THE rhythms of hip hop beats and classical music will help Oxford come alive over the next month following the launch of the fifth Dancin’ Oxford festival.
And organisers promise there will be something for everyone with events taking place across the city.
On Saturday performers took over the city centre and entertained thousands of shoppers to mark the start of the festival.
One of the festival highlights will be a visit by French aerial dance company Retouramont, who will perform against the walls of Oxford Castle on March 4.
Last night Oxford City Council arts officer Claire Thompson, who came up with the idea for the event in 2006, said it would be the biggest yet.
She said: “Saturday’s launch event in the city centre drew huge crowds of people, the like of which we have not seen before. The atmosphere was fabulous.
“Many people stayed for the whole programme and said they would be attending other events across the city in the next four weeks.
“It was a fabulous way of celebrating the fifth Dancin’ Oxford festival, which is much bigger than our previous festivals.
“There are plenty of workshops to get involved in and shows to be seen, including 14 at the Pegasus Theatre.
The Dance-A-Thon workshops are also back, giving people the chance to learn an array of dance moves and techniques.
Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, will play host to professional companies on its newly refurbished stage, including Phoenix Dance, State of Emergency, Company Chameleon and Tavaziva.
Oxford professional dance talent will be celebrated in Moving with the Times, curated by Oxford Dance Forum, on March 10 and 11. There will also be shows by community groups, alongside performances by university and college students.
Oxford Youth Dance Company is performing at the Oxford Playhouse on March 13 and the Pegasus Theatre on March 19.
Company director Cecilia Macfarlane said: “It is very exciting for our 27 young dancers, who are all aged between 14 and 18. All their dances are completely original and choreographed by themselves.
“It is a great opportunity for them to perform at this level.”
- For a full list of times and venues, visit dancinoxford.co.uk
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