Happy Birthday Skye!

FINALLY...!

Congratulations to Tamsin & Chichi
and a very warm welcome to

Skye Etienne Liard 

who was born at 12.20 today 

weighing 3.46 kg (approx 7 1/2 lbs)
  

Last Stop Balboa - The Christmas One!

Sunday 11 December 2016

2pm - 6pm

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

PLUS some serious shoe shopping with Saint Savoy!

http://www.saintsavoy.com/en/   

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 15 Jan 2017

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)

TERM DATES, CLASSES & COURSES Dec 2016 - Mar 2017

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 DATES :
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 - Weds in Summertown (details on Classes page)
Beginners/Improvers course dates for Jan - Mar 2017:  

Weds 11 Jan,  Weds 8 Feb,  Weds 8 March, 

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 in New Marston (details on Classes page)

NB :  NEW CLASS TIMES BELOW ...
Mon 9 Jan : 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.   
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 &/or 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 Jan - March 2017 now available.

Last Stop Balboa - This Sunday!

Sunday 13 November 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 11 Dec 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)

CLASSES & COURSES - Nov 2016 to Jan 2017

. To join our mailing list for up to date info -
contact us at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com
. To view previous posts, choose one of the titles on the left

. For more news, posts and lots of photos visit our Facebook page...https://www.facebook.com/oxfordswingdance

___________________________________________________

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.

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 Website, Facebook 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!

   

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.

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)

Aerials workshop - Sun 2 October

Due to the popularity of the Aerials Workshop in March, Andy & Lindsay are back to test your skills again!
There are still a few places left but you must book with a partner you trust.

Cost:       £20 in advance only.
To book:  contact us at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com

Charity Tea Dance - Sun 25 Sept

Cancer Research UK


Come and join us for a relaxed afternoon of Lindy, Balboa, tea, coffee, cake, chat .... AND at the same time raise some money for a good cause.  

All proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK so we'd be particularly grateful for any support you can give - in whatever way you can - maybe bake a cake or some biscuits?

Bring friends and family!

2 pm - 6 pm

UPDATE on venue!  St Margarets Institute,

30 Polstead Road, Oxford OX2 6TN 

Entry : £8 on the door

The BIGGER Big Apple - Sun 18 Sept

Due to unprecedented demand, we've asked Andy and Lindsay to repeat the Big Apple workshop - this time in two halves!   So don't miss the opportunity to learn this fun and slightly crazy routine.   BOOKING IN ADVANCE ONLY.

TIMES

Part 1 : 10.30-1pm    Part 2 : 4.30-7pm

COST
Part 1 or Part 2 : £8 in advance.    Both : £12 in advance

VENUE
St Michaels Church Hall (Upstairs)
Portland Road
Summertown
Oxford OX2 7EZ

HOW TO BOOK
1.  Contact us at the Monday or Weds classes, or email us at
oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com
2.  Complete your booking with payment in advance.

Payments can be made at OSD classes or contact us online banking details at
oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com
PLEASE NOTE, your place isn't secured until payment has been received.

CLASSES & COURSES - Sept to Dec

. To join our mailing list for up to date info -
contact us at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com
. To view previous posts, choose one of the titles on the left

. For more news, posts and lots of photos visit our Facebook page...https://www.facebook.com/oxfordswingdance

___________________________________________________

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.

LINDY CLASSES

Weds 14 Sept : New term and the first Beginners/Improvers course starts. 
All 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 12 Sept : New term and 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:
Level One 7.30-8.30PM, Practice 8.30-9pm, Level Two 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.

Big Apple Workshop - Sunday 17 July

Don't miss this opportunity to learn a really fun routine with Andy Fleming.  There are a few places left so if you want to book don't delay!  Details below...

Update:   VENUE NOW CONFIRMED ...

St Michaels Church Hall (UPSTAIRS)

Portland Road

Summertown  0X2 7EZ

HOW TO BOOK

1.  Please find a partner if you can (not essential).   

2.  Contact us at the Mon or Weds classes or email us at 

 oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com  

3.  Complete your booking with payment in advance.

COST:  £12 in advance.  Payable at OSD classes or online - contact us for details at  oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com 

PLEASE NOTE, your place isn't secured until payment has been received.

Performance at Risinghurst Fete - 12 June 2016

Join us for the OSD class performance at 

Risinghurst & Sandhills Community Fete

Risinghurst Playing Field

Grovelands Road

Risinghurst

1.30pm- 6pm, Sunday 12 June  

THIS SUNDAY!

This was great fun last year so please join us - either to perform or just to support us. Our performance is scheduled for 2.15 pm  but there are lots of other activities to keep you entertained throughout the afternoon ... beer tent, band, dog agility, lots of stalls.  Full details at http://www.headington.org.uk/events 

If you're one of the performers, we're meeting at 1.15pm for a final run through.  Go through the main gate into the field and turn left.  We'll congregate a little further down that side of the field.  Dress code - As it's the Queen's Birthday, stall holders have been asked to dress their stalls in red, white & blue so we thought we'd join in the theme.  Shoes - We'll be performing on grass so wear appropriate shoes.

If you're not performing, we'd appreciate your support anyway - either by handing out flyers or cheering us on ... or even dog handling!

NB: There's no parking on site - only in the surrounding streets so we suggest you either arrive by bus or be prepared to walk a little.  

See you Sunday!

Intermediate Advanced Lindy Workshop - Sun 8 May

Intermediate Advanced workshop

3pm - 6pm, Sunday 8 May 2016

with Les & Pam

An opportunity to learn some of the more challenging Intermediate moves - with some styling and technique tips thrown in, as always!  Sunday 8 May is only a couple of weeks away so if you are interested, please book early so we can be sure of numbers....Thanks!

Level:  You should be confident with the core Lindy moves - Lindy Turn, Swingout, Circle and be able to switch between 6 & 8 count with ease.  If you're not sure, please ask us.

Venue:  Sandhills Community Primary School, Terrett Avenue, Sandhills, Oxford,  OX3 8FN   Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/gfptZfVdDUx

How to book

Please book with a partner.  Single follows will be added to a waiting list until we can match you with a lead. 

Contact us at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com 

Please note, your place isn't secured until payment has been received.

Cost:  £15 in advance.  Payable at OSD classes or online (please contact us for details at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com ) 

CLASSES & COURSES: April - July 2016

. To join our mailing list for up to date info -
contact us at oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com
. To view previous posts, choose one of the titles on the left

. For more news, posts and lots of photos visit our Facebook page...https://www.facebook.com/oxfordswingdance

___________________________________________________

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.

LINDY CLASSES

Weds 6 April : New term and the first Beginners/Improvers course starts. 
All Beginners/Improvers course dates for this term :  
Weds 6 April,  Weds 4 May,  Weds 1 June, 

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 4 April : New term and 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.   NB:  FIRST CLASS STARTS AT 7.30PM & SECOND CLASS AT 9.00PM.

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 April - July now available.

Aerials workshop with Andy & Lindsay

Still a few places left ....To book contact us at
oxfordswingdance@googlemail.com