Funding boost for Alness Academy pupils for dance competition

A group of Alness Academy pupils is set to deliver a top performance at the 2015 Annual Rock Challenge dance competition after securing a £250 boost from our Community Fund.

We created the fund to support local projects in the communities we serve.  With hundreds of entrants across the UK, the Rock Challenge is an annual dance competition which holds wide appeal to local youngsters and boasts an anti-drug and alcohol ethos.

Over 120 Alness Academy pupils are involved in the Challenge, which involves choreographing an original eight-minute dance performance and producing a sound track, set and costumes from scratch. As well as competing, the group usually performs locally, and this year the performance took place on location at the Fyrish Monument.

Next year’s competition is set to take place on 28 April 2015 at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, and the funding will help cover the cost of set building, costumes and transport.

Gordon Robertson, a teacher of English at Alness Academy and leader of the Rock Challenge Group, applied to Albyn Housing Society for the funding.

He commented: “The Rock Challenge is an excellent way to involve young people in the performing arts and to engage them in enjoyable extra-curricular activities. It also requires a huge amount of team work, teaching cooperation and commitment.

“Staff and parents always make a massive contribution too by supporting us with aspects such as costumes and sets. Everyone gets stuck in, making it a hugely enjoyable experience for everyone on stage and behind the scenes. We also run the group in conjunction with the Youth Work Team and without them it wouldn’t be possible.

“I’d like to thank Albyn Housing Society for its generous support. The funding will certainly help us on our way to delivering the biggest and best Alness Academy Rock Challenge performance yet.”

Calum Macaulay, our Chief Executive, added: “At Albyn we are committed to supporting our local communities and I’m delighted our community fund is benefiting such a large group of young people in Alness.

“The Rock Challenge sounds like a lot of fun, but is also a huge endeavour for everyone involved. I wish the group the very best of luck for the competition in April.”