Music & Dance

Tickets for Sunday 1 May 2011 are now only available on the door. Following the breathtaking sellout performances of Joseph in 2009, this year’s production of The Wizard of Oz is one of the ‘must see’ events in the programme. Performances of the Wizard of Oz are at 7:30 pm on 30 April and 1pm & 8pm …

Bring along a picnic tea and dance along to a great Oxford ceilidh band! Cat Kelly and Jamie Huddlestone are the most popular ceilidh duo in and around Oxford, and as a one off special for this evening have invited guitarist Tristan Seume (from the Jackie Oates band) to join them. Cat’s driving fiddle playing …

Continuing the annual tradition Dorchester’s a capella group will welcome May in by singing from the Abbey tower and then in the Abbey. Proceeds from this event go to The Noah’s Ark Project for AIDS orphans in Kenya.

An afternoon of free concerts – just pop in and enjoy some diverse and amazing music. 1pm: Women of Note 2pm: 33 Steps 3.30pm: Kevin O’Regan

A chance to have fun and learn a new street routine. The style orientates towards nu-skool hip-hop, blending original hip-hop dance styles such as locking, popping and house with some more contemporary-based movements. Come along, have fun and challenge yourselves! The evolution of street dance has begun…. (photo David Fisher) Pegasus Theatre is at the …

(This event is part of the Busking in the Abbey afternoon – it is free but donations to the Festival charities are welcome as you leave) Women of Note’s close harmony repertoire of swing and jazz standards contains a selection of accompanied and unaccompanied numbers from the Great American Songbook by such greats as George …

(This event is part of the Busking in the Abbey afternoon – it is free but donations to the Festival charities are welcome as you leave) “33 Steps” features Charlie Finnie on guitar and Sharon Warnes on violin: together they perform a variety of well-known music encompassing a broad range of tastes.  Their repertoire features myriad genres, …

Use your voice to create music, beats and rap. You will learn to create your own lyrics and put them to a rhythmic beat. Become the new Benjamin Zephaniah or even Eminem but most of all feel the beat and have fun! Pegasus Theatre is at the heart of a diverse community in East Oxford, …

Interactive “Arcade” dance mats – Pegasus is hosting its very own grand-scale dance mat tournament. Challenge your friends and family members to step to the beat. With up-to eight mats active at a time, this is bound to be a popular event! Pegasus Theatre is at the heart of a diverse community in East Oxford, specialising …

Schola Cantorum of Oxford is performing at the Dorchester Festival on 2 May 2011

Send your child on a little magic train adventure, with wonderful sounds, illustrations and stories.

Ceroc is a fun modern partner dance – a fusion of jive, salsa, latin and ballroom – but so much easier to learn!  There is no need to bring a partner and no previous dance experience required.   Just turn up and join in.  We will have you dancing like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers before …

John Rutter, one of the UK’s foremost choral composers, will lead a Come and Sing Day in Dorchester Abbey. Music will have a flavour of Spring and include some new compositions from John Rutter himself as well as pieces by other composers. Copies will be provided and enthusiasts at all levels are welcome to participate …

An evening of spoken word, sound and song with: MacGillivray a Scottish singer who has performed as support for The Fall, Arlo Guthrie and Arthur Brown and is currently working on her third album Somewhere the Night. Her first album Wolf was played on BBC Radio 3 Late Junction and The Verb and has been …

One of the best concerts of 2009 and a real treat for music fans of all ages! Come and hear some of the best music from Oxfordshire’s schools. The students of Wallingford, Cranford House, Botley primary, The Oratory prep, The Manor and Magdalen College will amaze and delight you with their talent and enthusiasm.

Last Night of the Festival Proms Back by popular demand, the BBC Elstree Concert Band is delighted to bring a taste of the last night of the Proms to the Dorchester Festival. Under the musical direction of Andrew Morley, this versatile and entertaining group will not only regale you with several of the most popular …