Dancin’ Oxford is celebrating its 10th anniversary. David Bellan finds out what’s in store for our very own dance festival

Over the past 10 years, Dancin' Oxford has seen 250 workshops and 300 performances by dance companies from across the globe plus eight large-scale spectacular events.

Dancin’ Oxford is now pushing the boat out to celebrate its 10th birthday.

Claire Thompson, who instigated Oxford’s own dance festival all those years ago, said she endeavoured to not only raise the profile of dance by hosting a massive annual festival, but also by inviting prestigious dance companies to visit and perform in Oxford.

She was also determined to mix these big names with local dance companies or dancers who started their training and careers in Oxford, and went on to greater things.

Which is why the opening event is Moving with the Times featuring pieces by local dancers, and a specially choreographed work, We Were Youth by Jos Baker, Tomislav English, Sam Coren and composer Tommy Evans.

“All four of us started dancing with Cecilia McFarlane and Oxford Youth Dance when we were pretty young,” Jos told me, “and we used to perform at the Pegasus wearing crazy costumes that our mums had made. Then we all caught the bug. Tom went into music, and the other three of us trained professionally, appearing in companies all over the world.

“We haven’t danced together in years, but we thought it would be nice to get together again in Oxford, where we grew up and went on stage for the first time. Our piece is a wry commentary on our lives as performers.”

During Dancin’ Oxford, Jos is also premiering his new solo work Of No Fixed Abode at The Old Fire Station. “It looks at the influence of the media on sad, lonely, dispossessed people,” he told me.

“It’s the story of a guy who is travelling from one place to another, and the only companionship that he has is his radio. The voices on the radio have a bigger and bigger influence on his life. He desperately wants to express his feelings, and has the frustration of not being able to do that, not having the audience he feels he deserves. It’s a slightly twisted autobiography – it’s not directly about myself, but it certainly looks at some feelings that I recognise in myself – I spend a lot of my time travelling around and facing groups of people, and in that way the character and I have a lot in common.”

The show, on Monday, is called Leap Day Dancing, and also features Crossover intergenerational dance company and Joelle Papas projects.

A few days later, at The Playhouse, there’s Thomas Noone and his company from Barcelona, in his interpretation of Euripides’ ancient tragedy Medea – one of the nastiest stories ever written. Betrayed by her unfaithful husband Jason, Medea seeks vengeance, on him, on his new love, and even her own children do not escape her rage. Thomas may be working in Barcelona now, but he has strong connections with Oxford – he lived here from the age of 11, and later went to University College. He did his dance training at the Rambert School in London.

“About five years ago a friend in Barcelona said that I should do Medea,” he remembered. “I don’t really do narrative stuff, but it’s a good story, and there are many interpretations. There is a linear narrative in my work, but it’s more about Medea herself – her perception of herself, and how people perceive her. She decides on this dramatic course of action. Everyone around her is quite weak, so I centre on her and her feelings. Of course you can see what’s happening, though I draw the line at killing children on stage!

“I decided to make it a bit more spare, a bit more reined in, because I thought I couldn’t match the enormity of the work, so it is understated, but you still get the same emotional impact.”

There is of course a lot more happening during the festival. For example, on Saturday there’s the public launch of the festival in Bonn Square, with an exciting series of shows suitable for all ages, and the following Saturday there’s Avant Garde – The Black Album at the Pegasus, which features a triple bill in which three distinctly different hip-hop choreographies are woven together.

Oxford Mail:

There’s so much on offer that you really need to pick up a festival brochure at one of the participating theatres to see what a rich choice of dance events there is. Or use a festival pass, which will get you discounts on performances, not only during the festival, but throughout the year.

What's on

Dancin’ Spaces’: Dancin’ Oxford’s public launch event on Saturday (12-4pm) at Bonn Square. Always interesting, quite often a lot of fun, this year Dancin’ Spaces features, among other things, dancing Body Guards, complete with shades and Disco Grannies.

Post-work Zumba session: Tuesday (5-6pm) at Bonn Square After a hard day at work what could be better than a rigorous dance to wash away that work fatigue.

Wake ‘n’ Shake (Join the mornin’ revolution!): Friday, March 4 (8-9am) at Oxford Town Hall. How about starting the work day with some special moves guaranteed to prepare the body and mind for the day ahead.

Thomas Noone & Mercat de las Flors: Medea – March 4 (8pm) & March 5 (7.30pm) at Oxford Playhouse. Contemporary dance, from Barcelona based Oxford Choreographer Thomas Noone, is going to be a full-on emotional experience danced to a stunning dance score.

Avant Garde: The Black Album. Saturday, March 5 (7.30pm) at Pegasus Theatre. Some love it, some hate it but hip-hop has an energy that is hard to resist and this company really knows how to entertain.
www.dancinoxford.co.uk