J Rock FAQS

1. What is J Rock?
J Rock™ is a performing arts event incorporating dance, drama and design which provides Australian primary school students with an opportunity to express their creativity through music and dance in an eight minute performance. The focus of J Rock™ is o­n students learning the benefits of being active and eating healthy food in a fun atmosphere. Students, teachers, parents and communities work together helping to prepare the school’s performance reflecting the personalities, concerns, hopes and dreams of those who create it.

J Rock™ offers students the opportunity to experience the thrill of performing live o­n stage and the satisfaction of working together in a large team while learning the importance of eating right and being active. The end result is a night of true inspiration and entertainment, displaying Australian children at their best.

2. Why was J Rock established?
Due to the increase in Australia’s childhood obesity epidemic, the immense popularity of Rock Eisteddfod Challenge®, and to commemorate the event’s 25th Anniversary in Australia, a junior event was established. After many years and thousands of requests from parents, the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® Foundation decided that it was the perfect way to celebrate the achievement of 25 years and extend vital health messages to even more young people.

3. What does J Rock achieve?
J Rock™ works on a number of fronts to address the contributing factors behind the staggering childhood obesity rate in Australia. The event’s focus is o­n students having fun while making healthy lifestyle choices and learning how important being active and eating healthy food really is.

Traditionally, performing arts programs attract students that may otherwise be at risk of missing out o­n the fitness benefits of participating in organised sport programs. J Rock™ allows students of all skill levels to participate in this highly accessible project through dance. Dancing requires a high level of cardiovascular fitness and improves coordination. Students involved in J Rock™ come away with the important message that lifetime habits of eating right, exercising and staying healthy start when you’re young.

Over the years the internationally recognised high school version of the event (Rock Eisteddfod Challenge®) has been proven to help participants o­n a social level, building self esteem, boosting confidence, resiliency, promoting teamwork, encouraging students to live a healthy lifestyle and increasing the bond between students, schools and the community. The primary school’s event aims to do the same by establishing links between children, parents and schools.

4. What is involved in a J Rock entry?
Just like its high school cousin, J Rock™ provides the opportunity for primary school students to tell a story of their choice, o­n stage with costumes and music. It utilises the same prestigious venues and ‘A’ class production equipment as REC.

A school’s entry into J Rock™ is an original performing arts presentation set to music. Each performance is based o­n a theme of the schools choice and runs between 5 and 8 minutes. The schools entry can involve as little as 20 and as many as 146 participants (comprising of a maximum of 100 performers, 20 stage crew and 26 support crew) making the event accessible to any school no matter how small or large they may be.

After many hours of rehearsals and hard work the students present their performance to thousands of audience members in some of Australia’s preium venues.

Awards are given at the end of the night to recognise school achievement. They can be given for performance, dance and production, community support, student achievements, school initiative and more. As a non competitive event every school performing will be recognised with an award and every participant will receive a participation certificate.

5. Where can I find a J Rock event?
In 2011, J Rock™ will be in Brisbane, Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth and Adelaide.

6. Who participates?
You don’t have be a dancer or a performer to get involved. J Rock™ is open to any primary school anywhere in Australia. No matter how small or large, rural or metropolitan, private or public, J Rock™ is achievable and accessible and most importantly FUN for everyone who participates! Community groups can even enter!

The Event attracts hundreds of schools around Australia and combined with the secondary schools events – Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® – is the largest and longest serving youth cultural event in the country.

7. What is the difference between REC and J Rock?
J Rock™ is a non competitive event which provides an opportunity for students and schools to participate in a friendly environment. It encourages participation rather than competitiveness.

A series of workshops and activities will be incorporated into the daytime activities for the students o­n show day. Throughout the day professional educators will run workshops o­n nutrition, sport, dance, drama and/or health to show how fun learning about being healthy really is. The whole day is educational as well as entertaining for the students.

In J Rock™ there is an expenditure ceiling of $2,500. Schools can not spend more than this o­n there performance, making the event a level playing field for every school.

8. What do the schools receive for participating?
J Rock™ is a non competitive event – everyone is a winner.

Each school will receive Awards of Excellence for their performance o­n the night and every member of their team will receive a colourful participation certificate to take home with them.

J Rock™ is accessible, educational, entertaining and most importantly FUN for the students involved! Participants go away with the feeling that they accomplished a goal and learn how important working together in a team really is.

9. Where can I purchase tickets?
Tickets go o­n sale at least two weeks before the event in each location. Go to the ticketing section of the website for information on where to buy tickets for your event.

Please note, whatever your theme choice, your Principal will need to sign a form deeming it appropriate.

14. How can schools get involved?
If you or your school is interested in participating contact the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge® office o­n 02 9417 4122 or email admin@rockchallenge.com.au.