A group of Barton Peveril students won the first in a series of Rock Challenge UK heats, at Southampton’s O2 Guildhall, on Monday 19th February. The annual event sees more than 40 local schools and colleges compete over six days, showcasing their dance, choreography, and performance skills for a place in a regional final.
The Barton Peveril team won their heat, with Peter Symonds coming second, Hounsdown School third, and Amery Hill School fourth. Barton Peveril’s winning Rock Challenge team will now compete in the Southern Open Final (B), against the other winning teams from around the south coast, at Portsmouth’s Guildhall on Friday 27th April 2018.
The Rock Challenge team’s winning ways
Speaking on the success of her students, Performing Arts Director Victoria Radido said:
“We are absolutely thrilled by the students’ hard work and the determination they showed to deliver such a spectacular performance. They thoroughly deserved their victory and cannot wait for the next stage in the competition.”
The students’ piece was inspired by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the subsequent film The Impossible (2012), which was based on the catastrophic Boxing Day event. The students gave the following brief for the piece:
“A family holiday. An event that should be a time of relaxation, fun and adventure. Unfortunately for the people and families of Indonesia a Tsunami causes the complete opposite; chaos, loss and heartbreak. The piece is a re-enactment of a true event and we re-live the story of one family.”
Barton Peveril Principal Jonathan Prest was also eager to praise the students and their achievement, stating:
“I was delighted by the success of the Barton Peveril students in the Rock Challenge heats in Southampton. They are a tremendously talented group of dancers and have worked together brilliantly to put their act together. It’s a great event in the annual calendar and brings a lot of pleasure to all who compete.”
Extra recognition
In addition to their overall victory on the day, the students also won a number of different awards for the excellence:
- Excellence for Stage Crew
- Excellence for Soundtrack
- Excellence for Lighting
- Excellence for Concept
- Excellence for Video Performance
- Excellence for Performance Skill
- Excellence for Choreography
- Excellence for Drama
- Excellence for Stage Use
We wish the students the best of luck in the next stage of the Rock Challenge competition.
Images credit of the Daily Echo, whose article can be found here.
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