can be fitted together to create an 80m² dance floor. Comprising 36 full size and 8 half size panels, which are joined together using a unique latching system, the pack also includes edge trims and a ramp to complete the sprung floor. Four lengths of Harlequin Reversible can then be laid and secured with the joining tape provided to complete the dance surface. The Harlequin Reversible flooring can be rolled up, secured with Roll Straps and placed in the Harlequin Storage Bags supplied when the floor is not required. As an optional extra and for added convenience, two Harlequin Liberty Panel Storage Carts can be ordered to assist transporting and storing the panels.