These young dancers were getting in step for a major stage production.

They were pupils of the Maretta Grace School of Dance in Oxford and were preparing to join members of the Oxford Operatic Society in the musical Carousel.

The show was performed at the Apollo Theatre, Oxford – now the New Theatre – in May 1983.

The youngsters had been divided into two sets for the week-long run.

This gave more members of the dancing school the chance to take part, but also meant that they didn’t face the arduous task of taking part every night.

It was the latest annual offering from the Oxford Operatic Society, which has a long history of producing shows in the city.

It is officially 65 years old this year, having celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006.

However, research shows that its roots go back much further – to 1907 when it began life as the City of Oxford Amateur Dramatic Club.

In the 1920s, the club split into two groups – the City of Oxford Amateur Dramatic Society and the City of Oxford Operatic Society.

In 1929, the two groups joined forces once more, to become the City of Oxford Dramatic and Operatic Society, and performed regularly at the New Theatre and the Red Barn, the forerunner of the Oxford Playhouse, in Woodstock Road.

After a break for the war, it reformed as the Oxford Operatic Society in 1946.

Early shows took place at Oxford Town Hall, but since then, the society has performed at the Playhouse, Apollo/New Theatre and St Edward’s School.

Its latest production, Bizet’s Carmen, will be at the Playhouse from Monday November 21 to Saturday November 26.

Where are all the young dancers above now?