The organisers of Oxford's annual dance festival have secured a grant worth more than a third of its total budget.

The team behind Dancin' Oxford '09 vowed to create the 'biggest festival yet' following the £37,000 cash injection from Arts Council England.

The festival, which has a total budget of £90,000, will feature professional dance performances and tuition at venues across the city next spring. Oxford City Council arts officer Claire Thompson, who is co-ordinating the event, said: "It is absolutely great news. It was the full amount we had asked for and will enable us to raise the profile of the festival in terms of marketing.

"The festival would have gone ahead without the grant, but the biggest impact the funding will have is making the whole thing more visible. It will make a huge difference.

"It is all about including people in the festival and giving them the opportunity to see or take part in dance. The money will really help make it more accessible."

The festival, which is now in its third year, will be staged between January 24 and March 28 next year. Ms Thompson said: "There will be a whole range of performances, from visiting national and international dance companies to local professional dancers. There will also be performances from youth and community groups.

"One of the events we will have is the Dance-A-Thon, which is two days of taster workshops — 13 in total — to get people involved in all different styles of dance. These have been really popular in the past."

The festival will also be partly financed by Oxford City Council and venues staging the events, including the Oxford Playhouse and the Pegasus Theatre.

Ms Thompson added: "The festival has really grown over the years and we are getting more established in the cultural calendar in the city.

"Dance is growing in popularity with programmes like Strictly Come Dancing. The festival celebrates that and shows dance is for everybody."

For more information visit dancinoxford.co.uk