The answer was in the form of Harlequin Allegro, a loose lay dance floor designed specifically to protect against hard sub floors. The thickest roll out dance floor currently available anywhere, Allegro comprises a vinyl surface reinforced with a tough fibre interply and backed with firm foam cushioning for resilience, providing a nine millimetre thick semi-sprung floor. Ideally suited to convert harsh surfaces into dance performance spaces, the neutral grey version chosen was laid by Harlequin's contract division, allowing the 12 Elmhurst students to perform with confidence.
Elmhurst School's appearance at St Paul's was a continuation of a long association of the church with the performing arts. As far back as 1663 inveterate diarist Samuel Pepys noted an Italian puppet play under the portico - the origins of 'Punch and Judy' - an event still commemorated by a service each May and the same setting chosen by Bernard Shaw for the opening of Pygmalion that formed the basis for My Fair Lady St Paul's also houses memorials to such famous personalities as WS Gilbert, Charlie Chaplin, Gracie Fields and Dame Edith Evans.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
