Dutch National Opera and Ballet choose Harlequin Liberty Switch®
09 Dec 2024 by Australian Harlequin
The Dutch National Opera & Ballet has been a client of Harlequin for many years, choosing Harlequin floors for its studios, auditorium and for touring. The Dutch National Opera & Ballet decided it was time to upgrade the main stage by installing Harlequin Liberty Switch®.
With numerous productions taking place throughout the year, both the Dutch National Opera and the Dutch National Ballet perform and rehearse on the main stage. Due to the frequent quick turnarounds, it was decided that Harlequin Liberty Switch® would be installed so the main stage floor could transform quickly from a rigid floor for opera, to a sprung dance floor for ballet.
Prior to the Harlequin Liberty Switch® installation earlier this year, the opera house used a ballet wagon with Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels.
Harlequin’s European installation team worked with the UK technical and installation teams to deliver the first major Harlequin Liberty Switch® installation on a main stage in the Western Hemisphere. Harlequin worked closely with the Dutch National Opera & Ballet technical teams throughout the design and installation process.
Joost Verlinden, Head of Stage at Dutch National Opera & Ballet, said: “There are a lot of benefits for us. First of all, the dancers still have a sprung floor which they can continue working on in a safe way. For my technical team and crew, a big benefit is that it saves us a lot of physical work which reduces the chance of any back problems by putting all the panels in.”
Jamie Stirling, International Development Director at Harlequin, said: “It also enables them to free up storage space. The panels on their ballet wagon are stored up in the rigging but the rest of the panels were all on carts that needed to be kept in a designated storage area. As they now have Harlequin Liberty Switch, that storage can be used for other purposes.”
Founded in the UK over 40 years ago, Harlequin Floors has become the top choice for prestigious performing arts companies, dance institutions, studios, theatres, venues, schools, and luxurious events. Known for high-quality portable and permanent wooden, sprung, and vinyl floors, Harlequin is favored by leading venues worldwide, from the Royal Opera House to the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opera Ballet to the Royal New Zealand BalletThe American Harlequin Corporation began in California before moving to Philadelphia, where it developed its flagship vinyl performance floor, Harlequin Cascade, for the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet. The company continued to expand, opening offices in Europe, the USA, Hong Kong, and Australia, and creating new floors like Harlequin Hi-Shine for production, events, exhibitions, and display.Today, Harlequin is a global leader with offices on five continents and several manufacturing sites across Europe. With its unparalleled reach and quality, it truly seems the world performs on Harlequin Floors.
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