Regional Dance Competition

Regional Dance Competition

Dance Live is a Regional Dance competition which takes place once a year. Here at Sir John Colfox we focus on the benefits that Dance has for all students with regard to fitness and health, as well as developing key life skills and confidence. 

 Every session involves stretches, warm ups, and a cardio session to help our students increase their general fitness levels. Overall, they gain teamwork skills, organisation, communication skills, as well as a passion for dance and a great set of memories to take on into later life, as well as a healthy start.

The rehearsals culminate in a performance in a theatre where they perform in front of up to 1000 members of the public in one spectacular evening performance. The judges then give their feedback and many schools end up leaving with certificates to show the effort the students put in, and the skill they have shown on stage.

We have previously taken part in Rock Challenge which was a National Dance competition, but as this is no longer running, we are glad to have found a new outlet for the amazing dance talent at Colfox. 

 

Rock Challenge 2018

On Thursday 15th February more than 60 Colfox dancers took their performance titled ‘The Roll of the Dice’ to the Global Rock Challenge.  After months of rehearsals after school, the students were finally able to showcase their amazing dance skills in front an audience over 100 strong at the Bournemouth Pavilion.  It was a hugely successful night as the group scooped awards of Excellence for ‘Project Pictogram Award of Excellence for Drama’, ‘ACRO Criminal Records Office Award of Excellence for Soundtrack’ and ‘Visions Unlimited Award for Excellence for Video Performance’. These awards of excellence are only issued if you achieve 8/10 or higher in the marking criteria for all 3 judges. The judges described the emotion the piece captured as ‘spellbinding’. 

The piece was based on the theme of gambling addiction underlining the glitz and glam of the Las Vegas casinos. This saw a range of different dance styles such as tap and contemporary being used to tell the story of Ryan, a young man who is enamoured by the bright lights of the casinos and gambles well until he begins a profound losing streak. He continues all the way to his last £5 note which he loses and this saw him spiral into homelessness. The story included showgirls and casino goers, the dark shadows of his addiction and a love interest that was doomed from the start.   It really was a rollercoaster of emotions.

A small group of Year 11 students worked tirelessly to choreograph, design and direct the piece from start to finish.  The Rock Challenge Leaders were Abby Prowse, Poppy Legg-Bagg, Caitlin Pask, Ellie Wellman and Sophie Wilson and they worked extremely hard for over 6 months to audition dancers, paint the set, organise costumes and cope with all of the little problems as they arose. These girls showed their true grit and determination to ensure that the Sir John Colfox entry was one of the strongest on record.  All of the students were very proud of their achievements. 

Headteacher David Herbert commented:  ‘Our Rock Challenge entry is one of the best examples of student leadership in the school.  Apart from the fact that the quality of dance was amazing, it is also testament to our leaders just how well they gelled the group and got so many performers behind the idea.  I loved the performance and was incredibly proud of them’.

Rock Challenge 2017

 

This year saw the most students take part in Rock Challenge in over 5 years! 73 students took to the stage in one of the best performances our students have created.

The student leadership team this year worked around the clock to ensure that every single piece of costume, set, and movement was perfect and this effort was rewarded in the final performance.

A massive well done to all those who took part!!

 

Rock Challenge 2016

The Sir John Colfox Academy is once again taking part in the 2016 Global Rock Challenge dance competition in Bournemouth Pavilion on the 1st of March.  This is an annual competition presented by the Be Your Best Foundation set up to encourage young people to lead healthy lifestyles and to be their best without the need for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.  The competition gives students aged 11-18 an opportunity to express themselves through dance. 

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This year the students have chosen a theme based around Animal Poaching and the ineffective justice system that doesn't protect animals in certain countries.  Over the last few months students from the Sir John Colfox Academy have been working extremely hard to devise the 8 minute dance piece, attending rehearsals after school and raising funds for set and costumes.  Year 11 and sixth form student leaders have been involved in the choreography, costume design, production of the set, and organising the transport, lighting and soundtrack.  They have worked closely with performing arts teachers at the Academy. 

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We would like to thank everyone who has supported us through their donations, particularly; Bridport Lions, Symondsbury Estate, Topgear and Burton Bradstock Cars.  Any business or organisation that would be interested in donating any money to this cause please contact Emma Holder at the Academy.