Entries are now open for the RandK Rock ’n’ Roll competition at Rochester Shire Hall on October 24, including a public evening social dance. Pictured are Kyrewyn and Rodney Alley.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Entries are now open for the RandK Rock ’n’ Roll competition coming to the Rochester Shire Hall on October 24, which will include a public evening social dance.
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RandK Rock ‘n’ Roll competition organiser Kyrewyn Alley said the event came about after her wedding to husband Rodney at the Rochester Hall in October 2025, when South Australian band Working Overtime expressed interest in returning to country Victoria.
The couple are both rock ’n’ roll dancers.
“After the wedding, the band rang back and said we had such an amazing time in country Victoria, we want to come back,” she said.
“So we were like, great, let’s do that.”
The competition was inspired by Kyrewyn and Rodney Alley’s wedding at Rochester Hall in 2025, where a South Australian band expressed interest in returning to country Victoria. Pictured are Kyrewyn and Rodney Alley.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Mrs Alley said regional rock ’n’ roll competitions had largely disappeared since COVID.
“They used to be in Ararat, Shepparton, Ballarat, all over the place, but since COVID they have all closed down,” she said.
“To be in a competition, you either have to go to Gippsland, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.”
The daytime competition, run under the Victorian Rock and Roll Dance Association, will feature high-profile judges, including world champion rock ’n’ roller Johnny Phung from Albury.
Local coach Dave Tarrant will be on hand for support.
“Our judges are all high-end people of rock and roll and are absolutely supporting us 100 per cent because they want to see it up and going again,” Mrs Alley said.
Categories include adult newcomers, adult beginners, adult intermediate, adult advanced, adult lifts, masters 45+ (no lifts), a feature track dance-off and the RandK championship dance.
“Something that we have put in is the RandK rock ’n’ roll championship, which you have to have entered one other competition on the day; then it will be a big event, the feature dance-off,” Mrs Alley said.
“Because we are just beginning, we want to try and encourage people to come back to competition.
“We are going to name the song a month before, and people who have never been in it, to ease you in, you know what the song is, you can practise the song, you could probably make a bit of a routine to it and feel a bit safer out on the competition dancehall.
“We are trying to be really inclusive of all.”
The evening social dance will host around 140 people, welcoming both dancers and spectators to enjoy the event until midnight. Pictured are Rodney and Kyrewyn Alley.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The competition is open to all ages and apart from masters, is not age-group based.
The evening event will see around 140 people dancing until midnight, all dressed up with petticoats, full skirts, waistcoats and fun, the whole gamut.
“Locals are welcome; you don’t have to be a dancer to come,” Mrs Alley said.
“You can just come and spectate or dance yourself.”
To enter, to get more information or get tickets to the social dance, search ‘RandK RocknRoll’ on Facebook.
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