Harlequin roll-out dance floors ideal for schools

Harlequin Floors offer 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. 

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 falls or muscle strain. 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 80m ² 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.

Education Dance Packs are available in various options and a variety of colours and can be bought online from the Harlequin shop.

Harlequin support for Dance City at thirty

Harlequin Floors Managing Director, Guy Dagger was at Dance City’s Harlequin sponsored anniversary gala event recently, to congratulate everyone on a successful 30 years of delivering amazing dance opportunities.

 Dance City’s Newcastle city centre home is thriving and full of students, class attendees, community groups and schools, professional dancers and touring companies from across the world. Dance City’s studios benefit from installations of Harlequin Studio and Harlequin Standfast dance floors. 

The region’s leading dance organisation and National Dance Agency for the North East, is opening its doors for a programme of special events throughout 2016. Dance City’s 250 seat Theatre boasts the UK’s biggest programme of dance performance outside London and brings leading national and international performers to Newcastle. The 2016 programme is the most ambitious yet featuring performances by Gary Clarke Company, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Ockham’s Razor, Motionhouse and Tavaziva. 

Since 1991 Dance City has worked with education partners to offer professional dance training, and today this programme, run in partnership with Gateshead College, Northumbria University and Teesside University is even stronger than ever. Many young dancers go on to train at the world’s most prestigious dance schools and join leading dance companies such as Rambert, Cullburg Ballet and BalletBoyz. Earlier this year student Connor Scott was named BBC Young Dancer 2015 during a live BBC2 broadcast. People of all ages and abilities come together to keep fit and active through a programme of over 60 public dance classes every week from belly dance to ballet, hip hop to flamenco. The recent advent of classes for people aged 55 and over has seen a huge increase in this age group keeping active and enjoying the great health benefits that dancing brings. 

There are more professional dancers living and working in the North East than ever before. Professional dancers and choreographers meet, develop their skills and train at Dance City through special programmes designed to develop their skills and through commissioning opportunities.

Caroline Miller to leave Dance UK

Launch of Dance Manifesto

Dance UK recently announced that Director, Caroline Miller is leaving the organisation, after ten years in charge. 

During Caroline’s tenure at Dance UK, Harlequin Floors has developed a supportive relationship, right from the Dance Manifesto through to funding towards the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science. 

Commenting on the announcement of Caroline’s departure, Harlequin’s Chairman, Bob Dagger said, “As a manufacturer of dance floors, Harlequin shares and endorses the aims and ambitions of Dance UK. We are particularly supportive of assisting in encouraging emerging talent in the dance world and the provision of specialist medical help for injuries incurred by dancers. We also support research directed at improving the safety of dancers through a better understanding of all the factors involved.   In 2006, at Caroline’s instigation, we provided input to the Dance Manifesto which was presented to the Minister for Culture and Members of Parliament, leading on to the establishment of the All Party Parliamentary Dance Group.” 

Caroline Miller says she was “Immensely proud of what I and my colleagues have achieved over the last decade at Dance UK.” One very important achievement was the establishment of he National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science. Bob Dagger added, “On behalf of Harlequin Floors I was delighted that our company was able to make a crucial financial contribution that helped enable the NIADMS project to become a reality. Caroline Miller’s advocacy and work at Dance UK has now given the world of dance a much stronger voice with  a strong platform to build on for the future.”

Andrew Hurst named CEO for One Dance UK

Following the creation of One Dance UK, bringing together four separate bodies to unify the voice of dance, the new organisation has announced that Andrew Hurst will take up the role of CEO.

One Dance UK will be formed by the merger of ADAD (Association of Dance of the African Diaspora), Dance UK, NDTA (National Dance Teachers Association) and YDE (Youth Dance England). Andrew Hurst comes to One Dance UK from The Royal Ballet, where he was a member of the senior management team with responsibility for day-to-day operations, international touring, wrap around education and training. Andrew trained with The Royal Ballet School and danced with Basel Ballet, Switzerland; Ballet Gulbenkian, Portugal; Netherlands Dance Theatre II, Holland; Berlin Ballet, Germany; and Rambert Dance Company. Talking about his new appointment, Andrew said, “I am thrilled to be building on the vital work the four organisations have done to represent the interest of our sector.

Welcoming the formation of One Dance UK and the appointment of Andrew Hurst as its first CEO, Guy Dagger, Managing Director of Harlequin Floors said, “We have worked closely with the various groups who are now united within One Dance UK. We see this as a very positive move to continue to raise the profile of dance and we wish Andrew every success for the future.”

Harlequin Floors prepares for Prix de Lausanne

Photo credit: Prix de Lausanne 2012 – photo Gregory Batardon

Harlequin Floors, world leader in dance floor technology is proud to be a sponsor of the 41st Prix de Lausanne which takes place in Switzerland from 27th January – 2nd February. Competitors in this prestigious event will once again enjoy the benefit of performing on Harlequin dance floors, supplied as part of the company’s sponsorship arrangement. New for the Prix de Lausanne 2013 will be a Harlequin Floors sponsored scholarship awarded to one of the competition winners. 

The two rehearsal spaces will benefit from Harlequin Studio vinyl dance flooring. The stage where finals and semi finals take place enjoys Harlequin Studio vinyl to provide participants with a professional dance surface allowing them to fully express their dance talent before the judging panel without concerns for slips and falls. 

Harlequin Floors take a positive approach to supporting emerging talent in dance and endorses the aims and achievements of the Prix de Lausanne as an event to encourage and nurture dancers who will go on to become leading dancers and stars of the future. The motivation behind the partnership between Prix de Lausanne and Harlequin Floors is a shared interest in youngsters with a talent for dance which this year is strengthened by the introduction of the new Harlequin Scholarship. Additionally Harlequin Floors has supported the introduction of technology to the event and for the fifth year since its inception will sponsor the Video Blog offering followers insights into the emotions of competitors and otherwise unseen behind the scenes preparation. 

Created in 1973, the Prix de Lausanne is an international competition for young dancers aged 15 to 18 with “a prime objective to discover, promote, and support talent among the world’s finest young dancers.”The 41st Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition takes place 27th January to 2nd February 2013 from which Senior Sales and Marketing Manager, Patrick Lesage will be issuing regular reports throughout the event. 

When flooring takes centre stage

Floors for the performing arts must often fulfil a wide range of functions from stage floors designed for heavy traffic, a sprung floor that meets the needs of dancers or simply a floor for a ‘one off’ exhibition event. But with floors becoming more than just a neutral functional element, what options do set designers have to give their flooring that exciting ‘wow’ factor? 

In the entertainment industry, set design plays a significant part in an audiences’ enjoyment and floors have become an additional creative element that can add to their understanding of a production’s setting and mood. After all, the success of many prime time talent shows is as much down to the set as the format of the show. 

Offering the perfect display for set designers, Harlequin Hi-Shine from the world leaders in advanced technology flooring for dance and the performing arts, gives flooring the wet-look finish and is integral to the visual effect. 

Used on leading prime time talent shows, pop concerts, commercials, fashion launches and exhibitions, these smooth shiny temporary floors roll out easily and provide a breathtaking and highly reflective glossy finish – ideal for spectacular lighting effects. 

Suitable for loose lay or semi-permanent installation, Harlequin Hi-Shine is fast and easy to install making it extremely adaptable. The floor’s special laminated hard polymer ultra-gloss surface is superior to urethane for scratch-resistance and adds lustre to any event. 

Harlequin Hi-Shine is also requested for award dinners and celebrity performances which require a quick set-up and breakdown. It is also a quick, simple and very economical answer for photo shoots where you need a smooth, shiny floor which requires speed of installation. 

For nearly 30 years, Harlequin has developed its own portable and permanent sprung floor systems and produced a world-renowned range for all types of performance for stage, studio and display use. 

Portable, double-sided roll-out floors and permanent, heavy-duty cushioned vinyl including ultra-glossy Harlequin Hi-Shine are testament to why Harlequin has become the market leader through product innovation, expertise and by developing close relationships with industry experts. 

New Scholarship to be awarded at Prix de Lausanne by Harlequin Floors

New for the Prix de Lausanne 2013 will be a scholarship awarded to one of the competition winners and sponsored by Harlequin Floors, world leaders in dance floor technology. 

Announcing the new scholarship initiative, Chantal Lagniau,
 General Manager of Luxembourg based Harlequin Europe SA said, “Supporting young talented dancers and looking towards the future of dance is a cherished value of Harlequin Floors. In recognition of the dance community and in memory of our friends and founders of Prix de Lausanne, Elvire and Philippe Braunschweig, we have decided to strengthen the privileged links between both institutions and our support to the Prix de Lausanne. by giving this scholarship to one of the 2013 candidates.” She added, “We are also delighted to continue our support for a fifth year of the very successful initiative of the video-blog which allows Internet users to share in the emotions of the candidates and offers a glimpse behind the scenes at the Prix de Lausanne.“ 

The motivation behind the partnership between Prix de Lausanne and Harlequin Floors is a shared interest in youngsters with a talent for dance. In fact, for over 40 years, the Prix de Lausanne and Harlequin have in their own ways supported future stars of the dance world. The Prix de Lausanne enables students to access a study grant whilst Harlequin provides top quality dance floors. Harlequin also leads an international awareness campaign on the importance of the correct dance floors in preventing injury to dancers" 

The objective of the Prix de Lausanne is to help young talented dancers start in their professional careers. The winners of the contest receive scholarships that allow them to complete their training for one year in one of the schools or professional dance companies that are partners of the Prix de Lausanne. 

The 41st Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition takes place 27th January to 2nd February 2013.