Friday 28 October 2016

CLASSES & COURSES - Nov 2016 to Jan 2017

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On this page you'll find the latest Term and Course dates (see below).  
For class times, venues and full details on all OSD classes go to Classes page.  


CHRISTMAS BREAK :
Last classes before we break for Christmas
Balboa : Mon 12 Dec
Lindy   :  Weds 14 Dec
New Term & Beginners courses start dates
Balboa : Mon 9 Jan
Lindy   :  Weds 11 Jan

LINDY CLASSES
Beginners/Improvers course dates for this term :  
Weds 14 Sept,  Weds 12 Oct,  Weds 9 Nov, 
These courses consist of 3 x four-week blocks.  You're welcome to join in at the beginning of any course or part way through if you're willing to give it a go!  Each block is different so you can add to your dance skills every week. 

BALBOA CLASSES
Mon 31 Oct : Start of next Beginners' course... or, if you're willing to jump in part way through, come along any week at 7.15pm for an introductory session.   
NEW CLASS TIMES:
Beginners/Fundamentals 7.30-8.30PM, Practice 8.30-9pm, 
Variations 9.00-10pm, Practice 10.00-10.30pm 

PRIVATE CLASSES (for ALL levels, singles & couples - limit of 4 per session)
Contact us for details at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com 
Current prices : £20 per person per hour (special reduced price of £15 ppph for regular OSD class members)
One-off Sunday sessions available every couple of weeks or so - contact us for dates and details.  New dates for Sept-Dec now available.

Friday 21 October 2016

Blues AND Lindy workshops in November ...

Don't miss this opportunity to book some amazing workshops for an incredible price - all within 45 mins of Oxford.  All Jazzed Up have organised some world-class international teaching talent - the Lindy Turn Weekend with Sharon & Tony and an afternoon of Blues with Mike "The Girl" Legenthal.  DETAILS BELOW ...

BLUES with MIKE    Sat 12 November 2.00 pm - 7.00 pm.  Cost: £40 in advance
An afternoon workshop followed by some cool blues tunes from Heather Jayne & The Red Shoes.  So whether you're new to blues or just want to go over your basics with one of the best in the business, make the most of this opportunity!  
Venue : the beautiful function room of the Travellers Rest Pub, Henley Rd, Reading RG4 5DL .   For booking details see WebsiteFacebook or email Jean.
 
LINDY TURN with SHARON DAVIS & TONY JACKSON
25 - 27 November 2016, Henley Town Hall, Henley on Thames.  
Cost: £140 in advance


Bookings are now open for a weekend of top level lindy hop instruction in the company of two of the most exciting and talented instructors on the international circuit - PLUS two evenings of social dancing, live music, mocktails AND a tea dance with some wonderful home made cakes.  
More details on Website & Facebook

Click HERE to register now!









   






Monday 10 October 2016

Planning application for Summertown venue car park



A Planning application has recently been submitted by the Church to build 3 flats on the Summertown car park which will drastically reduce parking.

Below is a copy of the objection submitted on behalf of OSD by Richard Stanczyc, addressed to Graeme Felstead the case officer at Oxford City Council and to the two ward councillors involved.  This application has the potential to reduce the parking spaces to 9 at best.  There have been many objections from the hall users and also from Michael Collier the hall treasurer.  If you would like to add objections individually the details of the people to mail are as follows.

Graeme Felstead
planning@oxford.gov.uk

Jean Fooks
clnrjfooks@oxford.gov.uk

Andrew Grant
cllragant@oxford.gov.uk




Comments for Planning Application 16/02177/FUL

Application Number: 16/02177/FUL Address: Land Adjacent Summertown Church Hall Portland Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 7EZ Proposal: Demolition of existing garages. Erection of a 3 storey building to provide 2 x 3-bed flats and 1 x 4-bed flat. Provision of car parking for 12No. vehicles with new vehicle access and bin store.

Case Officer: Graeme Felstead

Customer Details Name: Richard Stanczyc, Holymans Barn, Frog Lane, Cuddington,
Bucks.

Comment Details Commenter Type: Amenity Group

Stance: Customer objects to the Planning Application

Comment Reasons: -
Access - Amount of development on site –
Effect on adjoining properties –
Effect on existing community facilities –
Effect on traffic –
Parking provision

 Comment:
As a regular user of the church hall, I am opposed to the plans to develop the hall car park. The church hall is a community facility used by many groups throughout the week. I am a member of Oxford Swing Dance which uses both the upper and lower halls for classes on Wednesday evenings throughout the year. The plans to develop the hall car park - specifically the decrease in parking spaces - will degrade the church hall's utility as a community facility. Indeed, I believe that the plans will force my group, which has been using the church hall for some 3 years, to consider alternative venues in order to preserve the viability of the group.
My group, which has been using the church hall for some 3 years, attracts dancers not only from Oxford but from many of the surrounding towns and villages. Dancers not based in Oxford, such as myself, cannot feasibly use public transport due to its decreased frequency in the evenings, and rely on parking spaces in the hall car park or nearby roads. The car park is always full on a Wednesday evening, and dancers arriving late usually have great difficulty parking at the far end of Portland Road, if not in adjacent roads. The hall car park and nearby roads are also used by people visiting shops and restaurants in Summertown, as well as residents who do not have off-road parking. The decrease in parking spaces will increase pressure on the available parking, inconveniencing not only hall users but residents alike. Of the proposed 12 parking spaces, 3 will be reserved for occupants of the flats. Hence only 9 for hall users. Since the flats will be two 3-bedroom and one 4-bedroom, it is highly unlikely that the occupants of each flat will have only one vehicle each. Therefore, they will use more than 3 of the parking spaces. On Wednesday evenings there is often in excess of 20 cars in the car park!
 In addition the proposed plans for effectively 9 parking space are potentially dangerous for several reasons. Firstly, the new parking spaces are down a narrow side access route, which will be used by both vehicles and pedestrians. This could be a hazard, particularly in the dark. Secondly, because the parking spaces are behind the flats, it will be impossible to see if there are any spaces without driving down there but there appears to be no room to turn around if there are no spaces left, requiring drivers to reverse back down the narrow access and onto Portland Road. Indeed several vehicles may need to do this at once. Given the potentially increased vehicle activity in Portland Road, this is another potential hazard. Thirdly, the relative remoteness and isolation of the new parking spaces, not visible from the road, places people, in particular, single women who comprise many of our dancers, at potential risk particularly in the evenings when we hold our classes.. These safety issues will apply to all users of the parking spaces, including occupants of the flats.

On Wednesday evenings and other times when we use the hall  I, and several of my dancing colleagues, will often need to unload equipment that we use for our classes and other events . If we are unable to get into the new parking spaces or find a nearby parking space in Portland Road, we will have to stop - causing a potential obstruction - in order to deposit any equipment at the foot of the hall and do the same at the end of the evening.

In summary, the reduction in the number of parking spaces will be detrimental to the church hall's function. The proposed new parking spaces are unacceptable for several reasons including access, visibility, safety and lack of loading/unloading space. Of course, during the proposed development there will be no parking spaces at all, and increased disruption in Portland Road.  For all the reasons above I trust that you will reject the proposed plans.






Friday 7 October 2016

Last Stop Balboa - this Sunday!

Sunday 16 October 2016
2pm - 6pm

Come and join us for a relaxed afternoon's Balboa
or just come & chat and see what it's all about.

Upstairs at The Jericho Tavern  
56 Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6AE
(see directions below)
All day food & bar downstairs
Contribution to cost of venue:  £4

Next month's Last Stop...
Sun 13 Nov 2016


Getting to The Jericho Tavern ...
Free parking in side roads between Woodstock Rd & Banbury Rd (10 mins walk) 
A few spaces for non-residents in Cranham St, Great Clarendon St, Walton St, Worcester Pl, Wellington St, Albert St and Observatory Rd.  
Bus and Rail Stations are 10 mins' walk away.
Pear Tree Park & Ride off A34/A44 (10-15 mins bus ride)