REGISTRATION will open later this month for the Rock Challenge and J Rock tour 2018.

Senior schools and sixth form colleges can enter from 6am on Tuesday, September 19 with junior and primary schools able to register from 6.30am to take part in one of the region’s most exciting and popular performing arts events.

Rock Challenge events, put on by registered charity The Be Your Best Foundation, aim to inspire, engage and motivate young people to make healthy and positive lifestyle choices.

Each show provides the opportunity for young people to experience an adrenalin-based high through performing live on a professional stage rather than using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.

An event for senior teams will be held at the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Thursday February 8.

Teams of students will perform a five to eight minute dance, drama and design piece that they have prepared over the course of many months with teachers, parents and members of their wider community.

Set to a theme of their choice each school’s performance is completely original and can vary from tackling a political or social message, retelling a true event, or can be based on an entirely imaginative concept. The show always attracts a huge audience of friends and family.

Last year 10 local schools were involved in the Dorset event and organisers are hoping this year’s event will be even bigger.

In recent years teams from Dorset have gone on to win regional and national honours.