Final chance for Island to shine

VIDEO
THE OPEN final of this year’s Rock Challenge is shaping up to be a potentially memorable one for Island schools.
Three Isle of Wight school teams have won through to the final with high scores, including Cowes High School, who last week notched a first place during the second round of the dance competition’s heats, held at Portsmouth Guildhall.
It was one of ten Island schools to take part and was the top perfomer — making it through to the open finals at Portsmouth, on May 28 and 29.
Cowes High School's winning routine focused on the Scarlet Pimpernel and the performance won Cowes its heat on the dance and drama competition’s final day.
Sandown High School had the rare distinction of providing two teams to finish as runners-up in different heats.
Sandown High’s team two will join Cowes and Ryde School with Upper Chine in the finals, with its Beauty and the Beast routine. The 81 dancers earned the performers’ choice prize, together with best hair design, drama skills and stage crew awards.
Team One portrayed global slavery and unjust imprisonment in history, winning awards for hair, make-up and costume design.
Ryde School earned its finals place with a thought-provoking routine, entitled Invasion of the Imagination, which focused on a girl’s experience of child abuse.
The team, which also gained a second place, won prizes for best choreography, stage crew and student leadership and the prestigious Spirit of Rock Challenge award.
The other schools were commended for their performances.
Mayfield Middle’s safety text messaging system idea impressed judges to win best make-up, lighting design and drug awareness accolades.
Downside Middle earned the best soundtrack and Spirit of Rock Challenge prizes, while Medina High won a best soundtrack award.
Sandham Middle’s pupils gained a best lighting design accolade, while Ryde High earned prizes for best choreography, hair and make-up, costume, drama skills, soundtrack, lighting and concept originality.
Carisbrooke High won a drama skills award with its routine, entitled These Violent Delights.
• Full coverage in the Friday, May 1, County Press.

Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk