(Moorestown, New Jersey) – Harlequin, the global leader in flooring systems for dance and the performing arts, is proud to announce that its revolutionary new product, Harlequin Liberty® Switch, has received three prestigious awards, including, at the recent ABTT Theatre Show, the highly coveted ABTT Engineering Product of the Year 2023. This recognition reaffirms Harlequin’s commitment to providing the performing arts community with the highest quality cutting-edge products available. 

Harlequin Liberty Switch, introduced at the end of 2022, is a groundbreaking modular, multi-use flooring system that seamlessly transitions between a sprung dance floor and a rigid theatre floor at the touch of a button. Using pioneering technology this multifunctional floor enables performers to adapt their space according to their specific needs while providing the highest standards of safety and comfort. 

The engineering behind Harlequin Liberty Switch enables carriages running on low-friction rails to engage or disengage stop blocks on the underside of the Liberty panels, transforming the floor effortlessly from rigid to fully sprung in less than a minute. Harlequin Liberty sprung panels, renowned worldwide for their excellence, make up the upper part of the floor, sitting above base units housing the actuators and the mechanical components. The system is linked to a master control 

unit located off-stage and is controlled using an intuitive touch screen display. 

The advantages of Harlequin Liberty Switch are far-reaching. The system optimizes space utilization, saving both time and money by offering a flexible multi-use floor within the same area. With significant reductions in the manpower required for changing from a heavy-duty stage floor to a sprung dance floor, Harlequin Liberty Switch streamlines operations and eliminates the need for expensive ballet wagons or floor storage. The speed of transformation also ensures less ‘down time’ between performances. 

The system can also be fully customized to specific customer requirements. For example, areas of the floor can be isolated to create rigid zones for the placement of pianos or scenery while maintaining a uniform and consistent shock-dampened sprung dance floor across the rest of the stage. Features such as traps and lifts can easily be accommodated if required. 

Harlequin Liberty Switch has won awards for its innovative design across the world, including the Best Debuting Product Award at LDI Las Vegas in 2022 and the DTHG Technology Product Award at Showtech Berlin earlier this year. The triple award recognition for Harlequin Liberty Switch speaks volumes about its exceptional design, functionality, and impact on the performing arts industry. 

“We are thrilled to receive these prestigious awards, including the ABTT Engineering Product of the Year 2023,” said Guy Dagger, Group CEO at Harlequin. “Harlequin Liberty Switch represents our commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance the performance experience while addressing the practical needs of our customers. This recognition serves as a testament to our team’s dedication and expertise in developing cutting-edge products for the performing arts community.” 

Harlequin continues to work with industry professionals, researching and developing products that are practical and cost effective whilst putting the needs and safety of performers first. The company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in flooring technology and supporting artists and performers worldwide in achieving their creative vision. 

To see Harlequin Liberty Switch in motion, watch our product video by visiting the Harlequin website. 

Harlequin Floors, the global leader in advanced technology flooring for dance, performing arts, entertainment, and events, today announced a pioneering 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. The system is designed for multipurpose facilities that require both a sprung and rigid floor in the same performance or rehearsal space. 

“Harlequin is committed to delivering innovative solutions that solve the most difficult problems for all of our customers,” said Guy Dagger, Chief Executive Officer of the Harlequin Group. “Liberty Switch is a result of that commitment and dedication from our teams throughout the world. I couldn’t be more enthused to officially introduce Switch to the US market at LDI next month”. 

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. 

The Vienna State Opera was the first customer that benefitted from the new system. “We are extremely excited to be the first venue to have Harlequin Liberty Switch,” said Martin Schläpfer, Ballet Director and Chief Choreographer of the Vienna State Ballet. “It is easy to use and it is great being able to ‘switch’ between a sprung and rigid floor so quickly.” 

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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/.