Oxfordshire’s Family Dance Festival is back and coming to Banbury, Oxford and Bicester all through October with a brilliant variety of events to take part in and enjoy thanks to Dancin’ Oxford.
It kicks off at Banbury Canal Festival on October 4-5 with a spectacular display of FREE outdoor dance performances as part of the celebrations, all taking place on The Mill’s dance stage
Expect world-class performances including The Ugly Duckling by Let’s All Dance, Lucky Pigeons by Brainfools and The Elephant & The Drummer by Sonia Sabri Dance Company – plus plenty of performances by local community dance groups. Bearing in mind 4,000 people watched last year’s dance acts at the festival, it should be a real highlight of non-stop entertainment for everyone. Best of all, all the outdoor dance performances are completely free and open to all. Learn more about Banbury Canal Festival 2025 here
Family Dance Festival – Hansel And Gretel, The Mill Arts Centre, October 11. 11 am and 1pm. The award-winning Let’s All Dance ballet company presents this captivating new ballet, adapted from the original Brothers Grimm fairytale. This vibrant retelling of the classic tale celebrates courage, family bonds and the power of love in this beautifully choreographed production, for the whole family once again. For 5-12 year olds. £12.50. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-hansel-and-gretel/
Then on October 14, at The Mill join Bobak on a hilarious and heartfelt journey to Iran as he uncovers his cultural heritage through live music, spoken word, breakdancing, and comedy in I’M MUSLAMIC DON’T PANIK where he meets women running the first Tehran marathon to underground dance battles and a cast of unforgettable characters. Challenging media portrayals of the Middle East as dangerous, Bobak highlights the joy, family, and community often overlooked. £18.50. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-im-muslamic-dont-panik/
It’s Oxford’s Donnington Doorstep‘s turn next on October 15 from 10.30am-11.30am and later John Henry Newman Academy 3.15pm-4.15pm with the Early Years Sessions where Wild Boors Ideas brings story-telling, dance and puppets for little ones and their grown ups. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/early-years-sessions-2/
Get your dancing shoes on Oxford Health Charity’s first ever Dance-a-thon at Oxford’s Old Fire Station on October 18, 12.30 – 5.30pm. If you’re up for a boogie for charity, to raise money for creative movement sessions for patients and staff across Oxford Health sites, to lift moods and demonstrate the positive effect that dance and movement can have. The Dance-a-thon will run for five hours between 12:30 and 17:30, and you can participate for an hour, or for the whole five hours! Entry is only £10 per ticket. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-dance-a-thon-oxford-health-charity/
Children are encouraged to see waste differently and imagine a more sustainable future in hands-on experience 1 Click Away at Pegasus Theatre on October 25 at 11am and 2pm – an interactive dance performance by company Follow Through Collective to help tackle the growing problem of waste and excess packaging in our everyday lives. Set in a world made entirely of cardboard boxes, it invites young audiences to build, balance, dismantle, and reuse packaging materials through movement, music, and storytelling. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-1-click-away/
And last but not least the FAMILY DANCE FESTIVAL comes to Bicester with – FAM JAM at The Loft In Whitelands Farm Sports Ground on October 26 at 10.30am – the famous family disco party for under 5s and their grown ups! Come and join in for games, dancing, face painting, adventures and more. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-fam-jam-2/ All welcome! From £8. And again at Museum of Oxford on October 31. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/halloween-fam-jam/
Claire Thompson, Director of Dancin’ Oxford said: “Family Dance Festival 2025 is where stories, steps and smiles meet. Whether you’re building cardboard castles, moving together in a workshop, or simply soaking up the performances, the festival invites every kind of family to join the dance. It’s a joyful reminder that family is not only who you’re born to, but also the communities you create.”
For details about all the shows and events that make up the Family Dance Festival go to http://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/whats-on/
