DANCERS will take to the walls of the Westgate Centre as part of a dancing festival.

Dancin' Oxford's spring festival will feature a series of events, with 14 separate dance companies delivering performances across the county.

Lindsey Butcher is the power behind Gravity and Levity the award-winning aerial dance company performing vertically at the Westgate.

She said: "Dancing today couldn't be more removed from when I started out. "Whilst traditional dance is limited in its ability to explore vertical space (even the most phenomenally powerful dancer can only jump or lift their partner so high), aerial dance allows the body to be suspended anywhere between the floor and a rigging point.

"In the work we’re creating for Dancin' Oxford at the Westgate we’ll be working on abseil ropes and harnesses to create a bespoke vertical dance piece.

"An aspect I particularly enjoy as a vertical dancer is that I’m usually creating work in other peoples’ territory and community, as ‘visitors’ into someone else’s backyard and that differs from the usual ‘contract’ with audiences in theatre settings.

"I value the exchange that happens when working in public space, the interplay between architecture and community and how audiences affect the work being made – there is no private rehearsal!"

If you want to see the finished work go to Bonn Square at 12pm,1.30pm and 3pm next Saturday or 12.30pm and 2pm next Sunday - it's free.

Other dance companies taking part include New Arts Club at Didcot's Cornerstone on March 10.

Cupid's Revenge will be hosted at the venue at 7:30pm.

In true New Art Club style, Cupid’s Revenge is a show that takes a big idea, breaks it open with humour and brings it vividly to life through dance and theatre. In today’s disposable world where love is used to sell us everything from mobiles to fizzy pop to insurance policies where did real love go?

Or is it still there somewhere?

Where is Cupid when we need him? Can he help us find and reclaim the real thing?

All of these questions are explored in this joyful dancing outburst against the forces that masquerade as love.

If you fancy a blend of dance and physical theatre the festival offers several choices.

The North Wall's intimate theatre space is the perfect location for the multi-award-winning Theatre Ad Infinitum's double bill performed over two nights yesterday and today.

Odyssey described as a 'tour de force' reinvents the Greek myth whilst Translunar Paradise using live music, mime and dance is set to steal its audience's hearts.

There's always a chance to have a go during the festival with taster sessions during the week.

In a 45 minute class geared up to beginners you can sample Movers & Shakers, Salsa, Charleston, African, Zumba, Contemporary, Bollywood and Street Dance. If you have a young children and want to do something as a family there's a Family Dance Workshop at West Oxford Community Centre on March 11.

For full details about the festival visit dancinoxford.co.uk