SCHOOLS from across Hampshire are to take place in the finals of a national dance competition.

The Rock Challenge finals are to be held this week at Portsmouth Guildhall next week and will run for five days.

The first schools to participate in the Junior Rock Challenge on April 23 are Rowner Junior School from Gosport, Highfield CE Primary from Southampton, Fair Oak Junior School from Eastleigh, and Bassett Green Primary School from Southampton.

On the second day of J Rock Wellow Primary School from Romsey, Bitterne Manor Primary School from Bitterne, Cornerstone C of E Primary School from Fareham, Valentine Primary School from Southampton and St Johns C of E Primary School from Gosport will battle it out to take the top spot.

On Thursday, finalists for the Senior Global Rock Challenge will compete at the venue to be crowned the winners.

Hounsdown School from Totton, Redbridge Community School from Millbrook and The Hamble School from Hamble will compete against nine other schools from across the south.

Then on Friday, St Anne’s Catholic School from Southampton and Regents Park Community College, also Southampton, will compete.

On Saturday, Wildern School, Hedge End, and Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, from Southampton, will both take part in the finals later this month.

Southampton’s Richard Taunton Sixth Form College’s Rock Challenge team will be heading to the regional Premier Division Grand Final in April for the second year running.

After showcasing this year’s piece at Southampton Guildhall for the local competition, the team are off to a fighting start and have already won nine awards.

Lisa Fernandez Adams, Performing Arts Teacher at Richard Taunton and Rock Challenge Director said: “We are really looking forward to performing this year’s piece and are incredibly proud to be the only sixth form college in the local area to have had continued success over a seven year period.

“At Richard Taunton the Rock Challenge team is completely inclusive and all students are welcomed to the team regardless of the subjects they study or the prior experience they’ve had, meaning that any student who wants to be in the team, can be.

“They all relish the opportunity to develop their performance and stage skills, and our incredible results each year are testament to their hard work and dedication.

“We challenge our students’ levels of creativity year on year, and to be competing in the Premier Division for a second year running is no mean feat.

“I am immensely proud of the students and staff who contribute to such a huge event and we cannot wait to compete in Portsmouth in April.”