David Bellan talks to Claire Thompson, organiser of Dancin’ Oxford, which is promising dance activity all around the city

For the first years of its existence, Dancin’ Oxford’s events were spread out over a month. Last year they short-ened it down. This was a success, and once again the festival runs for under a fortnight. Claire Thompson explained the thinking behind this move.

“Doing it over four weeks was more a season of dance than a festival. We wanted to have something that really felt like a festival, so every day there is something on, be it a performance or a workshop, which gives people a chance to experience a lot within a shorter length of time. We took a risk having shows close together, but last year’s figures show people did still come and see the shows, and maybe they planned in to do more than one show within the week, which is great. It certainly creates more of a buzz about the festival than in previous years.”

Aside from events in theatres, festival organisers are keen to make it attract-ive to all kinds of people. “A key part of where the festival is going over the next few years is looking at how we engage with families. Historically the festival has always had a broad programme, which appeals to a wide range of people of different ages, different interests, different abilities, from complete beginners to professional dancers. We’re very keen to engage with families, so we have events like Baby Boogie.

“This is an event that will continue throughout the year. It’s for children under five and their families, a disco with a difference, at the Pegasus Theatre. Before they go to the disco, the families get to work with professional dance artists to learn some moves and experience a dance workshop setting. Then the theatre is transformed into a proper disco, with laser lights and smoke machines and glitter-balls and a live DJ. We’re also running a family dance session at the end of the festival. It could be for a baby and its parent, or a grandma and her grandchild. That will be in the Town Hall.”

There will be a huge amount of dance activity going on around Oxford, with amateurs mixing with professionals at the opening and closing of the festival, and an ‘interactive digital dance installation’ in Bonn Square, running from the Thursday to the Saturday. It’s free, and involves a huge projection on the walls.

I asked Claire about events taking place in Oxford’s theatres. “We’ve got a wonderful programme lined up. Jo Lott, a locally-based dance artist, is present-ting a whole evening of very exciting work for the first time. Then Moving with the Times at the Pegasus, on the first day of the festival, offers work by five choreographers, and that’s going to be a high quality evening of dance.

“Oxford Playhouse are bringing back BalletLorent, who came a couple of years ago and did a show at Magdalen College. This time they’re bringing a show called Night Ball, a professional performance that will happen in the ballroom in the Town Hall. After that performance, all the audience have the opportunity to get up and dance. They will sit around tables and watch the dancers, and then be able to join them and take part themselves.

“BalletLorent are going to be working with 12 commun-ity dancers from Oxford, and those dancers will be taking part in the Town Hall performance too. There’s also more fascinating work at the Town Hall’s Old Museum Space from Paulette Mae; she’s doing a piece called Sea Me. It’s a sound, light, move-ment installation and it offers a different experience for the audience, who will be able to move around while she’s performing, so it’s a bit more like going to see an installation in an art gallery. She’s been working on this for a long time, so it will be interesting to see the final product.”

One of the most distinguished companies to appear at the festival is Tavaziva. Founded ten years ago by Bawren Tavaziva, very much Africa-influenced in its repertoire, and hugely apprec-iated on previous visits to the Pegasus. For their 10th anniversary they will be presenting artistic director Bawren Tavaziva’s celebrated work Umdhalo Kasisi, and excerpts from some of their other best loved shows, including Sensual Africa, plus a new piece. Then Body Politic are having an evening of dance, including a work by the acclaimed choreographer Javier de Frutos. Called Two for C, it depicts a couple trapped in a stagnant relationship, characterised by struggle and power-play. Also on that bill is CandoCo, the company that combines able and disabled dancers, who were seen by tens of millions at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.

Dancin’ Oxford
From February 28 to March 10
Festival pass £1 for lots of performance and workshop discounts
Pick up a brochure at the Town Hall or participating venues