Dancesport | Oxford University Blues Committee

About the club

Oxford University Dancesport Club offers Social Dancing, Competition Classes, and Exhibition lessons in a range of partner dance styles. The club offers classes in Ballroom, Latin American, Salsa, Bachata, Swing, Rock and Roll, Zumba and Argentine Tango. If you are looking for partner dancing in Oxford, OUDC is the place for you.

Our classes are taught by professional coaches and cater for everyone from complete beginners to experienced competitive dancers. You do not need to bring a partner or wear special shoes. Staff and non-members of the university are welcome.

OUDC is the only Full Blues Dance Club at the University of Oxford, and the Club's hugely successful Dancesport Competitive Teams represent us at multiple inter-university competitions each term, including the nationals in Blackpool and the annual varsity match against Cambridge. We give exhibition performances at Balls in Oxford and London, and we even have our own dance studio - available 24 hours a day! If you are interested in competitive dancing, or booking us for a demonstration, email the president (president@oudancesport.co.uk) for more information.

Inter-college & Cuppers

Cuppers is an inter-college team match for beginners and experienced dancers alike.

The rules of the competition require that at least one member of each partnership must be an ‘inexperienced dancer'. Hence, the success of a college depends as much on the beginners it recruits as on its established dancers.

Colleges enter teams of four couples. Each couple performs one of four dances: waltz, quickstep, cha and jive. The highest scoring team wins the Acheson Shield. The College with the most points overall takes home the Rob Stevens Memorial Cup.

Cuppers provides a unique opportunity for complete beginners to have a go at competitive ballroom or latin dancing. For many it marks the start of a life-long love affair with the sport.

To get involved please email the club through the links above.

Blues criteria

Mixed

Full Blue

Criteria for achieving a Full Blue

For an Oxford University student to be considered for the award of a Full Blue for Dancesport they must achieve the following:

They must compete for the OUDC Varsity A-Team against Cambridge.
They must compete for OUDC and reach the final in the First Division of the Team Match event at the IVDA Nationals competition (“IVDC”).
They must compete for OUDC in the Team Match event at a majority of IVDA competitions that OUDC officially attends during full term in the academic year.
They must show true team commitment – they must train consistently hard and have a positive attitude toward their own and others training.

Criteria for achieving a Half Blue

For an Oxford University student to be considered for the award of a Half Blue for Dancesport they must achieve the following:

They must compete for the OUDC Varsity A-Team against Cambridge.
They must compete for OUDC and make the quarter finals in the First Division of the Team Match event at the IVDA Nationals competition (“IVDC”).
They must compete for OUDC in the Team Match event at a majority of IVDA competitions that OUDC officially attends during full term in the academic year.
They must show true team commitment – they must train consistently hard and have a positive attitude toward their own and others training.

Notes on Blues

It is important to note that these are minimum requirements for a student to be considered for a Full/Half Blue. Other factors will be taken into account including:

Opens results, particularly “Advanced” and “Intermediate” competitions for Full Blues, or “Pre-Intermediate” and “Same-Sex” for Half Blues, as this shows individuals abilities across the whole range of dances and not just the one team dance.
Comparison between individuals.

Our coaches play a major role in the selection and training of the Team, and Blues are awarded at the discretion of the President (as Team Captain) and the Head Coach to those who have achieved the criteria. For the avoidance of doubt, competing in the Ex-Student Team Match event does not qualify a participant for a Full / Half Blue, even if they compete in this event whilst they are a student.

The President (as Team Captain) and the Head Coach will jointly decide which IVDA competitions OUDC will officially attend each term and publicise them in advance to the Team.

First team colours may be awarded at the discretion of the President (as Team Captain) and the Head Coach to students who compete for the OUDC Varsity A-Team against Cambridge but do not meet the Half-Blues criteria. Second team colours may be awarded at the discretion of the President (as Team Captain) and the Head Coach to students who compete for the OUDC Varsity B-Team against Cambridge.