From world premieres to dance classes, kathak to hiphop, contemporary to ballet, street and breaking, it’s all going on at this year’s Dancin’ Oxford’s Spring Festival, kicking off on March 1.
And with shows as far afield as Bicester, The Westgate, Pegasus Theatre, North Wall, Oxford Playhouse and The Old Fire Station you won’t want to miss out. Here’s our guide to what’s on and what to see:
AMINA KHAYYAM DANCE COMPANY Story of One, Story of Many, March 1, North Wall, 8pm. Three dancers weave individual stories accompanied by live music featuring tabla and cello, using high energy Kathak to to tell the experiences of migrants fighting against generalisation and stereotyping. BOOK HERE
James Wilton Dance – LORE – March 2, 8pm, North Wall A folklore-inspired journey into a pagan world of gods, demons and humans, embodied through otherworldly athleticism. LORE is about connection to nature and the energy that flows from the ground through our bodies and back into the earth. Created to a specially composed soundtrack by Michal Wojtas, it draws influence from Viking, Celtic and Slavic folk music, and the ancient stories that bind humanity together.
Spring Dance Festival LAUNCH EVENT, March 2, 12.30 – 2pm, free, Leiden Square (just in front of John Lewis), Westgate Oxford. Get ready to be dazzled by an array of talented performers as we kick off our Spring Dance Festival with a bang! Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the diversity, creativity, and joy of dance at the heart of Oxford’s vibrant community! Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store:
Step into the rhythm with Step 2 Dance, Oxfordshire’s premier dance school offering a diverse range of classes for dancers of all ages and abilities. TPD Young Artists – Experience the creativity and passion of the youth company of Thomas Page Dances, as they showcase their talent in contemporary dance. Oxford Breaking – Prepare to be amazed by the dynamic moves of Oxford Breaking, a vibrant community of dancers dedicated to celebrating diversity through breaking and street dance. Zumba Spring Fiesta with George Martini and friends – Join the party for a high-energy Zumba Spring Fiesta! Get ready to dance, sweat, and have a blast with Oxford’s most popular Zumba instructors. The Remarkable Dance Company – Experience the beauty and grace of Banbury’s very own dance troupe comprised of talented individuals aged over 50.
Let’s All Dance Ballet Company – The Magic Word. Cooper School Bicester March 2, 11am & 1pm. The prefect show for young children join the beautiful Forest Queen in the secret, magical forest where she lives. A gorgeous ballet for family audiences complete with magical dancers, stunning costumes, crystal-clear storytelling, and lots of humour. A heartwarming tale for all ages.
Body Politic – thePLATFORM, March 2, Pegasus, 2pm & 6pm – An eclectic, exciting showcase featuring some of Oxford’s best and brightest young artists. Join Body Politic as it celebrates 50 yrs of Hip Hop with a vibrant and powerful display that plays homage to a culture rooted in freedom, expression and community. Featuring performances from local and national youth dance companies, don’t miss out on this special birthday celebration event.
Hot House – Richard Chappell Dance, March 4, 7.30pm, Oxford Playhouse. A bold, transformational evening that celebrates the joy of movement and music in a setting where concert meets bonfire in this passionate response to the cost-of-living crisis, featuring a soundscape influenced by Chinese, Indian and European classical music, rearranged and performed by violinist Enyuan Khong and electronic music duo Larch.
Moving With The Times, March 8 – 9, 7.30pm. Pegasus. 7.30pm – READ ABOUT IT HERE a rare opportunity to see the premiere of original works by some of the UK’s most promising dance talent, The Moving With The Times commissions are awarded to the most talented and promising early career artists in the UK. Commissioned for Dancin’ Oxford’s Spring Dance Festival, watch the premiere of the completed works by these three extraordinary artists/companies: Divija Melally & Saili Katebe, Anjali Dance Company and Kavya Iyer Ramalingam.
XENIA AIDONOPOULOU Skydiver, The North Wall, March 9, 11am & 2pm. 3-5 years. A multi-sensory dance experience for families. Take your little ones on a magical journey with Skydiver and experience how movement, sound and stunning visuals bring some fanciful characters to life in an enchanting encounter in the skies.
Justice in Motion READ ABOUT THEM HERE – Deca’thon, March 9, all day, pay what you can, Old Fire Station. Part of Oxford’s physical theatre company, Justice in Motion”s 10 year anniversary, there’ll be over 10 hours of dance in a multitude of styles to try – from salsa and street dance to bollywood and contemporary. The last session of the day is an opportunity to let yourself go in a freestyle DJ set where you can combine all the dance moves of the day. Join as many sessions as you can, give a donation on the door towards each session you attend and get others to sponsor you dancing for as many hours as you can. No experience required.
Claire Thompson, Director of Dancin’ Oxford said: “We’ve brought together so many beautiful, thoughtful and fun shows for our community here in Oxfordshire, so come along and celebrate the arrival of Spring with us.”
Details at http://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/whats-on/
