Covering dance for The Oxford Times doesn’t mean just going to the posh stuff. I see quite a few amateur performances, and I was impressed by Yuka’s group. Most of the dancers are in their late teens or early twenties, and range from Oxford University students to professional microbiologists. Many have studied dance since childhood, but what dedication and love of the art it must take to keep training, during a busy adult life, to the point where you can take part in a show of this quality. Of course it’s not professional standard, but, in a long (three-hour) programme, there were many enjoyable moments.

The first part of the show was a look back at some of the highlights of the past years. I particularly liked Isona Kakuchi in Tournament Galop. She is a little star, her facial expressions very amusing as she egged on three other girls to perform. Later she looked good in a tutu and classical steps in Le Corsaire. This was a work that featured a remarkable performance by Charlie Byers. Reading that amateurs were going to perform the famed pas de deux, designed to show off virtuoso dancers of the highest quality, was enough to make your reviewer pale slightly. Byers was a member of the university boxing club, and only two years ago thought he would give ballet a try. What he has achieved since then is amazing; he managed many of the technical difficulties, but most of all he looked like a real dancer with every gesture, reminding me in his tall physique and open style of English National Ballet’s new star Vadim Muntagirov. He was well partnered by Jade Shelton (pictured with him), who looked good throughout the programme, particularly in a tap routine. Niriti’s solo from The Talisman was nicely danced by Elena Seiradake. Finally, hats off to David Hanvidge who stepped in and learnt two roles in two hours the night before.