If you’ve been thinking of giving dance a go or want to see the experts in action now’s your chance because this weekend Dancin’ Oxford’s Family Dance Festival kicks off with events across the county until the end of November.
First up is the FAM JAM on Saturday (Sept 28) at Museum of Oxford where Oxford’s favourite family disco for under 7s and their grown ups complete with tunes, games, facepainting and loads of fun. Selling out fast, there are still places at Monday October 28’s Fam Jam with Roly Carline at Museum of Oxford BOOK HERE, or two further venues on November 23 – Cowley’s John Bunyan Centre at 1.30pm – 3.00pm Book here or Rose Hill Community Centre on at 3.30pm – 5.00pm Book here
On Sunday head on down to Kindred By Luminelle at Pegasus in East Oxford a fun, interactive and immersive dance performance for 0-5 year olds, using movement and play for all. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-kindred-by-luminelle/
It’s Banbury‘s turn next weekend (Oct 5&6) where a spectacular display of FREE outdoor dance performances at The Mill Arts Centre are taking place including HENGE by Motionhouse, Hula Hoop Street Show by Angie Mack, and The Black Eagles – plus plenty of performances by local community dance groups as part of Canal Festival. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-the-mills-dance-stage/
The world premiere of the film – My City, My Home, will premiere on 11 October at 5pm on Dancin’ Oxford’s YouTube channel. An initiative led by Dancin’ Oxford and Oxford City Council with contributions from each of Oxford’s twinned cities: Leiden in The Netherlands, Bonn in Germany, Grenoble in France, León in Nicaragua, Wrocław in Poland, Ramallah in Palestine, and Padua in Italy. My City, My Home aims to highlight the essence of community and urban life across each of our twinned cities, through music, dance and urban sports to an original soundtrack by composer/producer Charlotte Trichard. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-world-premiere-my-city-my-home-film/
Introducing the Solar System is a breakdance workshop being run for 7-12 year-olds at Wesley Memorial Church on October 12 at 1.30pm and 3pm https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-breakdance-introducing-the-solar-system/and October 29 at Museum of Oxford for 6-13 year-olds. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-breakdance-introducing-the-solar-system-2/ Run by space scientist and breaker, Mona Elghzal this dance workshop gives a brief overview of our Solar System and what makes it special.
Explore our relationship with water in SPLASH by Dancing Strong Movement Lab on October 19 at
11am and 2pm. Aimed at 2-8 year olds, and their families, this intimate, interactive performance installation uses dance and painted and projected artworks. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-splash-by-dancing-strong-movement-lab/
The Sticky Dance is is an interactive, engaging and colourful performance installation for autistic/neurodivergent children aged 3-7 years and their families. Created by Second Hand Dance, and held throughout the day at Glory Farm School in Bicester on November 2 in this tactile dance performance for young children. Tape, stick and groove, see feel or be still, watch and listen. Choosing how to engage. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-festival-the-sticky-dance-by-second-hand-dance/
Get ready to hit the dance floor at Pegasus’ Family Dance Party on November 9 at 11.30am and 2.30pm! Show off your dance moves in this disco extravaganza accompanied by a blend of live DJ music, cool lighting, and a flurry of bubbles and games. https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/family-dance-party-3/. The Christmas Family Dance Party follows suit on December 1 at Barton Neighbourhood Centre https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/event/1922/
Once you get a taste of that you won’t want to miss the Light Trail Family Dance Party on November 16 at Cutteslowe Pavilion, with two chance to groove on down at 3pm-4.30pm or 5pm-6.30pm. Back by popular demand, Body Politic has partnered with Dancin’ Oxford and The North Wall to bring you a ‘hip-hopping, toe-tapping’ daytime disco for all the family. Featuring a live DJ, party games, bubbles and disco lights and more! complete with its own free party playlist to get you in the mood. BOOK HERE
Claire Thompson, Director of Dancin’ Oxford said: “Our Family Dance Festival 2024 offers a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to experience dance in a relaxed and welcoming setting. With a variety of events for everyone, whether you’d like to join in or just watch, we invite you to be part of this joyous community celebration, specially curated for our vibrant Oxfordshire community.”
For more details go to https://www.dancinoxford.co.uk/whats-on/