Meet Harlequin Floors: CYD? Regionals Partner

Harlequin Floors

CYD? spoke with Harlequin Floors, our Regionals Partner and floor supplier, to find out more about this global flooring business and why having the correct dance floor matters. 

Why do you believe the correct flooring is important for dancers/dance schools?

The correct flooring is essential for dancers and dance schools as the choice of floor can impact performance, safety and long-term physical health. The wrong flooring can increase the risk of injuries such as joint strain and stress fractures. A Harlequin dance floor provides the right level of shock absorption, grip and support which allows dancers to train and perform with confidence.

  • A sprung floor is installed beneath the vinyl floor and is designed to absorb shock and reduce the impact on a dancer’s body by cushioning landings and minimising the risk of injury.
  • A vinyl floor is the performance surface that dancers move, turn and land on. It needs to be a smooth, consistent surface that is slip-resistant, giving enough traction to prevent slipping, but not so much that it hinders turns or movement.

What role do you see dance flooring playing in the overall performance and well-being of dancers?

A dance floor plays a vital role in helping dancers perform at their best by providing the right level of support and grip. With the confidence of a safe surface, dancers can fully express themselves through their movements. Investing in high-quality flooring not only improves performance but also protects the long-term health and careers of dancers by reducing physical strain and fatigue. As Playground London founder, Kenny Wormald, says: “Harlequin adds years to careers."

Can you talk our audience through a few flooring types you offer and what they will be best suited for?

We have a range of vinyl floors:

  • Harlequin Cascade is the ultimate heavy-duty vinyl dance floor, with mineral fibre reinforcement for stability and durability. It is widely used for ballet but is also a popular choice for many other dance styles.
  • Harlequin Reversible is a double-sided dance and stage floor. It is a lightweight vinyl that rolls out quickly, lays flat and stays flat. It is hard-wearing and slip-resistant on both sides. Harlequin Reversible is a versatile portable floor that is suitable for ballet and contemporary as well as flamenco, Irish, tap, jazz and many other dance genres. It is also popular for exhibitions, television, theatres and operatic performances.
  • Harlequin Reversible Pro has the same features but with the addition of a new mineral fibre interply layer, offering even more dimensional stability.

Harlequin Floors

Harlequin Floors also has a range of sprung floors:

  • Harlequin Activity is a ‘fully-floating’ sprung floor system and is designed for permanent installation. The system can be adapted to withstand heavy loading including retractable seating.
  • Harlequin Flexity is a cost-effective, self-install sprung floor panel system featuring stained birch plywood panels and shock-dampening single density elastomer pads. It is designed for permanent or semi-permanent installation.
  • Harlequin Liberty is a lacquered birch plywood sprung floor panel system featuring shock dampening dual-density elastomer pads. The panels join using a rounded tongue and groove and are secured in place using our ‘one turn of the key’ latch and lock mechanism. It is designed for both permanent or portable installation, so commonly used for events.
  • Harlequin’s latest new product, Harlequin Liberty Switch®, is a revolutionary award-winning professional multi-use flooring system which transforms between a sprung dance floor and a rigid theatre floor at the touch of a button. It is designed for venues which regularly put on both dance and theatrical performances and so require both a sprung and a rigid floor in the same performance or rehearsal space.

How do your floors perform in terms of durability, especially for high-traffic areas such as rehearsal studios or touring performance venues such as the CYD? Conventions?

Harlequin floors are known for their durability, making them ideal for environments that experience heavy use, like at CYD? conventions or in a rehearsal studio. A Harlequin floor is designed with the highest quality slip resistance, even under intense use, offering dancers a consistent surface wherever they perform.

Harlequin encourages customers to look after their floor by using the right cleaning products and following Harlequin’s maintenance instructions. This ensures the floor lasts for as long as possible and maintains its performance quality and aesthetic look over time.

You can find our cleaning products here.

Harlequin Floors UK

Are there any particular challenges or considerations you face when designing floors for different types of dance forms, such as ballet, contemporary, or hip-hop?

Each dance style has slightly different requirements, and the flooring needs to meet these.

Ballet requires a smooth surface with high shock absorption to protect the joints when jumping and landing. For dance genres like freestyle and hip-hop, the flooring tends to be firmer to support quick footwork and slides.

What are some standout aspects of your business that might surprise people?

One standout aspect of Harlequin is how much research and development goes into creating our products. We’ve collaborated closely with dancers and health professionals over the years to create floors that not only elevate performance but also help to reduce the risk of injury. Another key strength is the wide range of products we offer which are suitable for everything from dance studios and auditoriums to touring productions. Harlequin is trusted worldwide, and our expert technical teams are always on hand to provide guidance and support.

If you'd like more information on this, check out our Specifying Dance Floors White Paper.

Dance on Harlequin floors at CYD? Visit our Events page HERE.

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