Visit Harlequin at BSEC

British Harlequin plc, world leaders in the development and supply of floors for dance and the performing arts are currently exhibiting at BSEC 2010. 

The Building Schools Exhibition & Conference 2010 is at at ExCel, London on the 24th and 25th February 2010 where the British Harlequin stand (634)  showcases an example of a dance studio, complete with sprung floor and ballet barrres. The event provides an opportunity to talk to experts and to view Harlequin’s floors which are widely used in schools, colleges, universities, performing arts centres and dance facilities. 

Harlequin floors, whether portable or permanently installed are durable, hardwearing and easy to maintain. Choosing the correct floor for dance is important for health, safety and artistic performance. Harlequin offer a choice of sprung sub-floors plus a range of dance surfaces, developed to meet the needs and rigours of different forms of dance. Harlequin floors are fully tested in accordance with DIN Standard 18032 Part II. They have become the preferred choice of many professional dancers and are also being endorsed for BSF projects. British Harlequin also offer a RIBA approved core curriculum CPD – ‘Specifying Floors for Dance, Drama and Performance – a Guide for Architects”. 

Harlequin floors for London’s big dance event

British Harlequin plc, world leaders in the development and supply of floors for dance and the performing arts, will once again be exhibiting at MOVE-IT 2010 and providing flooring for the main performance stage and Harlequin Masterclass Studio.

As well as being a sponsor of the event, Harlequin also sponsor the Harlequin Masterclasses specially designed for professional dancers and teachers that will be taking place in the Harlequin Masterclass Studio. The Harlequin Masterclass Programme offers a range of one off classes with some of the UK’s premiere dance companies and practioners to improve technique, learn new skills and meet some of the top figures in dance.

Move-IT 2010 is being held at Olympia, London on the 12^th to 14^th March 2010 where the British Harlequin stand will showcase an example of a dance studio, complete with sprung floor and ballet barrres. The event will provide an opportunity to talk to experts and to view Harlequin’s floors which are widely used at all levels of dance performance, rehearsal and education and installed in performing arts centres and dance facilities throughout the world.

Harlequin floors, whether portable or permanently installed are durable, hardwearing and easy to maintain. Choosing the correct floor for dance is important for health, safety and artistic performance. Harlequin offer a choice of sprung sub-floors plus a range of dance surfaces, developed to meet the needs and rigours of different forms of dance. 

Harlequin floors for Swan Lake tour rehearsals

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, currently on a UK tour,  used Harlequin Liberty Sprung floor panels with a Harlequin Studio dance surface for the London rehearsals. Now the same dance floor will be used when the tour reaches the Liverpool Empire this month to provide the company with a sprung floor at the venue.

Production Company, Great Leap Forward Ltd originally approached Harlequin for the hire of Liberty panels used for rehearsals at 3 Mills Studios, Bromley by Bow for the UK tour of Matthew Bourne’s acclaimed production of ‘Swan Lake’. They also purchased Harlequin Studio vinyl for the dance surface. The Liberty panels are quick to lock together, thanks to a patented latching mechanism allowing them to be configured to suit the venue space. The Studio dance surface is then rolled out and taped in place. Since its 1995 world première at Sadler’s Wells, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake has become the longest running ballet in the West End and on Broadway. ‘This new, witty and surprising production has been designed to speak to a modern audience, to excite them, to move them.’

Photo: Bill Cooper

Harlequin Hi-Shine puts the gloss on glittering Hong Kong fashion event

With a guest list headed by His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark and his wife Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat,  Harlequin Hi-Shine added the gloss to the stage at the centre of the ‘Kopenhagen Fur Gala’ fashion show.

The Kopenhagen Fur Gala’ was organised by the Danish General Consulate  in Hong Kong as part of  a week long promotion of Danish companies  in Hong Kong. 

The black Harlequin Hi-Shine used for the stage at The Repulse Bay Hotel, Hong Kong has a special laminated hard polymer ultra-gloss surface, which is superior to urethane for scratch-resistance.  Hi-Shine rolls out instantly to provide a breathtaking wet-look finish to create a perfect display floor for the fashion and entertainment presentations.

Planning dance studios for schools

If your school or dance school is planning a new dance studio or upgrade, then a visit to The Building Schools Exhibition & Conference 2010 at ExCel, London on the 24^th and 25^th February 2010 could be productive.  At this event the British Harlequin stand will showcase an example of a dance studio, complete with sprung floor, ballet barrres and mirrors.

British Harlequin floors are widely used in schools, colleges, universities, performing arts centres and dance facilities. Harlequin floors, whether portable or permanently installed are durable, hardwearing and easy to maintain. Choosing the correct floor for dance is important for health, safety and artistic performance. Harlequin offer a choice of sprung sub-floors plus a range of dance surfaces, developed to meet the needs and rigours of different forms of dance.

Harlequin floors are fully tested in accordance with DIN Standard 18032 Part II and the preferred choice of many professional dancers and are also being endorsed for BSF projects. Sports floors cannot be substituted as an alternative. They are unsuitable due to two intrinsic differences: the construction of the sprung sub floor and the performance surface. British Harlequin offer a RIBA approved core curriculum CPD – ‘Specifying Floors for Dance, Drama and Performance – a Guide for Architects”. To complete studios there is a range of ballet barres using wood from FSC approved suppliers.

The event will provide an opportunity to talk to experts and to view Harlequin’s floors which are widely used in schools, colleges, universities, performing arts centres and dance facilities. 

If you think you can dance make sure you use Harlequin dance floors

So you Think You Can Dance is the latest TV show to use Harlequin floors. 
The recent popular success of a number of light entertainment television shows, particularly those featuring live dance, has also put the spotlight on British Harlequin dance floors.
When Art Director Joshua Grace was commissioned to provide dance floors for So You Think You Can Dance ’, which started on BBC One this month, he turned to leading suppliers British Harlequin plc. Dance floors were called for at each of the main stages of the competition, beginning with the grey/black version of Harlequin Reversible for the audition phase. Reversible is simple to unroll across the stage and thanks to rolls being a generous 2 metre width requires relatively few taped joints to cover the dance area. It can be used either way up, allowing a choice of colour for the dance surface, each side having a slip-resistant surface. After each audition the Harlequin Reversible floor could be rolled up for transporting to the next venue. For the Choreography Camp a Harlequin Liberty sprung floor was hired and Harlequin Fiesta used as the dance surface. Fiesta offers a realistic oak strip patterned surface and works in conjunction with the Liberty sprung sub-floor. Liberty panels link together using a patented latching mechanism to create a floating floor system on which the dance surface can be laid, which again was Reversible for the live shows. 

Launching the show, the BBC announced the return of Nigel Lythgoe “to British shores to find the nation's hottest dancing talent on BBC One with the award-winning So You Think You Can Dance , starting on Saturday 2 January 2010. Fresh from six seasons of the hit show in the US, Lythgoe will take up his position as head judge along with renowned choreographer Arlene Phillips and a third judge to critique finalists competing for the title of Britain's Favourite Dancer. The culmination of a national audition tour which dancers from all disciplines attended, the top 14 have been selected for the live Saturday night studio shows. The series winner will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hollywood where they will get to perform live on the US version of the show, plus £100,000. But, in order to get there, the top 14 will be pushed right out of their comfort zones.” 

The BBC announcement continued, “Each week they'll be challenged to dance different styles like hip-hop, jazz, Broadway, lyrical and contemporary, with a new routine taught by world-renowned choreographers and mentors. And it won't be just the judges they have to impress: viewers will have the ultimate power to vote for their favourite dancer at the end of each live show.” 

Come and see the Harlequin dance studio at schools exhibition

British Harlequin plc, world leaders in the development and supply of floors for dance and the performing arts, will be exhibiting at BSEC 2010. 

The Building Schools Exhibition & Conference 2010 will take place at ExCel, London on the 24th and 25th February 2010 where the British Harlequin stand (634) will showcase an example of a dance studio, complete with sprung floor and ballet barrres. The event will provide an opportunity to talk to experts and to view Harlequin’s floors which are widely used in schools, colleges, universities, performing arts centres and dance facilities. 

Harlequin floors, whether portable or permanently installed are durable, hardwearing and easy to maintain. Choosing the correct floor for dance is important for health, safety and artistic performance. Harlequin offer a choice of sprung sub-floors plus a range of dance surfaces, developed to meet the needs and rigours of different forms of dance. Harlequin floors are fully tested in accordance with DIN Standard 18032 Part II. They have become the preferred choice of many professional dancers and are also being endorsed for BSF projects. British Harlequin also offer a RIBA approved core curriculum CPD – ‘Specifying Floors for Dance, Drama and Performance – a Guide for Architects”. 

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Photo credit: Harlequin dance floor at SLP College, Leeds, photographer David Jenkins.