British Harlequin Company Profile
British Harlequin is a world-renowned company specialising in the manufacture and installation of sprung and vinyl dance floors for performing arts, dance, entertainment and display. Established over thirty years ago, British Harlequin has provided flooring to ballet and dance companies all over the world, educational establishments, theatres and dance studios large and small. The high performance floors help reduce injury risks and enhance the confidence of the performers on the floor.
Services
The sales team at British Harlequin can provide comprehensive advice and information across the whole product range. For architects and specifiers, Harlequin offers a RIBA CPD seminar to provide more in-depth information regarding specifying the appropriate products for a particular project. The Harlequin installation team will professionally install the floor in accordance with specific requirements within individual building programme schedules. A full project management service is available throughout the duration of the project and all products are guaranteed against defects in manufacture.
For short-term events, Harlequin can provide a hire service of portable dance floors. These types of temporary floors are often specified for dance performances which are performed in non-dance venues but where a sprung floor is essential. The Harlequin team can offer delivery, installation and dismantling of hired floors.
Products
British Harlequin manufactures and supplies a wide range of performance flooring systems, surfaces and other accessories.
The product range includes:
Sprung Floors
The sprung floors systems have been developed to reduce injury risk to dancers. When used in conjunction with Harlequin vinyl dance surfaces, they provide safe and comfortable performance areas. Options include:
- Harlequin Activity™: A permanently installed sprung floor system based on a triple sandwich composite construction. This fully floating system eliminates the need for metal springs and rubber pads and can be laid on virtually any surface. Activity is shock-damped to avoid 'trampoline' effect and combining area and point elasticity to offer identical characteristics across the whole floor.
- Harlequin Liberty™: A floating floor system comprising sprung floor panels specified for permanent dance studio installation or as stage panels for touring. Liberty is suitable for various applications and provides a safe and comfortable surface with uniform suspension.
- Harlequin WoodSpring™: A counter-batten configuration that consists of at least three layers of flexible US softwood battens placed on top of each other at right angles. This system provides an enhanced shock absorption and energy return due to elastomer pads attached to the underside of the bottom layer.
- Harlequin Aerodeck™: A sprung floor system made up of interlocking sprung panels which can be easily transported by touring dance companies. The lightweight modular panels are manufactured from advanced engineering grade plastics making them around 50% lighter than equivalent sprung floors. The flooring features area elasticity for extra give and excessive rebound is eliminated.
Portable and Permanent Vinyl Floors
The vinyl floors range offers a wide choice of portable and permanent dance floors. The durable surfaces are available in a wide range of standard and custom colours. Products include:
- Harlequin Allegro™: The thickest roll-out dance floor available and can be permanently installed or loose-laid. This point elastic floor is almost 9mm thick, extremely durable and can give a measure of instant protection against hard sub-floors.
- Harlequin Cascade™: A reinforced sheet vinyl which is specified for loose-lay and permanent installation. A heavy-duty product, Cascade is slip-resistant, durable and can tolerate general stage use and heavy props and sets.
- Harlequin Fiesta™: Designed to look like wood, Fiesta offers a high quality finish for permanent installations without the issues associated with real wood floors. Fiesta can tolerate the rigours of percussive dance such as tap and Irish dance as well as social dancing and general activities.
- Harlequin Hi-Shine™: Designed for the entertainment industry, Hi-Shine is a roll-out wet-look floor with a laminated hard polymer ultra-gloss surface. Hi-Shine is a striking choice for TV sets, opera, fashion shows, parties, product launches and high profile entertainment applications.
- Harlequin Reversible™: A double-sided roll out floor, Reversible offers a slip-resistant, surface in a different colour on each side. This easy to maintain flooring is intended to be loose-laid on any hard smooth surface such as a wooden stage or dance studio.
- Harlequin Showfloor™: A multi-layered, plain coloured portable vinyl floor which can be laid on any hard smooth surface in light to medium traffic areas. Showfloor is ideal for exhibition stands, catwalks, shows, stage sets and other events.
- Harlequin Standfast™: An extremely hardwearing, contract-quality floor covering designed for permanent installation into adhesive which is heat welded to form a continuous performance surface. Standfast is suitable for multi-purpose permanent stage flooring.
- Harlequin Studio™: A special hardwearing floor designed for dance, studio and stage use. Its complex vinyl construction incorporates a strong mineral fibre interply and firm foam backing which provides superior slip-resistance. Studio is suitable for touring and permanent installations.
Accessories
In addition to the flooring ranges, British Harlequin can supply a wide range of accessories which can be purchased online via the Harlequin Shop. Products include:
- Freestanding and wall mounted ballet barres
- Tapes
- Roll straps
- Roll storage bags
- Roll storage carts
- Cleaning and maintenance kits
British Harlequin is committed to working closely with the dance community to gain important insights into critical factors that work toward a safer work environment for dancers. The friendly and professional team has the experience to provide in-depth advice and product information for specifying the most appropriate products. British Harlequin has established a highly respected reputation with numerous clients throughout the world for the superior range of quality products and services.