Dancin’ Oxford has unveiled a brilliantly vibrant and diverse programme for its Summer Dance Festival on June 28 – July 20, promising aerial dance, community talent, eco choreography, workshops, parkour, immersive outdoor performances and wellbeing in an eclectic mix of performances to celebrate the richness of dance in Oxfordshire.
‘Dancin’ Oxford is a joyful celebration of dance in all its forms, and we can’t wait to share it with Oxford’s community’
Take Autin Dance Theatre‘s latest production Up in the Sky, a thrilling new aerial dance show for families, performed on June 28 at Leiden Square in Westgate Oxford on a 7-metre circular structure. Expect breathtaking aerial movement, magical visuals and live music from the award-winning, Birmingham-based company renowned for its innovative performances that blend dance, physical theatre, puppetry, and storytelling to inspire audiences of all ages. FREE
The renowned Justice in Motion (see main pic) will be performing CODE on July 18–20 at Oxfordshire Academy and Broad Street, a free, high-octane outdoor production using parkour, dance, trials biking and live rap to raise awareness about child exploitation through county lines. The Oxford-based physical theatre company is renowned for creating powerful, thought-provoking performances that raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and encourage action on topics such as human trafficking, modern slavery and social inequality through dance, theatre, parkour, aerial acrobatics, film, and music.
Don’t miss the Global Dance Stage on June 29, an exciting and vibrant celebration of global dance and community talent, featuring over 30 local and international groups across an eclectic mix of diverse styles.
From the baton twirling Strawberry Fayre Majorettes to hiphop from Messy Jam, street from Soda Mini Movers, Drishti dance from Kathak, Irish dance from Marion Flanagan School, burlesque with Attitude’s Scrumpets, sword and shaabi bellydance by Desert Diamonds, breakdancing with “NoMad” Crew, contemporary from Laura D’Italia, jazz from American Dance School Team ADS, Chinese folk dance with Wei Dancer, plus Zumba, ballet, bellydance and freestyle.
Oxford Playhouse joins with Songs Of The Bulbul as the Aakash Odedra Company on July 2, a captivating new dance work inspired by the Sufi myth of a caged songbird, featuring choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan in this exquisite performance. Tracing a journey from freedom to captivity and the soul’s longing for divine love, it explores our ties to the material world alongside liberation and enlightenment. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/songs-of-the-bulbul
Our Bodies as Earth, presented by Modern Art Oxford and Dancin’ Oxford on June 29 at Headington Hill Park, is an outdoor performance exploring ecological embodiment and connection to land through movement, remembering lost gestures of the body. On July 17 join Helen Edwards’ (dancer, artist, eco-somatic arts therapist and environmentalist with over 25 years’ experience in movement and dance) associated workshop in movement, stillness and connections to the earth and mindful movement in nature.
MuMo Creative is bringing Dance for Parkinson’s at Weston Library, a performance emerging from creative exploration workshops with people with Parkinson’s, celebrating expression, resilience and connection through dance on Friday July 11 to foster creativity, confidence, and connection, working in partnership with English National Ballet and Oxford City Council.
Claire Thompson, Director of Dancin’ Oxford says: “This summer’s festival is full of energy, heart and incredible talent – from breathtaking professional shows to brilliant community performances. It’s a joyful celebration of dance in all its forms, and we can’t wait to share it with our Oxford community.”
For details about all the shows and events at Dancin’ Oxford’s Summer Dance Festival from June 28 – July 20 go to: http://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/whats-on/
