Ushering in the significant 16 June Youth Day commemoration, this concert will celebrate and honour South African youths for the tremendous contribution and impact they are making in the country. It will also acknowledge unsung individuals who are doing exceptional work in the HIV and AIDS field and other areas of humanity.
Singer, actor and performer Jimmie Earl Perry directs this concert and will be joined by the Mike Campbell Rhythm Orchestra, Wolfgang Riebe as MC, vocalists Amy Campbell, Wendy Alexander, Spha Mdlalose, Manuel Losper, Luciano Swarts, Lana Crowster, dancers from the Waterfront Theatre Company and other artists.
"Using Michael Jackson's hit Beat It as a metaphor to 'beat' HIV, gave me the idea for the title of this year's production," said Jimmie Earl Perry. "The words of the song resonated so profoundly with me because it's about a young man who is living dangerously and told to 'beat it' (go away) if he wished to stay alive."
Perry stated that, through the arts, the aim of these concerts is to continue making people aware of their individual responsibility to help turn around the HIV and AIDS epidemic, as well as crime, violence and substance abuse among people in South Africa and around the world.
Musical direction and arrangements are by Mike Campbell, who has led and worked with groups in Europe, the US and throughout South Africa. He currently holds the position of Associate Professor and is head of jazz at the SA College of Music at the University of Cape Town. Wolfgang Riebe is a well-known motivational speaker, acknowledged for his original and unique approach as a comedic magician and Jean-Pierre Steyn is the vocal rehearsal accompanist.
Let's Beat It has an exciting, powerful programme that includes dance, theatre, jazz and adult contemporary music. It will inspire and educate and is suitable for the entire family.
Tickets cost R100 for the two-hour concert and may be purchased from Artscape Dial-a-Seat on +27 (0)21 421 7695, Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets, online at www.computicket.com or by calling 0861 915 8000.
