Oxford Dance Writers

Dance on stage – on screen – on the streets – on a wall – talked about – thought about – tried out – Dancin’ Oxford!

We can’t wait for the fifth year of exciting, innovative and fabulous Dancin’ Oxford to begin! In celebration we bring something very special to our lively line-up. French aerial dance company Retouramont will perform at Oxford Castle to transform one of Oxford’s oldest buildings into a platform for dance in a magical setting of sound, light and movement.

In addition there are plenty of treats in store. The ever-popular Dance-A-Thon workshops are back for the complete newcomer or the dance enthusiast – with twice as many choices on offer, there’s nothing to stop you from trying out a new dance style! Will it be Samba, Musical Theatre or Butoh, or will you try them all?

Pegasus hosts a full complement of renowned professional companies in their beautiful newly reopened theatre, including Phoenix Dance, State of Emergency, Company Chameleon and the much awaited return of Tavaziva Dance Company. There’s also a range of performances by Oxford’s local youth and community groups alongside shows by university and college students. Don’t miss Oxford Youth Dance at Oxford Playhouse and Tac-au-Tac Dance Theatre at Pegasus. Oxford’s wealth of professional dance talent is celebrated in Moving with the Times, curated by Oxford Dance Forum. Six Oxford-based choreographers create new work in a variety of dance styles, including Kathak Indian dance, and tap and percussive dance.

If it’s debate you enjoy, this year’s Festival offers a series of talks. In Moving the Boundaries, academics and dance practitioners join in dialogue about many aspects of dance and discuss the theme of Dance in Body, Dance in Mind. Come along to just one or all four events and enjoy talking, thinking, doing, and watching dance.

Finally, Dancin’ Oxford wouldn’t be complete without some dancing on the streets! The first date for your diary is 19th February when Dance Bites will see Oxford-based dance groups performing around the city centre to launch the festival with their boundless energy.

This year sees the brand new post -show ‘Festival Club’ hosted by Pegasus – a chance to mix with the artists, relax and dance to some cool tunes by the resident DJ. Free to ticket-holders and Festival Pass holders – another reason to get hold of one of these, which for only £1 gives you discounts on most Festival events! Festival passes can be bought in person at Pegasus Theatre and Oxford Playhouse Box offices or from Oxford Town Hall. Details of all events are now online at http://www.dancinoxford.co.uk, and you can book tickets through http://www.pegasustheatre.org.uk and www.ticketsoxford.com – look out for our Dancin’ Oxford brochure too.

For more details on all events please visit www.dancinoxford.co.uk

Maggie writes in response to watching American Ballet Theatre’s matinee at Sadler’s Wells on Saturday 5th February:

My teenage daughter and I were lucky enough to catch American Ballet Theatre’s Programme Two at Sadlers Wells yesterday. For me, the two high points were Jardin aux Lilas, which lived up to all my expectations of Tudor, and an elegant and musical performance by Yuriko Kajiya in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. My least favourite was Ratmansky’s Nutcracker Pas de Deux, which was danced with great virtuosity and panache by Veronika Part and Marcelo Gomes, but I thought lost out because it really belongs in a complete production, and so lacked dramatic context. (The audience went wild over it, and so I’m sure that mine is a minority opinion!). My daughter’s favourite was Taylor’s Company B, set to songs sung by The Andrews Sisters. The company was completely at home in this beautifully constructed humorous romp that gave lots of the dancers a chance to have a moment in the limelight. I particularly enjoyed watching Luciana Paris in Rum and Coca-Cola, and Carlos Lopez in Oh Johnny. If I could see just one thing again, I’d choose Xiomara Reyes’ intensely wistful performance as Caroline in Jardin aux Lilas.

State of Emergency presents

DESERT CROSSINGS

Five stunning dancers explore human evolution, creating life forms that are neitherfih nor bird, man nor woman, but are united through the shared history of the rocks on which they stand.

25th & 26th February, 8pm

Pegasus Theatre, Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE

Seat prices:  £10 full price, £8 concessions

To book phone: 01865 812150  or online: http://www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

State of Emergency are also holding a Dance Residency at Pegasus on 24thand 25th February.  Come along to this fantastic opportunity and create a curtain raiser for the show!

Tickets are £20 and include a ticket to see the performance on both nights.  For more information, phone the box office on 01865 812150

Drishti Dance is very pleased to invite you to Utsav – the Celebration – An evening of exquisite Kathak dance choreographic works celebrating dance, music, poetry and literature.  A thrillingly beautiful cultural adventure!

Reading based Kathak dancer-choreographer Anuradha Chaturvedi of Drishti Dance brings together an evening of her recent choreographic works at South Street Arts Centre, Reading on Thursday, 3rd March 2011.

The famed evenings of the historic Indian city of Lucknow (formerly Awadh) come alive through exclusive compositions and dynamic display of sparkling footwork, wide sweeping body movements and subtle emotive expressions.

The evening presents a rare combination of traditional and innovative works, featuring “A host of golden Daffodils”, an exquisite interpretation of Wordsworth’s immortal poem to the live narration and music improvisation of Oxfordshire based musician Malcolm Atkins.

To book tickets call box office at 0118 960 6060 or log on to http://www.readingarts.com/southstreet/whatson/event.asp?id=SX11F2-A781C884

To know more about Anuradha Chaturvedi or Drishti Dance events please visit http://www.drishtidance.com

Point Zero Physical Theatre presents:

Reflections of a Man

featuring Danny Scott

Saturday 19th February 2011
7.30pm / £ 5
The King’s Centre, Osney Mead, OX2 0ES, Oxford

Evocative, humorous, deeply touching, yet delicately challenging solo physical theatre.
The piece opens to find ‘the philosopher‟ reflecting and deliberating on the question:  “What is a Man?” –  and unfolds through a skilful fusion of movement, theatre, poetry, mime, and poignant symbolism, taking us on an evocative journey through the lives, personal identities, and tangible experiences of different characters, offering compelling  physical-dialogue and yearning insight into the complex identity of ‘man’/kind.

Info/Contact: info@pointzero.me, http://www.pointzero.me