That's the invitation the Department of Youth, Sport & Recreation is extending to youngsters and their families for its August 21 Calypso/Carnival Time Island Jam at Dockyard.

In what has become an annual event, this year's Island Jam will have the same purpose as its predecessors: to showcase local talent and provide the Island's youth with an enjoyable entertainment experience before they head back to school.

"The event is designed to give young people an opportunity to show off their talents, and we try to gear it towards the young and their families,'' Youth Co-ordinator Mr. Keith Smith explained.

Despite the theme, however, Island Jam will not concentrate on calypso in its entertainment line-up.

"Our theme doesn't necessary portray what will be presented during the show, but we will be dressing up the stage area in a calypso/carnival way, and we are encouraging groups to come out in their bright, colourful clothing,'' Mr.

Smith said.

The Department has lined up a wide variety of entertainment, designed to appeal to all tastes.

Performers include: Chakan 'n' Chavon (dancing rap); Dreamy Don and Super D (reggae rap); Naturally Naughty (dancers); Malik & Dreamy Don (reggae rap); Empress Menen Dancers and Mandela Freedom Drummers (African dancing and drumming); Soul Touch (singing/reggae); Dynamic City Rockettes (majorettes); Domeka Tacklyn and Vernon Trott (reggae/rap); Zephina Gibbons and Kimber-lee Davis (singers).

Comedian Ricco March, limbo dancer King Pedro, jugglers Balled over Bermuda Jugglers and an aerobics demonstration by the Total Fitness Centre will also be featured.

As always, one group is chosen to headline the bill, and this year it's the turn of talented trio Clive Francis, Dieter (King Cobra) Friehe and Miss Zahra (Digit) Jabbar, collectively known as Cross Culture.

Each brings to the trio a particular expertise. Clive is the lead singer, while DJ Dieter is into dancehall rap, and Miss Jabbar is the creator of rap arrangements.

"Cross Culture represents a new embodiment of the Bermudian music experience, a fusion of the various cultural music influences found in Bermuda packaged in a youthful attitude -- fresh and full of surprises,'' Mr. Francis explained.

The trio are very serious about their work, and have recently cut a compact disc entitled Cross Culture in de Area. Created and produced by Mr. Leland Hicks of California-based Optima Records and Pretty Boy Productions, it is an otherwise all-Bermudian effort, right down to Derrick Simmons' recording studio and cover artwork by Stephen Raynor and Sharon Wilson.

All of the material on the disc is totally original. At least one cut -- Life is what you make it -- will be performed in the gospel section of Island Jam.

Clive Francis started singing in his high school choir, and includes the Premier's Concert and a part in the musical Fiddler on the Roof among his many local performances.

Dieter Friehe was invited to join him after Clive saw him in action at a Teen Services show.

"He got to me, not just because of his performance, but he also had a certain sound,'' Mr. Francis explained. "He got the group involved and taught them reality while having fun at the same time. He moved them a certain way and they paid attention. Dieter is the talker of the group. He livens the party up!'' For his part, Dieter has loved music from a very young age, and collects live "session'' tapes. Listening carefully to rapping DJs, he practiced their style at home and became addicted.

"I usually get inspired as I go along. Something will pop into my head and I have to make it rhyme in a few seconds. I call it juggling,'' he explained.

"Usually, you know what you're going to say before you start, and then you keep on going. People listen. If you say something that's not exactly true you will get feedback, so I think it's best to keep a positive flavour.'' Zahra Jabbar traces her love of rap back to the days when her older brother went through his "disco phase'' and his kid sister was forced to listen to the music played at his house parties.

"I just picked it up, and I like rap better than other music,'' she explained. "I used to watch groups like New Edition and lot of other young groups, and I wanted to perform like them. They inspired me.'' She describes her compositions as "basically positive''.

The material Cross Culture performs is the result of a collaborative effort between the three young Bermudians, who all hold regular jobs elsewhere -- Clive is a chef at the Southampton Princess, Zahra is a part-timer at Duds and Suds launderette and Dieter is a construction worker cum freelance selector DJ.

In charge of coordinating Island Jam's popular gospel segment is Mrs. Cheryl Kerr, an experienced gospel choir director.

In addition to securing the services of such well-known performers as the Allen Temple Youth Choir, the Choral Dynamics, Pat and Patrina O'Connor, Brass Praise and the capella group, Word, Mrs. Kerr has also lined up some budding young talent.

"The gospel segment will be a mixture of established and new gospel groups,'' she explained. "Most of the groups are young.

"One of the things we looked for is variety, so we have an instrumental group -- Brass Praise -- a number of vocal groups, duets and a choir. Word is one of the new, up-and-coming groups here.'' And then there is something completely new and different on the local gospel scene: ventriloquist Mr. Arthur (Uncle Arthur) Raynor.

"He deals with Christian messages and inspiring young people,'' Mrs. Kerr explained. "We wanted to get the younger children interested, especially since families will be coming out to support this event.'' Island Jam will begin at 7 p.m., and Mr. Smith suggested families bring a picnic supper to enjoy along with the entertainment.

"There will also be refreshment stands, face painting and an apperance by Barney,'' he promised.

Tickets ($5) for Island Jam are available from the Dept. of Youth, Sport & Recreation during normal working hours.

LET'S JAM! -- Some of the many performers who will participate in the 1993 Island Jam at Dockyard on August 21 take a photo call in Victoria Park.

Designed to showcase young, local talent, the popular event will offer everything from rap to gospel, juggling and ventriloquism.

MEET THE STARS! -- Cross Culture (left to right) Clive Francis, Zahra (Digit) Jabbar and Dieter (King Kobra) Friehe, will be the featured artists at Island Jam. Their all-original material represents a fusion of various cultural music influences.