Located in Hayle, Savvy Studios continues to grow as a vibrant hub for dance in Cornwall. With the opening of its third studio, the team offers inclusive classes and top-quality dance facilities.

Meet the Founders: Clare and Aidan

Savvy Studios is led by Principal and Owner, Clare Meardon, who co-runs the business with her husband, Aidan Doyle. Drawing on a diverse background in both education and performance, they aim to create a dynamic and inspiring environment for their dance students.

After dancing professionally for two decades, Clare returned to Cornwall to share her passion for dance and co-found Savvy Studios with Aidan. She said: “When I returned to Cornwall, I immediately felt the toll that poor flooring takes on your body, so I knew that when we finally had our own studio, Harlequin flooring would be non-negotiable.”

Why Harlequin Floors Were Non-Negotiable

While the budget was initially a concern, they chose to move forward with the investment. Clare explained: "In the end, the cost difference wasn’t as big as we’d feared, especially given the efficiency of Harlequin’s roll sizes. Choosing quality has brought us peace of mind and a floor we love. Honestly, how do you put a price on that?”

Inside Studio 1 and Studio 2

Clare and Aidan first opened Savvy Studios in September 2019. After a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the studio reopened two years later. Today, Studio 1 and Studio 2 are housed in this space, both equipped with Harlequin floors.

Studio 1 has a Harlequin Fiesta performance vinyl floor and is home to the tap and
commercial dance classes. Lyrical and contemporary classes also take place here.

Studio 2 features the Harlequin Cascade performance vinyl floor, ideal for ballet classes, including pointe work. This space is not only used for dance classes but also for rehearsals, including recent work for Savvy Studios’ performance at the Hall for Cornwall.

As their community grew, so did their need for space, leading to the creation of Studio 3.

Introducing Studio 3: More Dance Classes and Pilates Reformers

Nearly six years after first opening its doors, Savvy Studios continues to grow with the opening of Studio 3, located just across the street from studios 1 and 2. The new studio is equipped with a Harlequin Standfast performance vinyl floor, chosen by Clare for its durability, making it suitable for a wide range of classes.

In response to increasing demand for dance programmes, Clare has expanded the timetable to include even more classes across all styles and levels. This growth has also made room for the introduction of Savvy Dance; a class designed specifically for individuals with additional needs. Studio 3 also introduces eight Pilates Reformers, further enhancing its comprehensive Pilates offering.

The new building will also include a boutique dancewear shop and a coffee bar, contributing to the goal of creating a welcoming community beyond the studio floor.

Building a Dance Community in Cornwall

The ethos at Savvy Studios is Inspire. Create. Empower. Clare said: “These three words guide every decision we make, every class we teach and every relationship we build.”

Savvy Studios offers two shows every year, along with multiple exam opportunities, giving the students the chance to shine on stage and achieve recognised qualifications.

Although Clare and Aidan can't reveal all the exciting projects coming up just yet, Clare shared her excitement for what’s to come, and her gratitude for everything Savvy Studios has achieved so far. She said: “Having a Harlequin dance floor was always my dream, now I have three! You never know what the future holds, so dream big.”

“The range of finishes and colours Harlequin offers allowed us to tailor each space not only functionally, but aesthetically as well. The support and advice we received from the Harlequin team was invaluable in helping us make the right decisions.”

What is your role at Savvy Studios?
I’m the Principal and Owner of Savvy Studios, which I run alongside my husband, Aidan. He’s a former Head Teacher, and I’m a former professional dancer. I’m now a Licentiate of the IDTA and a Matwork Master Teacher with Body Control Pilates. Together, we combine our backgrounds in education and performance to lead the studio with passion and purpose.

When did Savvy Studios start?
Before Savvy Studios had a physical home, I was running dance classes in school halls and any available community space I could find. Studio space was practically non-existent in our area and that’s when the dream of creating our own studio was born.

We first opened our doors, after an extensive refit and renovation, in September 2019, just five months before the first COVID-19 lockdown. It was a challenging time and we had to close temporarily. We were finally able to reopen properly in September 2021. Walking back in through the studio doors, my biggest memory is of the amazing and distinctive smell of the Harlequin Vinyl. It honestly brought me to tears. I was back in my happy place.

What is the overall goal of Savvy Studios?
Savvy Studios began as a vision for the community. We didn’t just want to offer dance and movement classes, we wanted to build a vibrant, welcoming hub where creativity, confidence and connection could flourish.

From the start, we aimed to go beyond a standard class schedule. Savvy Studios was designed to be a Centre of Excellence, where high standards, professional teaching and genuine care support every student’s journey.

Our ethos is simple but powerful: Inspire. Create. Empower. These three words guide every decision we make, every class we teach and every relationship we build.

We created Savvy because we saw a gap, not just in creative opportunities, but in true understanding. There were so few places where imagination, individuality and self-expression were genuinely celebrated.

Our new studio space will include a boutique dancewear shop and a coffee bar, helping us continue to nurture the Savvy community beyond the studio floor.

What is Savvy Studios' plan for the future?
We're about to open Studio 3, located in a former Lloyds Bank, just across the street from our current studios, which used to be a Barclays Bank!

Studio 3 will feature eight Pilates Reformers, offering a full weekly schedule alongside our existing Mat and Aerial Pilates classes. To meet the growing demand for our dance programmes, we’re also expanding our timetable, making space for even more classes across all styles and levels. This includes exciting new offerings like Savvy Dance, a dedicated class for individuals with additional needs. It's a natural extension of our commitment to inclusion and accessibility within the arts.

We’re also proud to continue offering two full-scale shows each year, along with multiple exam opportunities, giving our students the chance to shine on stage and achieve recognised qualifications.

And of course, we’ve got more plans in the pipeline, some exciting developments we’re not quite ready to reveal just yet. Watch this space!

When did you first hear about Harlequin Floors?
During my training as a professional dancer. I quickly learned how much difference the right flooring makes, not just for turning and technique, but for safety and overall performance.

Why is having a Harlequin floor important to you?
As a young dancer, I trained in village halls, often on wooden floors that splintered or, worse, on tiled surfaces. After dancing professionally for two decades, I returned to Cornwall to teach and immediately felt the toll that poor flooring takes on your body.

I knew that when we finally had our own studio, Harlequin flooring would be non-negotiable. When the time came, budget was a concern and we explored cheaper options, but they just didn’t compare. Aidan and I decided that if we were going to do it, we’d do it right. We made the investment, and we’ve never looked back.

In the end, the cost difference wasn’t as big as we’d feared, especially given the efficiency of Harlequin’s roll sizes. Choosing quality has brought us peace of mind and a floor we love. Honestly, how do you put a price on that?

Is there a reason you chose different flooring for each studio?
Absolutely. Our class offering is incredibly diverse, and we wanted each studio to have the ideal floor for its main uses.

● Studio 1 is home to most of our Tap and Commercial classes, so we chose Harlequin Fiesta. It’s slightly more slippery, which works beautifully for those styles and it looks fantastic too. It’s also perfect for Lyrical and Contemporary.
● Studio 2 features Harlequin Cascade, ideal for Ballet and especially Pointe work. The grip and cushioning make it a joy to dance on.
● For our upcoming Studio 3, we’ve chosen Harlequin Standfast. This studio will host a wide variety of classes, from Ballet and Tap to Drama and Reformer Pilates, so we needed something versatile and robust.

The range of finishes and colours Harlequin offers allowed us to tailor each space not only functionally, but aesthetically as well. The support and advice we received from the Harlequin team was invaluable in helping us make the right decisions.

Having a Harlequin sprung floor was always my dream, now I have 3. You never know what the future holds, so dream big.