Students rise to Rock Challenge

Twelve Dorset schools performed on the spectacular show "C2R Dorset Police Rock Challenge "in Pavilion yesterday night.

Each school created their own eight-minute "mini-West-End" performance in electric competition.

The event is drug and crime prevention vehicle that comes in the form of a friendly performing arts competition. Achieving a natural high through performance rather than through the use of substances was the aim of the event.

Dorset Police in their statement said "the police proud of local students and delightful to support the event, which aimed to improve the quality of life for all of society by encouraging young people to take an active role in building safe and healthy communities."

Scholars presented variety of social issues in their programmes such as slavery issues, clones phenomenon, credit crunch, madness of reality TV and others. There were other great pieces concerned youth directly. So, Testbourne Community School made a great performance on teenagers being judged before anyone gets to know them. Kings High School showed the story of the teenage fighting the war of anorexia and the media's perception of beauty.

The organiser of the event By Your Best Foundation charity conducted survey among 7,474 participants. The results confirmed that students benefit from the Rock Challenge project. Since becoming involved in the Rock Challenge 62 % of smoking students stopped or reduced the amount they smoke, 65 % reduced amount of alcohol they drank. The majority of students believe that their self-esteem had improved significantly.

St. Peter Catholic School, Bournemouth, performing "Clone alone" piece, won the competition and been awarded for the best video performance, best performance skill, and best lighting design. The victory provided them a place in south regional final which will be taking place in Portsmouth.