Rocka 2004

 

 

 

     This year a Premier/Open system has been devised to make the competition fairer.  Basically the top 12 schools from the last couple of years (including Frogmore, Wavell, Davison, Portsmouth City Girls...basically all the teams that have ever beaten us apart from Ryde High!) are in their own special final, and all the rest of the schools will compete for a place in the regular final, although the Premier schools will still perform at the heats.  The top three schools from the Open Final will move up to the Premier League, and the bottom three from the Premier Final will move back into the opens.  Okay, so that's a crappy explanation - check out the official site ( www.rockchallenge.co.uk)for a better one!

 

   As mentioned, my old school was in the Premier division.  The theme was "Seven Deadly Sins" and, well, I don't really know what to say.  Honestly - I'm lost for words.  I know some members of staff have left since my time there only a year or two ago, but guys - what the Hell happened?! The standard was appalling! It was big time pants! The dancing was childish, the kids looked bored and half of them didn't seem to have a clue what they were doing - I was ashamed! Get your act together! On a more practical note, they won Best Stage Crew and Best Hair and Make-Up in the Heat, and the Spirit of Rock Challenge Award in the Final.  They were not placed again, even though the placings went up to fifth this year, but - y'know, I'd be amazed if they even stayed in the Premier League :-(

The sins and the devil...or something

 

   I saw these dudes twice - both at the heat in Portsmouth and in the Premier Final in Bournemouth.  They were spectacular.  I have never seen such a cinematic performance delivered to such a high standard on the stage.  I was gob-smacked.  The theme was called "Renaissance" and it was a comparison of life during that time and now.  It was just...okay, I can't think of adequate words to describe it so I'll just leave it to your imagination.  They won awards in the heat for Best Drama and Sprit of Rock Challenge, and in the Final Best Concept Originality.  They did not, however, get a placing in the top five, which I was shocked at. 

   Davison High won overall in the Premier Final with their amazing suffragettes piece, danced to "Requiem for a Dream" from LotR (one of my favourite tracks ever!) My other favourite teams, Cowes and King Richards, came fifth and third respectively. 

(Wavell) - The terrorist attack on the modern day couple

(Davison) - The women fight for their rights

(Cowes) - Their theme was the different concepts of love and the need for balance between them

(King Richard) - The round table in their amazing Pendragon (King Arthur) epic

 

   The School where I did my A-Level music decided to enter Rock Challenge this year...just after I'd left.  B*stards! Anyway, their theme was "Is This The End?" and told the story of an alien invasion on Earth - who will save the planet? The guys off Star Trek? Some dead hard robots? Hmm...I think it's time we called in...the Men In Black! Basically Frogmore's 1998 theme but done ten times better :-) Yateley won Best Costume, Best Lighting and Best Choreography in the heats...and came first place! Not only that, but they then won Best Soundtrack and Best Choreography at the Open Final and came Second place! Amazing work for a first time school :-) That now means they are now in the Premier League.  Ryde High were also in the Final and came third, meaning they too are also now Premier. 

(Yateley) - The Men In Black come and sort things out

(Ryde High) - A war of worlds between Venus and Mars...what's with all the aliens?!