Students rock out on stage

Rotorua Intermediate practise their performance for the last time ahead of last night's show. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre was pumping with youthful energy, as hundreds of primary and intermediate-aged children gave J Rock their all.

The event, which is a non-competitive part of Stage Challenge, saw six primary and intermediate schools showcase their dance and stage skills last night. While there was no overall winner, students had their eyes on the nine awards for excellence, which included choreography, set and stage design categories.

Each performance ran between five and eight minutes, and was set to a medley of published and recorded music tracks, with the students the driving force behind the choreography, set and stage design.

Westbrook Primary School opened the evening with their performance "there's more to fairytales than you think."

Judges commended the school on their use of soundtrack.

Each school received comments from the judges after their performance.

Rotorua Intermediate teacher Aimee Longhurst said the school's 60-member-strong team, which included 11 working backstage, had been working really hard since April to bring together a polished performance. The theme they had chosen was career choices.

"It's a real collaborative effort between the teachers and the kids. They're really excited, they have been working really, really hard."

Student Huntah Macdougall, 12, was pumped for her school's performance.

"I did it last year and it was really fun. I am the army/police dance, it was a good choice. Once you get into the performance it's good," she told the Rotorua Daily Post before the show.

"My favourite part has been just learning all the dances and doing all the practices. I have met lots of new people doing it. It is really cool, and I am really excited. I reckon we've got a good chance of winning some awards."

High school students will be competing in Stage Challenge tonight also at the Sir Howard Performing Arts Centre.

WINNERS
• The Ministry of Education Award of Excellence for Concept Mokoia Intermediate
• The Edge Award of Excellence for Soundtrack Mokoia Intermediate
• Award of Excellence for Choreography Taupo Intermediate, St Mary's Catholic School, Hilltop School
• Award of Excellence for Stage Use Rotorua Intermediate, Westbrook Primary School
• UPSTART Award of Excellence for Drama Taupo Intermediate, Hilltop School
• The Edge Award of Excellence for Soundtrack Rotorua Intermediate, Westbrook Primary School, St Mary's Catholic School
• 5 + A Day Award of excellence for Costuming Character Rotorua Intermediate, Westbrook Primary School, Hilltop School
• Canon Award of excellence for Visual Enhancement Taupo Intermediate, St Mary's Catholic School
• Spirit of J Rock Westbrook Primary School