Venue, Timing and Cost
January 2024
Note: All Wednesday evenings 7.30 - 9pm except day workshop on Saturday 27 January
10: Jam - dance practice for contact improvisation.
17: Invitation to join our Dance & Movement Research 2024. Contact us for details and to register/attend.
24: Jam.
27: (Saturday) Beginning Contact Improvisation (11am-4pm). Bring a friend for free. Details below.
February 2024
7: Jam
21: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
Contact improvisation is a dance which originated in the 1970’s and which has now spread throughout the world. It’s often taught in university dance courses but it’s easy to learn and fun. It’s an improvised dance – a dialogue in movement – which has a fluid and dynamic form.
Our events - classes, dances - which are known as 'jams' (similar to musicians improvising and jamming together) - are for adults (18+ years). If you have particular needs, please contact us.
You don't need to book - just turn up. There's no card payment. It's £10 on the door for a class or jam. Payment by cash or bank transfer for regular dancers. Thank-you.
Example of contact improvisation see video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5y9AdVOkRA and photo above.
This is our maxim: All life a dance; everyone a dancer; every moment a dance
** Jams - Wednesday 10, 24 January and 7 February (7.30pm-9pm), £10 each**
Join us for an hour and a half of friendly social dancing at this practice session. Beginners and experienced dancers are welcomed. Personal research and learning from others is encouraged.
Please wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Do not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or other respiratory illness. Thank-you.
We welcome musicians and anyone who wants to accompany the jam with music. Just bring your instrument and improvise with the dancing.
What does a jam look like? See (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_quWWSoDvnk
** Classes - Day workshop (Beginning Contact Improvisation - bring a friend for free) on Saturday 27 January (11am - 4pm, £38) and evening class on Wednesday 21 February (7.30pm-9pm, £10) **
These classes are drop-in and suitable for complete beginners and experienced dancers who want to refresh their skills and practice. Each class has a specific theme.
Note: For details of the Beginning Contact Improvisation day workshop see: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beginning...
If you'd like details of our ongoing programme then please join our email newsletter list or our social media
*About Oxford Contact Dance*
Founded in 2014, we are the only dance school in Oxford specialising in contact improvisation and improvised dance. We organise classes, dance sessions (called 'jams'), and performances. We invite everyone to dance.
Join our email list at our website: http://www.contactdance.org
(Photo: 'In between' dance - Andrew Wood and Jo Dyer dancing, Bruno Guastalla and Josie Webber on cellos. Photographer: Karl Wallendszus.)
Further Information
We used the University Club for most events prior to the outbreak of Covid in March 2020. Now we're back!
We're using the MPR room on the lower ground floor - through the entrance and dance down the stairs. There are changing rooms, lockers and showers - plus a bar/cafe upstairs, and bike parking. Oh yes, and the best sprung floor in Oxford!
The club is a 10 minute walk from the bus or train station in central Oxford. Limited street car parking or preferably use the park and ride.
Note: You don't need to be a member of Oxford University to join us at the club!
This is the address: University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ. Their website: http://www.club.ox.ac.uk
We have the club booked Wednesday evenings into December and expect to use it next year. Note: No class or jam on October 20 as the Club is not available.
Any questions? Email us (c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org). Remove the ‘-’ characters in the address when emailing - which are included to reduce spam! We welcome any questions or queries which you may have.
Our website and newsletter are here: https://www.contactdance.org