posted by Angela Duce, Senior Clerical Officer, Schools and Learning
The Results are in from Day Two of the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® and J Rock™ in Dundee!
Five schools from Angus competed in the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® and J Rock™ and tonight, Forfar Academy were placed first in tonight’s Rock Challenge® competition with their piece ‘Chains of Egypt’. Visually stunning from the start, Forfar’s performance featured an array of creative props and costume designs with intricate details. Transporting the audience to ancient Egypt to explore the story of Moses, Forfar used strong choreographic formations combined with excellent characterisation to captivate the audience throughout. As well as winning an array of awards of excellence Forfar’s performance has qualified them through to the Scottish Final taking place at Caird Hall in June.
Strathmore Primary School placed first in the J Rock™ half of tonight’s show with their theatrical piece ‘Out of the Darkness and Into the Light’. A dramatic building soundtrack set the pace for this vibrant piece. Choreography using juxtaposing sides complemented their theme choice whilst this thought provoking theme mesmerised the audience leaving them with a hopeful message at the end.
Arbroath High School also attended the event and showcased their 2016 premier performance ‘Quarantine’. This dark theme grabbed the audience as Arbroath High School used powerful drama skills to tell a harrowing tale of a deadly virus outbreak in Rio. A mixture of dance styles drew the audience in as an eerie soundtrack built to a climactic and emotive finale with a tragic end for one of the main protagonists. Due to their success in previous years Arbroath High School have automatically qualified through to the Northern Premier Final held at Grimsby Auditorium in July.
The event, held at the Caird Hall, attracted an audience of over 900 people and was supported by PQA, Angus Council, Police Scotland, Choices for Life and Zeamu Music.
Angus Council’s Strategic Director of People, Margo Williamson who presented first place in the senior competition described the event as “Full of energy, full of verve, and wonderful to see so many people from across Angus, Dundee and Perth.”
Forfar Academy – Chains of Egypt Arbroath High School – Quarantine
Strathmore Primary School – Out of the Darness, into the light
Please find below the complete list of awards and placing’s from the 2016 Be Your Best Rock Challenge® at the Caird Hall on Wednesday 16th March:
| Award | School |
| 1st Place Senior | Forfar Academy |
| 1st Place Junior | Strathmore Primary School |
| Angus Council Award of Excellence for Choreography | Strathmore Primary School, Forfar Academy |
| Pauline Quirke Academy Award of Excellence for Performance Skill | Strathmore Primary School, Perth High School, Forfar Academy |
| Choices for Life Award of Excellence for Stage Use | Strathmore Primary School, Morgan Academy, Forfar Academy |
| Police Scotland Award of Excellence for Concept | Warddykes Primary School, Forfar Academy |
| Pauline Quirke Academy Award of Excellence for Drama | Inverbrothock Primary School, Forfar Academy |
| Angus Council Award of Excellence for Soundtrack | Inverbrothock Primary School, Warddykes Primary School, Morgan Academy, Forfar Academy |
| Choices for Life Award of Excellence for Set Design and Function | Warddykes Primary School, Perth High School, Forfar Academy |
| Buchan Embroidery Award of Excellence for Costuming Character | Strathmore Primary School, Perth High School, Forfar Academy |
| Police Scotland Award of Excellence for Visual Enhancement | Strathmore Primary School, Perth High School, Morgan Academy, Forfar Academy |
| Angus Council Award of Excellence for Entertainment | Inverbrothock Primary School, Warddykes Primary School, Strathmore Primary School, Perth High School, Morgan Academy, Forfar Academy |
| Angus Council Award of Excellence for Lighting | Forfar Academy, Warddykes Primary School, Strathmore Primary School, Perth High School |
| Be Your Best Foundation Award of Excellence for Stage Crew | Strathmore Primary School, Forfar Academy |
| Visions Unlimited Award of Excellence for Video Performance | Strathmore Primary School, Forfar Academy |
| Angus Council Award for Spirit of Rock Challenge® | Arbroath High School |
| Choice for Life Award for Performers’ Choice | Inverbrothock Primary School |
| Arbroath High Premier Awards of Excellence | Performance Skill, Stage Use, Set Design and Function, Stage Crew, Drama, Visual Enhancement, Entertainment, Lighting, Video Performance |
| Rock Challenge® Award for Achievement in Drug Awareness | Arbroath High School |
| Be Your Best Foundation Award for Student Leadership | Forfar Academy |
| Rock Challenge® Award for School Community Support | Warddykes Primary School/ Forfar Academy |
| Be Your Best Foundation Award for Healthy Lifestyle | Strathmore Primary School/Forfar Academy |
| Rock Challenge® Award for Cultural and Educational Achievement | Perth High School |
| Be Your Best Foundation Award for Positive Inclusion | Inverbrothock Primary School/Arbroath High School |
