performance & dance floors
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Sprung Dance Floors
Harlequin has led the way in developing and evolving modern sprung dance floors and has been involved with extensive research into reducing dancer injury.
Harlequin’s range of sprung dance floors
Harlequin has led the way in developing and evolving modern sprung dance floors and has been involved with extensive research into reducing dancer injury.
Often referred to as a ‘wood dance floor’ or as a ‘floating floor system’, a sprung floor is a floor that provides some degree of bounce and flexes under impact. Performers need a sprung floor to absorb the shock of repeated impact to their joints and to reduce injury from falls. Harlequin has a range of wooden sprung floors available. The more traditional options provide spring through bending woven wooden battens, whilst the more modern options use panel systems with foam or elastomer pads.
Professional dancers can spend six to eight hours a day working in a dance studio and are continually jumping, leaping and lifting. The quality of the dance floor makes an important contribution to the safe performance of a dancer, reducing the risk of long-term stress injuries to joints and muscles. Floors developed for commercial or sports applications do not offer the benefits that dancers appreciate when they talk about the ‘feel’ of the floor. Only purpose-built dance floors do that.
Sprung floors are most commonly used in permanent installations, although Harlequin has developed a range of portable panel system panel products that are also suitable as a permanent sprung floor or for touring companies as a portable sprung floor solution.
Harlequin sprung floors are installed for the practice and performance of many types of dance, including ballet, classical dance and much more.
The Harlequin range of sprung floors has been developed for use in combination with a vinyl or wood performance top surface. Harlequin’s expert team travel the world installing our range of Harlequin sprung floor systems in a wide range of venues.
For further information, advice and support, please contact our technical sales team. Alternatively, call us on +44 (0)1892 514 888 where a member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you have about events flooring.
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Related FAQs
Are Harlequin floors suitable for home gyms or general fitness spaces?
Harlequin flooring systems are specifically engineered and optimised for dance, performing arts and theatrical environments rather than general fitness gyms.
Can a sprung dance floor be installed over concrete?
Yes, a suitable sprung floor system can be installed over an existing concrete subfloor, provided the substrate meets the installation requirements.
Installing specialist sprung flooring over concrete creates a more appropriate environment for dance than performing directly on a hard, unyielding surface. The condition, levelness and moisture content of the existing subfloor should be assessed by our technical team before installation.
Can a sprung dance floor be moved or used for temporary performances?
Yes. Modular sprung dance floor systems are available for venues, touring companies and temporary performance spaces.
Harlequin Liberty® uses interlocking panels that can be assembled, dismantled and transported between locations. This makes it particularly suitable for touring productions, temporary stages and venues that need a flexible flooring solution.
Can a sprung dance floor help reduce the risk of dance-related injuries?
The flooring dancers perform on plays an important role in managing the physical demands of dance. Repeated jumps, landings and high-impact movements place significant forces on the body, particularly the feet, ankles, knees and lower limbs.A professionally engineered sprung floor is designed to absorb a proportion of these impact forces, provide controlled vertical deformation and deliver consistent support across the performance area. This can help reduce the stresses associated with repetitive movement compared with dancing on hard, unyielding surfaces such as concrete.While no flooring system can completely eliminate the risk of injury, choosing an appropriate sprung floor and performance surface is an important consideration in creating a safer dance environment.
Do you offer semi-sprung flooring systems?
Harlequin specialises in fully sprung floor systems rather than semi-sprung options, providing consistent shock absorption across the entire performance area.
Can I install a sprung dance floor myself?
Some sprung dance floor systems are designed for self-installation, while others require professional fitting.
Harlequin Flexity is a self-install sprung floor system, making it suitable for projects where customers prefer to manage installation themselves. Harlequin Liberty® is a modular panel system that can also be installed by the customer, although professional installation is available.
More complex permanent systems such as Harlequin Activity are installed by Harlequin’s specialist installations team.
Can you use a Harlequin sprung floor outside?
Harlequin Liberty HD is water resistant and can be used outside. Harlequin vinyl performance surfaces must only be used in dry conditions or under cover. Please contact us if you need more details on which Harlequin floors are suitable for outside use.
How do you install a Harlequin sprung floor?
This depends upon the Harlequin sprung floor you choose. Harlequin WoodSpring and Harlequin Activity and are always installed by our highly-skilled technical team. Harlequin Liberty and Harlequin Liberty HD is usually installed by us, but you can install this floor yourself as it is a modular panel system. Harlequin Flexity is designed to be a self-installed sprung floor, but we can install it for you if required. Please contact us for more details.
How is a Harlequin sprung floor supplied?
This depends upon the Harlequin sprung floor you choose. Harlequin WoodSpring and Harlequin Activity and are always installed by our highly-skilled technical team. Harlequin Liberty and Harlequin Liberty HD is usually installed by us, but you can install this floor yourself as it is a modular panel system. Harlequin Flexity is designed to be a self-installed sprung floor, but we can install it for you if required. Please contact us for more details.
How much does a sprung dance floor cost in the UK?
The cost of a sprung dance floor depends on the size of the space, the chosen flooring system, the performance surface and installation requirements.
Permanent sprung floors, modular panel systems and self-install options have different costs. Additional considerations may include subfloor preparation, delivery, ramps and finishing details.
Harlequin’s sales team can provide a tailored quotation based on your project dimensions and intended use, helping you choose a flooring system that meets both your performance requirements and budget.
How much height does a sprung dance floor add?
The overall floor height depends on the sprung flooring system and the chosen performance surface.
For example, Harlequin Liberty® and Flexity have a minimum sprung floor thickness of 37 mm, while Harlequin Activity has a minimum thickness of 46 mm, before adding the final surface.
Floor height should be considered early in the planning process, particularly around door thresholds, accessibility ramps and existing fixtures.
What is a sprung dance floor and why is it important?
A sprung dance floor is a specialist flooring system designed to absorb impact and provide consistent support during movement. Unlike standard flooring, it incorporates shock-absorbing components that help reduce the forces experienced by dancers when jumping, landing and performing repetitive movements. Harlequin sprung floors are designed to provide consistent shock absorption, controlled vertical deformation and energy return, creating a performance surface suitable for professional dance environments.
What sprung floors do you have in your range?
We supply five Harlequin sprung floors; Harlequin WoodSpring, Harlequin Activity, Harlequin Liberty, Harlequin Liberty HD and Harlequin Flexity.
Which sprung floor is best for a dance studio?
The best sprung floor depends on the dance styles taught, frequency of use, available budget and whether the installation needs to be permanent or removable.Harlequin offers several options, including Harlequin Activity, a permanently installed system, Harlequin Liberty®, which can be installed permanently or used as a portable system, and Harlequin Flexity, designed for permanent or semi-permanent installations.
Different dance styles place different demands on flooring. The choice of performance surface is equally important, particularly for multi-purpose studios accommodating ballet, contemporary, tap and street dance. Harlequin’s technical team can recommend a suitable combination of sprung subfloor and performance surface based on your studio requirements.
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