Additionally, Dr Hopper developed an integrated model of best practice in dance floor design and construction which was rated as having \u2018high international impact\u2019 by the Australian Research Council in 2018.\u00a0The study investigated injury rates and the biomechanics of dancers using different floor types.\u00a0 The research has been followed by dance companies all around the world and featured in the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science Dancer Wellness <\/em>a publication aimed at informing the wider dance community about best practices in dance floor use.<\/p>\n Dr Luke Hopper, Edith Cowan University: \u201cMy previous research saw us work with some of the world\u2019s top companies, including the Birmingham Royal Ballet in the UK and the Queensland Ballet in Australia who have since modified their dance floors and changed how they and their dancers work.\u00a0Dance floors are sprung in a way to provide adequate shock absorption specifically for dance.\u00a0 This is necessary when a professional dancer might perform 150 jumps and landings in their daily classical ballet class alone.\u00a0However, the flooring used by dancers while on tour could vary widely between theatres.\u00a0 If a performance surface lacked the right absorption properties, dancers could sustain serious injuries.\u00a0An ideal dance floor needs to strike the right balance between firmness and responsiveness and also provide good traction to avoid slips and falls.<\/p>\n This latest research will look at developing an understanding of the dance floor properties needed for aspiring adolescent dancers to support them in their training towards a professional dance career.\u00a0Dancers\u2019 feet perform amazing tasks, undergo high stresses and are essential for most dance performance.\u00a0 The position and stresses placed on a ballerina\u2019s foot en pointe provides the perfect example of this amazing ability.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the foot is one of the most commonly injured body regions in dancers.\u00a0This research aims to support dancers and prevent injuries by collecting and examining the largest set of biomechanical data of dancer\u2019s feet in the world.<\/p>\n The data collected will hopefully take place over a two year period.\u00a0 The research aims to address the questions; how do dancers\u2019 feet change from adolescence through to adulthood and how do different foot structures behave under dynamically loaded dancing movements.\u00a0 The data collected will involve using a new 3D motion capture assessment tool developed by Dr Sarah Carter and I.\u00a0 The tool enables us to estimate the movement of the foot bones during dancing movements as opposed to traditional clinic-based assessments.\u00a0Harlequin will be disseminating the study findings to the international dance community and building the findings of the study into new product design.\u201d<\/p>\n For over 40 years, Harlequin has developed a range of sprung and vinyl performance floors designed to meet the unique needs of dancers. Steve Green, Group Marketing Director at Harlequin Floors, said:\u00a0\u201cHarlequin is widely recognised as the world\u2019s leading authority on dance floors.\u00a0 As an enlightened manufacturer Harlequin is working closely with experts in biomechanics and the dance community to develop and refine our range of sprung and vinyl performance floors that keep dancers safe by reducing the risk of injury.\u00a0 Our collaboration with Dr Hopper and Dr Carter on this new project will add to our understanding in this field and will help Harlequin to develop floors specifically designed to protect younger dancers as they grow and mature.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.danceforyou-magazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Zurich-university-of-the-arts-cascade.jpg\")
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