Transforming classrooms with Harlequin floors at the “Luis del Río” CPD in Córdoba

By: Tania Ambrosio Gutiérrez – Director of the“Luis del Río” Professional Dance Conservatory in Córdoba.

Dance demands exceptional technical and expressive performance from dancers, while also requiring a daily commitment that places sustained physical demands on the body.

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible conditions for our students and faculty, we have taken an important step in upgrading our facilities by equipping four of our sixteen studios with specialised flooring from Harlequin floors, a global leader in professional performance flooring.

A belief shaped by experience

With over 15 years of experience enjoying the performance qualities of Harlequin floors in other venues, I have seen first hand the huge difference that training on a top-quality surface makes.

My absolute priority when taking over as Director was safeguarding our students’ health, safety and artistic development. Having a deep understanding of dancer biomechanics made me realise just how vital it was to transform our existing space into the best possible environment for them. Providing our students with a foundation worthy of their dreams was a commitment I simply had to fulfil.

The importance of a dance surface

Dancing on an unsuitable or rigid surface can lead to muscle fatigue, joint injuries, and limitations in technical progress. Harlequin’s combination of a sprung floor and specialised performance vinyl surface meets the demands of every dance discipline. This pairing of a sprung and vinyl floor absorbs and distributes energy during jumps and landings – protecting ankles, knees, and the spine, while providing the exact grip needed for safe turns and a responsive spring that propels movement and reduces physical strain.

Four renovated studios and looking into the future

Of the 16 studios at our conservatory, four now feature this combination of sprung flooring and vinyl, supporting training across three of our core disciplines.

For classical dance, the flooring provides the precision required for allegro, stability on pointe and control during landings. For contemporary dance, it offers the protection and fluidity needed for floorwork. For Spanish dance, its resilience helps absorb the impact and vibration of zapateado (footwork), reducing stress on the joints while maintaining the essential acoustic response.

However, this is merely the first step in a more ambitious project. We are firmly committed to continuing this process and gradually upgrading the remaining 12 studios to the same technical standard. We hope to achieve the complete transformation of all dance spaces at the Córdoba Professional Conservatory in the near future, ensuring equal conditions for all students.

With this new addition, we reaffirm our commitment to holistic care and excellence in the training of our future dancers. I invite the entire educational community to celebrate and enjoy these new spaces, where art, technique, and health go hand in hand.

The studios have been fitted with a Harlequin Flexity™ sprung floor with Harlequin Standfast™ performance vinyl surface.