Oxygen Arts

02/03/2026

Our Into the Light exhibition is now online!

Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British BalletThe history of Black dancers in British ballet is rich, complicated and inspiring. Its history stretches back...

17/12/2025

Happy Christmas from all of us at Oxygen Arts! Your support and encouragement this year has seen us grow our impact and audiences more than we could have ever imagined. Thanks especially to LibrariesConnected, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, MSN Fund and all of our Black British Ballet partners! Time for us to rest up now but we'll be back in 2026!

02/07/2025

And next month we're in Wakefield!

02/07/2025

Join us in Hartlepool!

We're excited to announce the upcoming dance workshops coming to Hartlepool in partnership with Black British Ballet and Oxygen Arts, this July.

Choose from:
🎶 Ballet Mixed Dance
🩰 Classical Ballet
✨ Family Ballet
🖋 Creative Writing
📸 Dance Photography
🤖 Creating a VR Experience
📖 Children's Story

We're able to offer these workshops completely free of charge with a big thank you to LibrariesConnected and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Places are limited for each activity, book online today by visiting www.hartlepool.gov.uk/communityhubs or drop in to your local community hub/library 🎉

24/10/2024

Black dancers have been present in British ballet from at least the 1940s onwards when two Jamaicans, Berto Pasuka and Richie Riley, formed Les Ballets Nègres in 1946. In this rare, precious interview, hear from Marie Kamara, one of the members of Ballets Nègres, about the works she performed in, and the prejudice – and support – the company encountered.

The contribution of these pioneers has been largely forgotten in Britain. Into the Light: The Pioneers of Black British Ballet exhibition aims to change this by celebrating the lives of these trailblazers. The exhibition brings together archive photography, film, newspaper articles and posters alongside new video and audio interviews to trace the history of Black British ballet from the 1940s to the present.

This groundbreaking exhibition, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, is brought to you by Libraries Connected and Oxygen Arts' Black British Ballet project. Visit it this month at the Mulryan Centre for Dance to hear the stories of our Black British ballet pioneers, from those who were denied work in the UK to those who finally managed to smash the colour bar in Britain’s biggest companies.
https://www.ballet.org.uk/event/into-the-light-pioneers-of-black-british-ballet/

03/10/2024

We've been running around like mad so haven't posted in a while but we launched our Pioneers of Black British Ballet exhibition in Redbridge and Stockport yesterday. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and in partnership with LibrariesConnected, we'll be touring 25 libraries over the next 14 months with a whole bunch of activities for all ages! Link to more info in first comment!

26/09/2024

Book soon to secure your place!

📸Calling all budding photographers age 14+ who want to learn more about movement and dance photography! 📸

Sign up to a FREE practical group workshop here:
https://visionrcl.org.uk/event/dance-photography-workshop/

No camera? No problem! Sony mirrorless cameras are provided, plus a professional dancer on hand to practise on!

📅 Saturday, 19 Oct 2024
⏰ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
📍 Fullwell Cross Library, 140 High Street , Barkingside, IG6 2EA

Spaces limited. Booking essential.

This workshop is part of Black History Month at Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure - Part of the national tour of the Black British Ballet Project, a touring exhibition and exciting activity programme sharing the hidden stories of black dancers in British Ballet.

It is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and brought to you by Libraries Connected & Oxygen Arts’ Black British Ballet project.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund



Black British Ballet
librariesconnectedUK
Oxygen Arts
Hub Central
Vision Wellbeing
Barkingside Art Club
Redbridge Council
Community Action Redbridge
Redbridge ChildrensCentres

26/09/2024

Coming to a town near you in October!

14/09/2024

💃 Island Movements is a short ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores the impact of this generation’s experiences on their families, communities and society. Beginning with a young Caribbean soldier in WW2 Britain, this moving tale follows her and her family through their life in the UK up to the current day.

🤩 The show will be followed by a Q&A with the dancers and creators. If you’ve never seen a ballet before, then this is the one for you!

📍 Join us at;
Bishops Cleeve Library | 24 October at 19.00 - 20.00

🙌 Suitable for all ages
🎟 Tickets - £5

🔗 Book now! Link in bio | https://gloslibraries.uk/event/bishops-cleeve-library-island-movements-ballet-performance-epic-tale-lives-family-windrush-24

Black British Ballet The National Lottery Heritage Fund Oxygen Arts LibrariesConnected