Harlequin Floors: A Pioneer in Dance Flooring and Scenic Surfaces

Recognised Expertise in Professional Dance Flooring Since 1977

Harlequin introduced the concept of the dance floor nearly 50 years ago, with the first in its range being the Harlequin Duo reversible floor. In 1977, Robert Dagger, then Export Sales Director for Marley Floors (a vinyl producer in England), founded Harlequin in response to the specific needs of dance professionals. Today, Harlequin’s floors are trusted by leading institutions worldwide — from the Paris Opera and the Conservatoires of Paris and Lyon, to New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Sydney Dance Company.

This continued growth is the result of exceptional expertise and a deep sense of responsibility toward the unique demands of dance and stage flooring. Chantal Lagniau, Managing Director of Harlequin Europe, explains:

“For over 30 years, I’ve seen every day how meaningful our mission is — to provide dancers with flooring that supports their bodies, enhances their artistry, and accompanies their performance. Being a partner of the Paris Opera for over 40 years, and present in the greatest theatres, national ballets and dance institutions across France and beyond, is a source of immense pride — and also a responsibility we take very seriously.

Behind every Harlequin floor lies a purpose: to prevent injury, to support creativity, and to develop our products in collaboration with dancers, technical and artistic directors, stage designers, and health professionals.”

Harlequin Dance Floors: Stage Surfaces That Enhance Artistic Performance

In Freedom Sonata, choreographer Emanuel Gat choreographs a sequence in which dancers roll out a second white Harlequin Duo floor over a black one. As they do, they also reverse their costumes from white to black — a striking visual contrast that becomes a key part of the piece’s scenographic language.

Harlequin’s expertise extends beyond dance to television sets and live events. The high-gloss Harlequin Hi-Shine floor has been used in Kamel Ouali’s musicals and widely adopted on television productions for its ability to reflect light dramatically and visually expand stage space, offering directors and designers new creative possibilities.

The company has also collaborated with brands such as Hugo Boss and FIAT, creating bespoke white flooring for showroom events, enhancing the presentation of vehicles, and demonstrating the versatility of Harlequin solutions across different industries.

Innovative Dance Floors: How Harlequin is Reinventing Stage Surfaces

Aware of the practical and artistic challenges faced by choreographers, technical directors, and dancers, Harlequin has developed a new generation of floors that meet those demands while prioritising dancer safety. At the personal request of Rudolf Nureyev, Harlequin designed the Harlequin Studio floor — a surface that is both silky and durable. Made from ultra-tough PVC, it offers exactly the response dancers expect.

For 25 years, the Harlequin Liberty sprung floor has delivered consistent shock absorption with no hard spots — a modern alternative to France’s traditional “double batten” floors dating back to the era of Louis XIV. Such floors are prone to inconsistency due to changes in humidity or variation in craftsmanship and materials. They may harden, soften or warp over time, and their rigid structural intersections can create dangerous hard points.

Nureyev famously used a cane to tap across the stage before performances, identifying hazardous areas by sound. That symbolic gesture reveals just how much a floor can impact safety, precision, and artistic expression.

More recently, Harlequin has introduced the Harlequin Liberty Switch — a cutting-edge floor that adjusts its shock absorption and rigidity at the press of a button. Designed for multipurpose venues, it can quickly alternate between a cushioned floor for dance and a firmer surface capable of supporting pianos, set pieces, or technical equipment.

Since its launch in 2022, the Liberty Switch system — now installed at Dutch National Ballet — has received four industry awards for its innovation and efficiency, offering technical teams flexibility and reducing operational costs.

Sustainable and High-Performance Stage Flooring: Harlequin’s Commitment

While continuing to provide high-quality, tailor-made floors for dance and performance, Harlequin is equally committed to sustainability.

“Excellence must never come at the cost of the environment,” says Chantal Lagniau.

“Our floors are made from certified materials and designed with long-term responsibility in mind. Being a market leader means setting an example.”

The company has replanted 4,000 birch trees to offset the material used in its Harlequin Liberty floor, which is made from Latvian birch plywood.

In addition to supporting young talent — such as through its partnership with the Prix de Lausanne — Harlequin also raises awareness about dancer health and injury prevention. It works closely with medical professionals, including physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons, to promote safer practice conditions and reinforce its commitment to both the art of choreography and the wellbeing of those who dedicate their lives to it.

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