Join our events in 2022

Dancing contact improvisation at one of our dance sessions, Dec. 2016. Photo: Pier Corona

Social media: Join Facebook Group ; See You Tube Channel ; Follow on Instagram

We use improvised dance - either in physical contact (contact improvisation) or physically distanced, and sometimes we dance outside in the park too! We are continuing to adapting our dance to the changing situation with Covid-19.

This is our maxim: All life a dance; everyone a dancer; every moment a dance

Re-connect in dance - May, June 2022

Refresher & introduction to dancing contact improvisation

Oxford Contact Dance, Intensive (2017).

It’s two years since we hosted dance classes and sessions for contact improvisation where our improvised dance has physical contact with others. But now, we’re restarting this way of dancing. Time to re-connect.

Contact improvisation is a dialogue in movement which is joyful, creative, and health giving. We’ll have a one hour class and a one hour dance session (‘jam’). These sessions are for everyone who loves to dance including beginners and experienced dancers.

Important: The Covid-19 pandemic is still here but with widespread vaccination and immunity in the community we think that it’s the right time to return to dancing this way. We also want everyone to feel safe and allay lingering anxiety which some people feel.

Hence we’re offering free lateral flow tests for Covid-19, available 20 minutes before each session to ensure that we don’t unknowingly infect others when we have no symptoms. Otherwise, please bring a lateral flow test taken on Sunday morning prior to the dance session showing that you’re free from infection. Thank-you.

Dates: Sundays – 29 May; 5 and 12 June.

Time: 2 – 4 pm (with lateral flow tests available from 1.40pm – free!)

Cost: £12 each 2 hour session or £30 if you book all three Sunday sessions. No sales on the door.

Booking essential: Email us (c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org) to book and for payment details. Remove the ‘-’ characters in the address when emailing - which are included to reduce spam!

Venue: South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street, Oxford. OX1 4RP. (See Map here). We are using the hall with mats (the dojo martial arts hall) which is on the left hand side of the building and around the back.

Landscape Dance - physically distanced dance - Sunday afternoons, February 2022

Dance outside with Oxford Contact Dance.

On Sunday afternoons in February, we'll ride out into the countryside near Oxford on our bicycles, and dance together in the landscape. Afterwards, there's the opportunity for a hot drink at a local pub.

This is a facilitated dance session, and we'll use improvised dance including techniques from our research at Dance in the Park (see this article) - and the landscape itself - to dance with and through. Example of landscape dance here

If it's raining then we won't be going! In order to participate then you need to register - see below.

Please wear or bring warm clothing that you don't mind getting dirty, and some waterproofs/suitable footwear too. We'll be using natural surfaces with which we'll contact. Bring water or a hot drink/biscuits.

Location: registration essential - see below. Meeting with your bicycle (on the date which we agree - February 6, 13, 20, 27) at 2pm at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PU. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the Physics Institute (Beecroft Building). Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.

Time/date: 2pm - 5pm, Meeting (on the date which we agree - Sunday February 6, 13, 20, 27)

Cost: Donations appreciated (£5 suggested) as we need to pay for insurance/website, etc!

Registering: Please Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!). Then we'll use a doodle poll to find which Sunday(s) afternoon people are available, and select the one(s) which is most convenient for us all.

Safety: If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) then please do not attend! Stay at home and contact the NHS. It's essential for us to comply with the law and guidance on COVID-19, and to minimise the possibility of infection. Let's stay safe!

You can dance with or without a face-covering.

Events in 2021

Dance in the Park 2021 - Physically distanced dance

Wednesday evenings 6pm - September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Dancing outside with Oxford Contact Dance.

Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using sticks, ropes and other items to connect and contact-through.

Read an article about Dance in the Park 2020 and the dance which we created.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

Location: booking essential - see below. Meeting at 6pm at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PU. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the physics institute (Beecroft Building). Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too. Note: Please come to the meeting point - not after we've started and in the park. Thank-you.

Time: 6pm - 7.15pm

Cost: Free but donations appreciated!

Booking: Please Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!) by 8pm on the Tuesday evening before, requesting a place, and we'll reply and confirm. Thank-you for helping us to make Dance in the Park a success.

You can dance with or without a face-covering. This is what the UK Government advises re grassroots sport: 'People are not required to wear face coverings while taking part in sport and physical activity. All forms of face coverings may restrict breathing efficiency and should not be used during exercise except on specific advice from a physician.'. However, it is important to maintain a physical distance of at least one metre plus from others.

Dance in the Park 2021 - Physically distanced dance

Wednesday evenings 6pm - August 4, 11, 18, 25

Dance in the Park 2021 - Physically distanced dance

Wednesday evenings 6pm - July 21, 28

Dance in the Park 2021 - Physically distanced dance

Wednesday evenings 6pm - June 9, 16, 23, 30

Photo: Dance in the Park 2020. Photo: Fiona Bennett

Read an article about Dance in the Park 2020 and the dance which we created.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

Time: 6pm - 7.15pm

Cost: Free but donations appreciated!

Dance in the Park 2021 - Physically distanced dance

Wednesday evening 6pm - April 28 & May 5, 12, 19, 26

Dance in 2021 - keeping dance alive

In January and February 2021, Oxford is in lock-down which prevents us from running Dance in the Park. We'll return later in the year. Our outdoor dance classes and sessions are free to everyone and we'd like to keep it that way. Please support us with a donation to cover our essential costs.

We use Ko-fi for online fund-raising - see above. Thank-you so much for keeping the dance alive.

Events in 2020

Saturday morning: 5, 12, 19 December 2020

December - Dance in the Park - Physically distanced dance

Photo: Dance with us outside - in nature - in the park!

Location: booking essential - see below. Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. OX1 3PU. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the physics institute (Beecroft Building). Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.

Time: 11am - 12.30pm (midday!)

Cost: Free!

Booking: Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!) by 8pm on the Friday evening before, requesting a place, and we'll reply. Thank-you for helping us to make Dance in the Park a success.

This is our new weekend session - Saturday morning. Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using ropes, sticks and other items to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely and which will keep you warm. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

You can dance with or without a face-covering. While the World Health Organisation recommends that you don't wear a face-covering/mask exercising outside, there is no guidance from the UK Government regarding face-coverings and sports or exercise outside. However, it is important to maintain a physical distance of at least one metre from others.

Wednesday lunchtime: November 4

Dance in the Park - Physically distanced dance

Photo: Dance with us outside - in nature - in the park!

Time: 1pm - 2.15pm (midday!)

Cost: Free!

Booking: Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!) by 8pm on the Tuesday evening before, requesting a place, and we'll reply. Thank-you for helping us to make Dance in the Park a success.

This session is our last before the November lock-down (5 November - 2 December) and we hope to return after that - do join our email list for further updates! Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using sticks and other items to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely and which will keep you warm. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

Saturday morning: October 31

Dance in the Park - Physically distanced dance

Photo: Dance with us outside - in nature - in the park!

Time: 11am - 12.30pm (midday!)

Cost: Free!

This is our new weekend session - Saturday morning which we expect to continue in November too. Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using sticks and other items to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely and which will keep you warm. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

October Thursday 1, 8 and Wednesday 14, 21 evenings

Dance in the Park - Physically distanced dance

Photo: Dance with us outside - in nature - in the park!

Time: 5.15 - 6.30pm (Oct 1,8); 5 - 6.15 pm (Oct 14,22)

Cost: Free!

Booking: Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!) by 8pm on the Wednesday evening before, requesting a place, and we'll reply. Thank-you for helping us to make Dance in the Park a success.

Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using sticks and other items to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

For the Dance in the Park sessions on Wednesday 14 and 22 October then we'll compose and perform a dance using the skills and techniques we've practiced at previous Dance in the Park sessions this year.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

September 3, 10, 17, 24 - Thursday evenings

Dance in the Park - Physically distanced dance

Photo: Dance with us outside - in nature - in the park!

Location: booking essential - see below. Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the physics institute (Beecroft Building). Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.

Time: 6 - 7.30pm (Sept 17,24); 6.30 - 8.00 pm (Sept 3,10)

Cost: Free!

Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. Suitable for everyone - including beginners and experienced dancers. We'll research and investigate dance without touch - including using sticks and other items to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

July 8,15, 22, 29 2020 - Wednesday evenings

Dance in the Park - with sticks! Physically distanced dance

Photo: Garden Dance (2018) with Oxford Contact Dance

Location: booking essential - see below. Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the Physics building. Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.

Time: 6.30 - 8.00 pm

Cost: Free!

Join us to safely dance with other people in a physically distanced way - using sticks (provided) - in the park. It's free but you must book. Thank-you.

Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy moving together. We'll research and investigate using sticks to connect and contact-through. Read an article about 'contact-through'.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

Safety: If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) then please do not attend! Stay at home and contact the NHS. It's essential for us to comply with the law and guidance on COVID19, and to minimise the possibility of infection. We will provide hand sanitiser for your use. Let's stay safe!

June/ July 2020 - Dance in the Park - Wednesday evenings

'Physically distanced' dance: 6 people max, 2 metres apart. Booking essential

Location: Note: Booking essential - see below. Meeting at Keble Gate, University Parks, Parks Road, Oxford. The gate is opposite the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road and beside the Physics building. Keble Gate is shown on this map. You can also see a picture of Keble Gate on Google's Streetview too.

Time: 6.30 - 8.00 pm

Cost: Free!

If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) then please do not attend! Stay at home and contact the NHS.

We're dancing with at least 2 metres between the dancers - which must be maintained at all times; and we can only accommodate six dancers. It's essential for us to comply with the law and guidance on COVID19, and to minimise the possibility of infection. We can only accommodate people who've booked for a particular session. Let's stay safe.

Come and dance with us in University Parks, Oxford. Dance in the Park is a facilitated session where we'll use games, exercises and improvised dance to enjoy dancing together. We'll research and investigate improvised dance which has no physical contact. We'll return to dancing in contact at a later date.

Bring a water bottle and wear loose clothing in which you can move freely.

We're meeting 6.30pm at Keble Gate, University Parks (AT KEBLE GATE - by the gate on the pavement, not inside the park and not the main gate!) which is at the intersection of Keble Road & Parks Road, next to the new physics building, to find a spot in the park. There is an optional introductory session or simply come to dance. We usually dance near the cricket nets in University Parks but it's best meet us at Keble Gate. Note: no amplified music is allowed in the park but acoustic instruments welcome.

Booking: Email c-o-n-t-a-c-t@contactdance.org (Remove the dash symbols from the email address. They're included to reduce spam!) by 6pm on Tuesday evening requesting a place, and we'll reply. Thank-you for helping us to make Dance in the Park a success.

March 2020

Cancelled: Sunday 15 March - Dance Sunday - Class & dance

Due to concerns about Corona Virus COVID-19, this session was cancelled. Apologies! We are suspending our activities until later in the year when the situation becomes clearer. See the latest Government notices about Corona Virus COVID-19 in the UK.

Enjoy dance with us and learn to dance contact improvisation

Photo: Pier Corona

Time: 2 - 5pm

Cost: £10

Location: Multi-Purpose Room (lower ground floor), Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Note: This session was cancelled.

This is our new format: a three hour session with a class and plenty of time for dancing ('a jam'). This class is entitled - 'Head first, into dance' as we'll be examining the head, neck and upper spine in our dance practice and learning. Bring your curiosity and let's research the possibilities of movement in ourselves, and with others.

This session is suitable for beginners and returners to Contact Improvisation. You can expect body work, games, technique and creative dance in our classes. Be prepared to move and to enjoy moving together with others in contact.

Wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Thank-you.

February 2020

Wednesday 5, 12, 26 February - Dance Wednesday

Photo: Pier Corona

Time: 7.30 - 9pm

Cost: £10/ £8 (concessions)

Location: Multi-Purpose Room (lower ground floor), Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Join these drop-in classes for dancing contact improvisation – especially suitable for beginners and returners to Contact Improvisation at the University Club, Oxford. All welcome. You can expect body work, games, technique and creative dance in our classes. Be prepared to move and to enjoy moving together with others in contact.

Wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Thank-you.

Sunday 9 February - Jam! (dance session)

Photo: Piotr Znamierowski

Time: 2 - 4pm

Cost: £10 or £8 concessions

Location for jam: Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Join us at a two hour jam with musical accompaniment and you can drop-in whenever you want. Please wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Note: Non-university members welcome.

Jam video Jam - number 10 by Gabriela Tropia (Vimeo)

January 2020

Wednesday 22, 29 January 2020 - Wednesday Dance

Photo: Pier Corona

Time: 7.30 - 9pm

Cost: £10/ £8 (concessions)

Location: Multi-Purpose Room (lower ground floor), Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Thank-you.

Saturday 11 January 2020 - Beginning Contact Improvisation with early-bird offer (2-for-1)

Enrich your dance and movement practice

Photo: Pier Corona

Time: 11 - 6pm

Cost: £28. EARLY-BIRD OFFER (2-for-1): Book before 1 January 2020 and you can bring another person for free. ie 2 people for 1 ticket!

Booking: Booking essential using Eventbrite

Location: Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Enquiries: Please do email us if you've any questions. Thanks

This 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.

Dancing with others isn’t easy – there’s the befuddlement of where to start, and anxiety of how to come into 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.

The course fee includes a free dance session (a 'jam') the following day – Sunday 12 January (2-4pm, usual price £10/£8) - details below. Venue for both: University Club, Mansfield Road, Oxford. Note: all welcome including those not at the University.

Practicalities: There is lunch break from 1-2pm. Please bring food or purchase at the University Club. Wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle. Thank-you.

What does contact improvisation look like?

Jam - number 13
Jam - number 10

Sunday 12 January 2020 - Jam! (dance session)

Time: 2 - 4pm

Cost: £10 or £8 concessions

Location for jam: Oxford University Club, 11 Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ. Note: everyone welcome including non-club/non-university members.

Join us at a two hour jam with musical accompaniment and you can drop-in whenever you want. Please wear loose clothing and bring a water bottle.

Jam video Jam - number 10 by Gabriela Tropia (Vimeo)

Previous events at Oxford Contact Dance, 2019-2014

See events in 2019 and before.