BRIGHT lights and dancing snowflakes will glisten in front of a city museum as Christmas celebrations begin this weekend.
Young dancers will perform outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in their magical winter performance of Stardust and Snowflakes.
Amber, centre, with from left, Eliza Carpenter, 10, Caitlin Tambini, 11, and Flora Pizey, 10
The 25-strong team will dance under the stars on Friday and Saturday after Cowley’s Ark-T Centre was awarded funding for the project.
Ark-T development officer Henrietta Gill said: “It’s like a little tiny speck of light in that huge space in front of the museum.
Our top stories
“It’s magical, it’s transformative, it’s really unique. It’s about coming together and enjoying each other’s creativity and just having fun.”
The Ark T Centre, in Crowell Road, received £1,720 from Oxford City Council for the 12-minute performance.
Funding was awarded as part of the city’s three-day Christmas Light Festival, which kicks off on Friday.
It was used to create costumes and lights, as well as a specially composed original musical score penned by musician Emily Levy.
The Ark-T Centre united with artist Groovy Su and Cecilia MacFarlane, director of Cowley-based dance group Oxford Youth Dance, to create the festive show.
Ms Gill said: “Groovy Su’s vision of Cecilia MacFarlane and Oxford Youth Dance creating a magical outdoor winter performance with lights and costume is so imaginative and just right for Christmas Light Night.
“Families and different generations coming together to the centre of Oxford to be creative and own the space just for a moment – what could be better.”
Oxford Youth Dance performers aged between 11 and 18 have spent the last month preparing for their display.
Donning white and silver tunics and headdresses, they will float in groups of five in front of the museum before uniting to form one giant snowflake.
Youngsters will also clutch lights to brighten up the winter evening as they perform in the dark.
Mother-of-two Groovy Su, 47, said: “Getting kids out on the street and performing, that’s what’s really special to me.
“For the children, they get a huge sense of confidence from having to achieve something that is actually quite nerve racking.
“It’s a celebration of light and beauty and children dancing and performing.
“It is not about spending money or buying presents; it’s about an experience that is enjoyed collectively.
“It’s going to look absolutely beautiful.”
Residents are invited to watch the free performance at 4.45pm on the Parks Road museum lawns.
Groovy Su added: “Visitors are going to experience something beautiful and magical and unusual and different.
“It is a multi-faith celebration because everyone celebrates light whether they have a faith or not.”
Dancer Amber Frizzell, 11, a pupil at Oxford Spires Academy, who is taking part, said: “I’m really excited about performing.
“I think it’s going to look amazing.”
- Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here