Harlequin floors for dance, theatre & events at PLASA

British Harlequin, world leaders in floors for the performing arts, will be presenting a comprehensive range of floors for dance, theatre, display and events on stand 1 L31 at London’s PLASA Show, 9th~12th September 2012. 

Harlequin’s popular floors for display are being increasingly used for major television productions and events, to add colour, gloss and sparkle to the set. Harlequin also builds and installs custom designed floors for theatres, performing arts centres and cruise ships. The Harlequin name is of course familiar to dance companies and dance schools around the world. Within the global dance community, Harlequin is respected for investment in supporting research leading to the development of advances in dance surfaces and sprung sub floors. Modern dance floors are contributing to reducing injuries and boosting dancers’ confidence. 

With more than 30 years’ experience in producing world leading floors for performance, Harlequin provides sprung floors for permanent or temporary installation, roll out and permanent vinyl floors. Accessories include tapes, roll carts, bags and straps, ballet barres and cleaning materials. 

Experts from British Harlequin will be on the stand at PLASA 2012 to advise the most suitable floor type for a wide range of performance venues. 

Big Dance at Covent Garden Piazza

Some pictures from the Big Dance today on Harlequin Liberty sprung floor at Covent Garden Piazza.

Tuesday 10am and the floor is ready

Thanks to Harlequin there's no dancing on concrete

HostHakeem Onibudo calls for appreciation for Harlequin Floors

The show starts with audience participation

The Dance Guide joins in

The resident company open the show

The violinist waits her cue

Camera crews cover the event

It's Big Dance Week

The Big Dance Bus rolled into Covent Garden Piazza today - the next stop on the tour that is getting everyone dancing this summer. And as show host, Hakeem Onibudo told the lunch time crowds "without Harlequin providing the dance floor we would be dancing on concrete."

By 10 o'clock the Harlequin Liberty sprung floor was laid on the Piazza and the Harlequin Cascade dance surface taped in place as preparations for today's show proceeded back stage. 

After a warm up for members of the audience, the Big Dance Bus resident company took to the stage in a routine choreographed by Fleur Davison and Natasha Khamjani.

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.”