Dancin’ Oxford’s Summer Dance Festival 2024 kicks off at Oxford’s Westgate Centre today (Saturday July 6) with a dazzling line-up of acts and a five hour dance extravaganza!
This year’s festival features a fantastic range of dance styles from visiting professional to locally-based youth and community dance groups demonstrating an incredible range of dance from breakdance to contemporary, acrobatics, classical Indian dance, physical theatre, African dance, a Zumba Fiesta, and much, much more.
Whether you want to learn some new moves in the mini-masterclasses, or are happier just watching – there’s something for all ages running through Saturday and Sunday. With so much to see and do for all ages, go along, check it out and have some fun.
The five hour dance extravaganza begins at noon today on the big stage in Ledien Square, featuring 10 different dance artists and companies including some of the UK’s premiere dance artists. Those taking part include MCDC Company, TPD Young Artists, Linden Dance, Zumba Fiesta, Nomad Crew, Vanhulle Dance Theatre, Ariel Dempsey, Messy Jam, Afrofusion and Step 2 Dance.
Tomorrow (Sunday 7 July) a five hour celebration of Oxford’s vibrant community and its wonderful youth dancers will then take the limelight on the Global Dance Stage bringing together a vibrant tapestry of dance styles from across the globe to showcase the talent, passion, and creativity of our local community.
Featuring are Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, Attitude Dance School – Contemporary Class, Mini Professionals Dance Academy, Attitude Dance School – Burlesque classes ‘The Scrumpets’, The Remarkable Dance Company, McGahan Lees Irish Dance Academy, Sanggar Santo Antonio Dili, Betty Bloom Dance Tiger Lilies, Messy Jam Dance School, TPD Young Artists, Body Politic, Sanggar Santo Antonio Dili, Timor Leste, Junior Contemporary – South Oxford Dance Academy, TPD Young Artists, cyr wheel, South Oxford Dance Academy, Betty Bloom Dance Junior Performance Team, Nomad Crew/ Oxford Breakers, Lunas Dance (Primary school children), MacIntyre Dancers, Lunas Dance Project (adult group).
In the afternoon expect Chloe Kitching, Two Rivers Bellydance, Flight Club, UKDANCEVISION, Yuliana Titasari, Cherie Bellydancer, Sanggar Santo Antonio Dili, Roisin – representing the MacIntyre Dancers American Dance School, Two Rivers Bellydance, LJG dance company, OXOPS, Oxfordski Horotroptsi, Smidgen Dance Company and Afrofusion.
All the excitement will then be followed up on July 19-21 with more dance from professional dance company and aerial circus experts Capability Circus bring their new show Mirrors to The Westgate’s Leiden Square a thought-provoking piece to make you question reality and self-perception and My Ukranian Heart – where emotional storytelling is turned into a powerful art form.
Claire Thompson, Director of Dancin’ Oxford said: “This summer, we’re thrilled to have curated an electrifying showcase of dance excellence, combining wonderful community and youth dance groups with some of the UK’s premier dance companies. There really is something for everyone – so join us this summer to celebrate our incredibly community.”
Dancin’ Oxford, has grown beyond all recognition from a month long festival to a year round programme of dance performances, dance on film screening, participatory workshops, talks and digital installation.
For full festival details, and all upcoming events, visit Dancin’ Oxford
