Street dancing wows shoppers (From Oxford Mail)

Street dancing wows shoppers

7:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News

SHOPPERS were stopped in their tracks as the annual Dancin’ Oxford festival began at the weekend.

As reported in yesterday’s Oxford Mail, shoppers in Cornmarket Street, St Aldate’s, Bonn Square and Queen Street were entertained on Saturday by performances from four different groups, showing off dance styles from hip-hop to tap.

One of the key draws was Granny Turismo – two men dressed as grannies dancing to hits from Beyoncé’s Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) to Psy’s YouTube sensation Gangnam Style.

Martin Long, who played Marge alongside Rick Taylor as Mary, said: “We have had a fantastic response – lots of lovely people in the street enjoying what we were doing.

“It’s been great.”

Saskia and Tiana Harvey, aged seven and five, from Oxford, were spellbound by the performers.

Mum Verity said: “They were watching it from McDonald’s – it’s amazing. They both love to dance.”

Kirstie Grainger, 43, from North Leigh, near Witney, brought along four-year-old daughter Abigail.

She said: “She was laughing out loud – it’s brilliant.”

Lucy Seal, from Oxford, took her two daughters, aged four and eight, to watch the performances.

She said: “It was good. We were particularly looking forward to Granny Turismo and Sole Rebel Tap.”

Other performances included Body Politic and the Quiet Men.

The festival runs until Monday, and includes a range of dance performances and workshops in locations across the city.

As well as opportunities to watch dance, there will also be chances to try out different styles under expert tuition.

Festival director Claire Thompson said: “It’s going really well. We have had really good feedback from people watching so far.

“People are stopping and watching, which is brilliant, and it seems like they are enjoying themselves.”

She hoped some of the people who had seen free street performances would be encouraged to go to other shows.

She said: “Part of today is about engaging people to see dance, possibly for the first time, even if they don’t come to the rest of the festival.

“But we hope it will inspire them to see other work during the festival, and maybe come and do a dance class themselves.”

For more details about the festival including times, locations and prices, visit dancinoxford.co.uk