Join our events in 2026
Dancing contact improvisation at one of our dance sessions, Dec. 2016. Photo: Pier Corona
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You can dance and learn improvised dance with us - dancing in physical contact (contact improvisation) or physically distanced. Sometimes we dance outside in the park too! We've welcomed beginners and experienced dancers since our founding in 2014.
Note: 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.
Donations to our work: https://ko-fi.com/oxfordcontactdance
This is our maxim: All life a dance; everyone a dancer; every moment a dance
2026
January 2026 - Tuesday evenings 13, 20, 27 January
We're at the University Club in Oxford on Tuesday evenings 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Details below.
The sessions are both classes and jams (practice sessions): if you want to jam then you can do that; if you'd like some teaching then we do that too.
Cost £10. All drop-in sessions. No booking required. Pay on the door – cash or bank transfer.
Tuesdays, 7.30 – 8.30pm. The University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ. Their website: http://www.club.ox.ac.uk
We're at the University Club using the MPR room on the lower ground floor - through the entrance and dance down the stairs. There are changing rooms, lockers and showers, and bike parking. Oh yes, and the best sprung floor in Oxford!
Note: You don't need to be a student to use the University Club. All welcome.
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.
Other
Please wear loose clothing in which you can move freely and bring a water bottle.
About Contact Improvisation: Contact improvisation is a dance which emerged 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.
What does contact improvisation look like?
More information about Contact improvisation
2025
December 2025 - Tuesday evenings 2, 9 December
November 2025 - Tuesday evenings 4, 11, 18, 25 November
October - Tuesday evenings 7, 14, 21, 28 October
Autumn is here and we're back at the University Club on Tuesday evenings on 7 October, 7.30pm - 8.30pm and then the same for the next three Tuesdays - so 14, 21, 28 October. Details below.
August - Dance at the Art Gallery
Modern Art Oxford is hosting an exhibition 'Movements for Staying Alive' ('Move. Participate. Connect.') by artist Jane Castree and others.
The invitation is for us - the public - to use the space and the exhibits for dance and movement practice. So that's what we're going to do!
We're meeting 7.30pm at the St Ebbs Street entrance of Modern Art Oxford beside the Westgate Shopping Centre on Thursday 7 and 14 August.
There is a photo of the St Ebbes entrance to Modern Art Oxford, above. We're meeting there!
Note: there are two entrances to the gallery and the one where we're meeting is NOT the one on Pembroke Street. ie not the main gallery entrance with the shop.
Modern Art Oxford is open to 9pm on Thursdays - including its cafe, and it's free. Their website with further information is here.
July - Dance in the Park
Dance in the Park (University Parks, Oxford) starting Wednesday July 9
Why walk in the park when you can dance?
Beginners and experienced dancers always welcomed. There is an optional introduction for people not familiar with contact improvisation or simply come to dance ('jam') with us. Please bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely.
Location: Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford at 7.30pm.
The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the Physics Institute building. Keble Gate is shown on this Google map/ Streetview.
Dates: Wednesdays July 9, 16, 23, 30
Time: 7.30 - 8.30 pm. Cost: Free!June - June Jams! Practice sessions for dancing contact improvisation
On Tuesdays in June, you are invited to join a jam - dance practice for contact improvisation c/o Oxford Dance Forum in the URC Church Hall, 294a Banbury Road Oxford, OX2 7HN. It's located in Summertown, Oxford roughly opposite the BBC building on Banbury Road. The URC hall entrance is around the back of the church - on the right hand side.
There's no charge and the floor is nice too! You don't need to book - just turn-up! It's a self-led session. Please wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle.
May - Dance and Art Weeks Session
May is art weeks in Oxfordshire. You're invited to a dance session where we use the idea of drawing with light and our dance practice of contact improvisation.
You can see some examples of this 'light drawing' in this article about the residuals series (Residuals #10).
We need to co-ordinate the availability of the dance studio at the Old Fire Station and the dancers so please give us some indication of the days/times you can and can't make. Weekday evenings are probably the most likely times/dates for the dance and light drawing but others are possible too.
If this interests you then contact us by emailAs ever - other enquires are also welcomed. Thank-you.
March - April: Taster session & two dance sessions ('Jams')
Dance at the University Club with Oxford Contact Dance
Join us to dance contact improvisation - a dialogue in movement which has a fluid and dynamic form. If you like yoga, martial arts or dance, you’ll love contact improvisation. Students and non-students welcomed to all our events.
Dates
Wednesdays 7.30 – 9 pm, MPR room downstairs at the University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ.
March 12 Jam. Cost £10.
March 19 Taster session. Cost - Pay what you want! April 2 Jam. Cost £10.Drop-in sessions: pay on the door with cash or bank transfer. No booking!
Location - further information
We use the University Club, Oxford for most events. Everyone welcome. You don't need to be a member of Oxford University to join us at the club!
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.
This is the address: University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ. Their website: http://www.club.ox.ac.uk
Introducing Contact Improvisation 2025
A six week course on Wednesdays: February 26 – April 2
Introducing the fundamentals of dancing contact improvisation in six sessions: four classes and two dance sessions (‘jams’). If you like yoga, martial arts or dance then you'll love contact improvisation. It’s easy to learn and fun!
Contact improvisation is a dance and movement practice which originated in the 1970’s and which has now spread throughout the world. It’s an improvised dance – a dialogue in movement – which has a fluid and dynamic form.
While the classes form a course, the jams are for everyone including experienced dancers.
Wednesdays, 7.30 – 9pm. The University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ.
Class #1 & #2 February 26 and March 5
Jam #1 March 12
Class #3 & #4 March 19 and 26
Jam #2 April 2
Cost of course £55 for six sessions (4 classes, 2 jams). Booking recommended To book the course email us on [email protected] removing the '-' symbols in the email address. The dashes are included to thwart robots which harvest email for spam! Thanks.
Otherwise jams alone £10 each, pay on the door – cash or bank transfer. Thank-you
January Wednesday 29
Try a Radical Experiment in Movement & Dance
Photo: Georgica Pettus
Try a Radical Experiment in Movement & Dance, Wednesday 29 Jan. 2025, 7.30-9pm at The University Club, Oxford.
If you practice yoga, martial arts or dance then you’ll love contact improvisation. Join us at Oxford Contact Dance to try contact improvisation in this 'taster session'. Everyone welcome, and it’s Pay-What-You-Want!
Link to poster for this event (PDF) on 29 January
We rely on your generosity, please support our fundraising on our Ko-fi page or use the button below. Thank-you.
Location
We use the University Club, Oxford for most events. Everyone welcome. You don't need to be a member of Oxford University to join us at the club!
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.
This is the address: University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford. OX1 3SZ. Their website: http://www.club.ox.ac.uk
Cost, booking
You don't need to book - just turn up. You can pay what you want. Usually, it's £10 on the door for a class or jam either cash or bank transfer. There's no card payment. But this time, you choose how much or how little to pay. Great!
2024
November/December 2024
We're dancing at the University Club on Wednesday evenings 7.30-9pm, £10 each session. Location details below.
December
Wed 11: Free Winter Jam - Social dancing for everyone. Dance, beat the winter blues, and have fun!
November
Wed 13: Jam - Friendly social dancing for everyone including beginners.
Wed 27: Class - suitable for beginners and practiced dancers.
Cost, booking
You don't need to book - just turn up. Dance in the Park is free. For indoor events, there's a charge. It's £10 on the door for a class or jam either cash or bank transfer. There's no card payment. Thank-you.
What does contact improvisation look like?
More information about Contact improvisation
September/October 2024
October
Wed 2: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
Wed 16: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Wed 30: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
September
Wed 18: Jam - Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
July/August 2024
All our dance sessions - indoors or outdoors - are from 7.30 - 9pm on Wednesdays.
July
In July, we dance indoors at the University Club.
Wednesday 3: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
August
In August, we dance in University Parks. We're meeting at the park gates at 7.30pm, to find a place in the park to dance. Please come to the meeting point at 7.30pm otherwise you may not be able to find us. Also, University Parks has several park gates! Details of the meeting point are below. Thank-you.
Wednesday 7: Dance in the Park - open air dance session in University Parks, Oxford. (Venue details below). Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Dance in the Park - outdoor at the University Parks, Oxford
Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PU at 7.30pm. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the physics institute (Beecroft Building) of the Clarendon Laboratory. Keble Gate is at the corner of the park shown on this map!
If you prefer Google Maps, you can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.
May/June 2024
Our evening classes and dance sessions (jams) are 7.30 - 9pm at the University Club. Further details below about the venue.
May
Wednesday 8: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Wednesday 22: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
June
Wednesday 5: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Wednesday 19: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
March/April 2024
March
NOTE: In March due to Easter closing, the second session is Tuesday evening rather than Wednesday as per normal!
Wednesday 13: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Tuesday 26: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
April
Wednesday 17: Jam - practice session for contact improvisation. Suitable for experienced dancers and beginners.
Wednesday 24: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
January/February
February
7: Jam
21: Class - suitable for beginners and those returning to contact improvisation.
January
Note: All Wednesday evenings 7.30 - 9pm except day workshop on Saturday 27 January and Dance & Movement Research 2024
10: Jam - dance practice for contact improvisation.
15-19: Invitation to join our Dance & Movement Research 2024 - further information.
See poster for Dance & Movement Research 2024 (PDF). Contact us for details and to register/attend.
24: Jam.
27: (Saturday) Beginning Contact Improvisation (11am-4pm). Bring a friend for free. Details below.
Venue
We use the University Club, Oxford for most events.
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
Cost, booking
You don't need to book - just turn up except for the Beginning Contact Improvisation on Saturday 27 January. Otherwise, there's no card payment. It's £10 on the door for a class or jam either cash or bank transfer. Thank-you.
If you'd like details of our ongoing programme then please join our email newsletter list or our social media - see above. Thank-you.
We rely on your generosity, please support our fundraising on our Ko-fi page or use the button below. Thank-you.
Saturday 21 January - Beginning Contact Improvisation. Bring a friend for free!
Photo: Pier Corona
Date: Saturday 27 January 2024
Time: 11 - 4pm (with half hour lunch-break, 1-1.30pm)
Cost: £38 each ticket and bring a friend for free! No sales on the door.
Booking essential (Eventbrite): Book for Beginning Contact Improvisation, Saturday 27 January.
Venue: University Club - please see above for address and other information.
Important: If you have any symptoms of Covid-19 then please do not attend.
This one day course will introduce you to the fundamentals of contact improvisation. Learn techniques for improvising and extending your dance. Let’s discover the joy of dance within us all. For the price of one ticket you can bring a friend for free or come on your own.
Dancing with others isn’t easy – there’s the befuddlement of where to start, and anxiety of how to come into physical contact. We’ll create a safe and supportive environment where this is encouraged.Using our innate understanding of bodies in motion, we'll to create a ‘playful physics’ and share the dance. At the end of this course, you’ll be confident joining a dance session for contact improvisation (a ‘jam’) with other experienced dancers.
Practicalities: There is lunch break from 1-1.30pm. Please bring food with you or shops nearby. Wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Thank-you.
What does contact improvisation look like?
More information about Contact improvisation
Previous events at Oxford Contact Dance, 2023 - 2014
See events in 2023 - 2022 and before.