SOUND and lighting checks gave way to a music and dance extravaganza at the National University of Singapore last night.

Sixty-four performers aged eight to 19 went through their paces in final preparations for tonight's ChildAid charity concert. Among them were students of the Crestar School of Dance.

All 3,200 tickets for the two-night concert at NUS' University Cultural Centre have been sold.

Proceeds from the annual concert, now into its fourth year, go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The Straits Times fund provides needy school-going children with pocket money - $45 a month for primary school pupils, and $80 a month for those in secondary school.

And The Business Times fund was initiated by The Arts House to allow underprivileged children aged five to 12 to develop their artistic talents.