(Moorestown, New Jersey) – Harlequin Floors, the global leader in advanced technology flooring for dance, performing arts, entertainment, and events, announced today that they were awarded the Best Debuting Product in the Staging and Rigging category at LDI 2022.  Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, conference director for LDI and Live Design Magazine editor presented the award to Harlequin recognizing their innovative new floor system – Harlequin Liberty® Switch, a professional multi-use floor that can be switched from a rigid theatrical floor to a sprung dance floor at the touch of a button. From simple daily maintenance to saving enormous time and money changing over to sprung floors, Liberty Switch is a true innovation that is moving the industry forward. Harlequin CEO, Guy Dagger accepted the award and thanked the teams around the world that have contributed to the development of the system. 

Harlequin Liberty Switch is a multi-use floor system comprised of base units, with drive and control mechanisms, topped with Harlequin Liberty® LatchLoc sprung floor panels. The base units house a series of moving carriages connected by rods running on high-strength carrier rails powered by actuators located at the ends of each row. Each actuator and associated controller are linked to a hard-wired master control unit that is operated remotely. The upper surfaces of the base unit are fitted with wooden battens which align with the sprung elastomer pads on the Harlequin Liberty LatchLoc panel above. The top panels are standard Harlequin Liberty LatchLoc with the addition of UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) low-friction blocks on the underside. 

Harlequin Liberty Switch is a modular system that can be custom designed to incorporate features such as traps, lifts and revolves as required.  Specific areas of the floor can be isolated to create rigid zones for the placement of pianos, scenery, or retractable seating while the rest of the floor is used as a sprung dance floor. Additional benefits include a cost-effective alternative to ballet wagons, and reduced labor and storage costs with the elimination of the need to swap and store floors between performances. 

The system is installed by Harlequin’s technical teams and is recommended for use with a Harlequin vinyl performance surface. 

About Harlequin Floors

Harlequin Floors, headquartered in London, England, is widely recognized as the world leader in advanced technology flooring for dance, performing arts, entertainment, and events. Established in 1979, Harlequin Floors’ experience and reputation are founded on the manufacture, supply, and installation of a complete range of long-lasting portable, permanent, sprung, and marley floors. The company’s floors are preferred by dancers and performers at the world’s leading companies and venues, which include The Royal Opera House London, The Paris Opera Ballet, The Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and The Metropolitan Opera. A few of the contributions the company has made to the industry are Harlequin WoodSpring®, Liberty®, Cascade™, Reversible™, and Hi-Shine™. The Harlequin Group operates worldwide with offices in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia Pacific. For more information about Harlequin Floors visit http://us.harlequinfloors.com/.

About LDI

LDI® is the catalyst that connects the entire entertainment, design, and technology community with manufacturers of state-of-the-art gear and professional training from industry leaders. For more information about the LDI show visit https://www.ldishow.com/.