Rock Eisteddfod Challenge - Melbourne

Improvised dance moves at the bus stop, spontaneous humming in the checkout queue and a run on silver fabric all tell tale signs that students from across Sydney are readying themselves for the 2005 Go For Your Life Eisteddfod Challenge®.

Its just over a month to go until Melbourne Heats on Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th, Thursday 11th, and Friday 12th August at The Vodafone Arena, schools are in the final stages of their productions.

Schools from across Victoria are in the final stages of their productions, which for all have been months in the planning. The paints drying on the sets, the last sequins sewn on the costumes and final dress rehearsals are underway. Expect shows packed full of the best performances, design and talent that Australia has to offer.

The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® (REC) is Australias No 1 Performing Arts Event and promotes positive youth initiative and encourages students to make healthy lifestyle choices. Teams have to perform an eight minute performance piece, within a set budget, live on stage in front of a public audience. The event is open to teams from high schools and community groups of all sizes with the majority from the government sector. Students commit to being drug, alcohol and tobacco free and this is integral to their participation in the event.

Executive Producer, Mr Peter Sjoquist AM, said: "The 2005 Go For Your Life Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® is about empowering a whole generation to take responsibility for their actions via our "My Life I Decide" motto. Participation gives students a professional environment to showcase their creativity and unique access to the performing arts. It allows students to express themselves and represent their schools beyond the traditional sporting teams. But most of all they experience a natural high without the need for illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco."

"I challenge the community to get behind the event and support the youth of Victoria. Anyone can be an audience member and witness in person the fun, creativity and buzz associated with Australias Number One Youth Cultural Event", said Mr Sjoquist.

Many of the participating Victorian Schools are long term supporters of the event and the audience is guaranteed great shows. Themes this year feature punks, dragons, superheroes and pharaohs, delve into the worlds of Reality TV, The Mafia, Atlantis and Multiculturalism as well meeting the likes of Christopher Reed, Isadora Duncan and Bollywood Stars! Last years Premier Grand Final Winners Bellarine Secondary School and the Small Teams Trophy Winners Brunswick Secondary College are keeping everything crossed the judges will consider their performances have that must-have "X Factor" again in 05. A full list of all participating schools and their themes is set out at the end of this release.

BACKGROUND
REC & J Rock (for primary schools) events in 2005 will include over 350 schools and approximately 35,000 participants in 47 shows in 16 centres across Australia. Its a far cry from the inaugural event 26 years ago with just 8 schools.

The REC has been a successful health promotion vehicle for the past 25 years during which time more than 900,000 Australian students have taken part. High school students pledge not to smoke, drink or take illicit drugs during their productions. According to an independent study from the University of Sydney the aims of the REC events really do work. Results revealed that students are more resilient and get a stronger sense of identity, purpose and belonging than students from non participating schools.

There are also four shows for primary students participating in their own event J Rock, at the same venue the week before.

The 2005 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® is a Go For Your Life Event presented across Australia by Maybelline New York and supported by the Victorian and Australian Government and SUPRÉ.

www.rockchallenge.com.au

SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING INCLUDE:

Monday 8th August BEACON HILLS COLLEGE - VILLAGE CAMPUS performing Puzzles
BRAEMAR COLLEGE performing Celebrity
ECHUCA SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Australias Big Party
GEELONG NORTHERN EDUCATION COMPLEX performing Seven
OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART COLLEGE-BENTLEIGH performing Time equals change (or does it?)
PAKENHAM SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Evolution
PASCOE VALE GIRLS' COLLEGE performing Her Story
SACRED HEART GIRLS COLLEGE performing Haunted Mansion
THE KNOX SCHOOL performing Centre Court? Centre Stage?

Tuesday 9th August
ALPHINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL performing Fat Boy Mafia Meets CSI
COOMOORA SECONDARY COLLEGE performing 1980
CROSSWAY BAPTIST CHURCH performing Club Eden
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE (MALVERN) performing How to Woo Women
DIAMOND VALLEY COLLEGE performing Lifes a Gamble
EMERALD SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Beware the Dragon
KILBREDA COLLEGE performing Luna Park Just for Fun
MOWBRAY COLLEGE performing The Nightmare before Christmas
NORTHCOTE HIGH SCHOOL performing
TRARALGON COLLEGE performing Reality Bites

Wednesday 10th August
BACCHUS MARSH GRAMMAR performing HAIR
BILLANOOK COLLEGE performing Atlantis
EAGLEHAWK SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Multiculturalism
HAMPTON PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Take it 2 tha Streets
KAMBRYA COLLEGE performing Never judge a book by its cover
MELTON SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Isadora Duncan Mother of Modern Dance
NEWCOMB SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Hooray for Bollywood
PARADE COLLEGE performing Nightmare
PENLEIGH AND ESSENDON GRAMMAR SCHOOL performing Interpret the Spirit, Share the Dream
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER COLLEGE-BEACONSFIELD - performing Jumanji

Thurs 11th August
ARARAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE performing The Last Pharaoh
BRUNSWICK SECONDARY COLLEGE performing The Punk
EMMANUEL COLLEGE WARRNAMBOOL performing Orpheus and the Underworld
GLADSTONE PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Reality TVUnplugged
KERANG TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL performing Love, Hate, War
MORDIALLOC COLLEGE performing The last place you look
PARKDALE SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Return to Whitechapel
ST. HELENA SECONDARY COLLEGE performing The White Mouse
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE NATHALIA performing Christopher Reeve Nothing is impossible
TIMBOON P-12 SCHOOL performing Beyond the Ice

Fri 12th Aug
BAYVIEW COLLEGE performing eMpTy Void
BELLARINE SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Heros
BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL performing Silence is Golden but
BENALLA YOUTH GROUP PERFORMERS performing Hot time in the old town tonight
COHUNA SECONDARY COLLEGE performing Popularity Bugs Me
ECHUCA HIGH SCHOOL performing Australias Big Party
FAIRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL performing Hypothesis:2084
JAMES FALLON HIGH SCHOOL performing Our Princess
MERBEIN SECONDARY COLLEGE performing The Recess Queen
NEWHAVEN COLLEGE performing Superheros
OVERNEWTON ANGLICAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE performing Survivor Year 9
Outlast, Outwit, Outplay”
SEBASTOPOL COLLEGE performing Justice of the Jungle