Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge is a series of dance and drama events staged worldwide by school pupils as part of the Global Rock Challenge. These events are initiated by the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge Foundation, and aim to promote healthy lifestyle choices, particularly abstinence from drugs, alcohol
and cigarette
s. An event was started for primary students - J Rock - in 2004 to raise awareness about obesity by promoting dance as a fun way to exercise.
Rock Eisteddfod shows are stories on stage in 8 minutes. Participants can have between 10 and 120 students on stage, as well as up to 20 back stage crew. The entire show is set to a pre-recorded soundtrack of contemporary music, and the aim is to use dancing and drama to tell the story. There are also sets and costumes to be thought of and the performances often combine elements from the whole arts curriculum. Schools choose their own theme and story and work collaboratively with teachers and parents to bring their ideas to life.
It was announced on Tuesday 9 February 2010, that due to lack of funding, the event would not take place in 2010.
, Australia
in 1980 known as The Rock ‘n’ Roll Eisteddfod, a NSW Arts Council sponsored-event, including some Sydney high schools at the historic Hordern Pavilion
. The idea has been developed by Sydney radio station 2SM
. With support from Coca-Cola
, the NSW Arts Council promoted the event as an example of local youth culture in action.
In 1988 the New South Wales Health Department was the first to see the Rock Eisteddfod as an opportunity to deliver the “Quit For Life” anti-smoking message to secondary school students in New South Wales. At the same time, Kerrie Hayes and Peter Sjoquist AM (Hayes & Sjoquist Productions) took over and revitalised the event which is now know nationally as Rock Eisteddfod Challenge.
In 1993 the event was introduced into New Zealand
, where it is branded the Smokefree Stage Challenge, starting with 20 schools and 2000 participants, and has grown to include 171 schools and 16,381 participants.
In 1995 Inspector Mark Pontin of the Hampshire
Constabulary visited Australia on a Churchill Scholarship. He saw the Australian Rock Eisteddfod Challenge first hand and was so impressed that he persuaded the Chief Constable to introduce it to their area of the UK. In 1996 the inaugural event of the Rock Challenge was staged in Portsmouth
with 11 schools and 800 students. This has now turned into a national series of competitions, usually starting in Aberdeen in February and running through many parts of the UK (including London, at the Hackney Empire) until the northern and southern Grand Finals around the end of May / beginning of June.
Rock Eisteddfod events are now staged in several locations worldwide. New Zealand
, Germany
, the U.S.
(but in 2003 stopped in the US), United Kingdom, Japan
, Dubai
and South Africa
have all taken up the Global Rock Challenge. A sister event The Croc Festival
stages a series of festivals in remote and regional areas of Australia, aimed at both indigenous and non-indigenous communities are held each year. In addition to performing, the three day festivals provide the opportunity for rural and remote students to participate in many health, education, employment, sport, visual and performing activities during the day.
A research project led by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sydney University, Don Nutbeam in 1999-2001, found that participants in the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in Sydney secondary schools had higher self-esteem than the control group of schools who did not participate in the event; that participants smoked less tobacco and marijuana and drank less alcohol than the control group. The PhD candidate who undertook the research, Dr Rose Grunstein also found that students in participating schools but not in the actual team also had lower propensities to smoke, drink excessive alcohol or take other drugs.
Since then many State and Government Health and Education Departments have put their support behind the event. The Australian Department of Health and Ageing have sponsored the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge television specials with various tobacco, alcohol and drug prevention messages for 18 years.
Almost a million young people aged 11 to 19 have now performed on stage. In 2005, 100,000 young people from 800 schools took part in one of the hundreds of shows staged worldwide.
Over 400 schools and 40,000 students competed in 50 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge shows in 17 regions across Australia in 2006.
This division was cut out of the competition in 2008 in favor of RAW.
Founders
Josh Wood - Josh Carr
(USC)
A three-year study from the University of Sydney
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine was the first cross-sectional analysis of participating and non-participating students.
The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge as an Intervention to Increase Resiliency and Improve Health Behaviours in Adolescents (1999–2001), study explained the effectiveness of the events as a youth program.
The overall findings included a lower incidence of drug, marijuana and alcohol use among participating REC students compared to students in non-participating REC schools. Students similarly had an improved sense of identity, belonging, purpose, problem solving skills, and social competence. As an intervention program, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge improved flexibility, empathy and caring, good communication skills, sense of belonging and sense of purpose.
90% of students from REC schools and 87.5% from control schools knew that the message was an anti-substance abuse message, the study found very positive attitudes toward the REC, particularly amongst those who took an active role in the event.
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
and cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
s. An event was started for primary students - J Rock - in 2004 to raise awareness about obesity by promoting dance as a fun way to exercise.
Rock Eisteddfod shows are stories on stage in 8 minutes. Participants can have between 10 and 120 students on stage, as well as up to 20 back stage crew. The entire show is set to a pre-recorded soundtrack of contemporary music, and the aim is to use dancing and drama to tell the story. There are also sets and costumes to be thought of and the performances often combine elements from the whole arts curriculum. Schools choose their own theme and story and work collaboratively with teachers and parents to bring their ideas to life.
It was announced on Tuesday 9 February 2010, that due to lack of funding, the event would not take place in 2010.
History
The concept began in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1980 known as The Rock ‘n’ Roll Eisteddfod, a NSW Arts Council sponsored-event, including some Sydney high schools at the historic Hordern Pavilion
Hordern Pavilion
The Hordern Pavilion is a building located in Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the grounds of the old Sydney Showground. "The Hordern", as it is affectionally known by Sydneysiders, has been an architecturally and socially significant Sydney landmark since its construction in 1924...
. The idea has been developed by Sydney radio station 2SM
2SM
2SM is an Australian radio station, licensed to and serving Sydney, New South Wales, broadcasting on 1269 kilohertz on the AM band. It is owned and operated by Broadcast Operations Group...
. With support from Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, the NSW Arts Council promoted the event as an example of local youth culture in action.
In 1988 the New South Wales Health Department was the first to see the Rock Eisteddfod as an opportunity to deliver the “Quit For Life” anti-smoking message to secondary school students in New South Wales. At the same time, Kerrie Hayes and Peter Sjoquist AM (Hayes & Sjoquist Productions) took over and revitalised the event which is now know nationally as Rock Eisteddfod Challenge.
In 1993 the event was introduced into New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where it is branded the Smokefree Stage Challenge, starting with 20 schools and 2000 participants, and has grown to include 171 schools and 16,381 participants.
In 1995 Inspector Mark Pontin of the Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
Constabulary visited Australia on a Churchill Scholarship. He saw the Australian Rock Eisteddfod Challenge first hand and was so impressed that he persuaded the Chief Constable to introduce it to their area of the UK. In 1996 the inaugural event of the Rock Challenge was staged in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
with 11 schools and 800 students. This has now turned into a national series of competitions, usually starting in Aberdeen in February and running through many parts of the UK (including London, at the Hackney Empire) until the northern and southern Grand Finals around the end of May / beginning of June.
Rock Eisteddfod events are now staged in several locations worldwide. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(but in 2003 stopped in the US), United Kingdom, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
have all taken up the Global Rock Challenge. A sister event The Croc Festival
The Croc Festival
The Croc Festival is an Australian event held annually in a number of locations in remote and rural areas and is produced by Indigenous Festivals of Australia. It engages Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians with the aim of building partnerships and celebrating youth and...
stages a series of festivals in remote and regional areas of Australia, aimed at both indigenous and non-indigenous communities are held each year. In addition to performing, the three day festivals provide the opportunity for rural and remote students to participate in many health, education, employment, sport, visual and performing activities during the day.
Concept
While performances are professionally-staged events, the Global Rock Challenge is about having fun along the way. Students, teachers, parents and communities work together over many months helping to prepare the school's performance.A research project led by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sydney University, Don Nutbeam in 1999-2001, found that participants in the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge in Sydney secondary schools had higher self-esteem than the control group of schools who did not participate in the event; that participants smoked less tobacco and marijuana and drank less alcohol than the control group. The PhD candidate who undertook the research, Dr Rose Grunstein also found that students in participating schools but not in the actual team also had lower propensities to smoke, drink excessive alcohol or take other drugs.
Since then many State and Government Health and Education Departments have put their support behind the event. The Australian Department of Health and Ageing have sponsored the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge television specials with various tobacco, alcohol and drug prevention messages for 18 years.
Almost a million young people aged 11 to 19 have now performed on stage. In 2005, 100,000 young people from 800 schools took part in one of the hundreds of shows staged worldwide.
Over 400 schools and 40,000 students competed in 50 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge shows in 17 regions across Australia in 2006.
Divisions
In all REC events there are Open and RAW Divisions. In Melbourne and Sydney there is an open, small and premier division.J Rock
- Team Numbers- max 143 participants
- Performers- Min 10 Max 100
- Stage Crew: Min 0 Max 20
- Support Crew Max 20
- Expenditure Maximum- $2,500
Small Teams
- Team Numbers – max 73 participants
- Performers: Min 10 Max 40
- Stage Crew: Min 0 Max 10
- Support Crew: Max 20
This division was cut out of the competition in 2008 in favor of RAW.
RAW
- Team Numbers – max 128 participants
- Performers: Min 20 Max 100
- Stage Crew Min 0 Max 5
- Maximum Expenditure $2,500
Open
- Team Numbers – max 143 participants
- Performers: Min 20 Max 100
- Stage Crew Min 0 Max 20
- Support Crew: Min * Max 20
- Maximum Expenditure - $8,500
Founders
Josh Wood - Josh Carr
(USC)
Raw Division
Introduced in 2006, RAW Division is the division of REC which has a 'no set' rule, focusing purely on dance. Participants are encouraged to explore using the human body in order to tell their story, and as a result RAW division has greater emphasis on choreography, dance and drama. Schools may compete in Open/Small/Premier AND Raw divisions.Outcomes
Global Rock Challenge events in each country attempt to deliver specific health and lifestyle themes such as anti-tobacco, drugs and alcohol messages.A three-year study from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine was the first cross-sectional analysis of participating and non-participating students.
The Rock Eisteddfod Challenge as an Intervention to Increase Resiliency and Improve Health Behaviours in Adolescents (1999–2001), study explained the effectiveness of the events as a youth program.
The overall findings included a lower incidence of drug, marijuana and alcohol use among participating REC students compared to students in non-participating REC schools. Students similarly had an improved sense of identity, belonging, purpose, problem solving skills, and social competence. As an intervention program, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge improved flexibility, empathy and caring, good communication skills, sense of belonging and sense of purpose.
90% of students from REC schools and 87.5% from control schools knew that the message was an anti-substance abuse message, the study found very positive attitudes toward the REC, particularly amongst those who took an active role in the event.