SINGAPORE – Clad in a pale blue balletic dress, Ms Jade Koo Ah Mui exuberantly waved her light stick, which periodically glowed purple and blue in tandem with the music.

At 70, the septuagenarian is performing in Singapore’s National Day Parade (NDP) for the 10th time, as part of the contingent from Soka Gakkai, a local religious organisation.

This year, she is joined by her neighbour, brother-in-law and two daughters.

Ms Koo said: “I feel very happy to be here. As a Singaporean, I’m thankful that I’m healthy and can celebrate Singapore’s 60th birthday – that’s something to be joyous and grateful about.”

She is just one of around 3,000 performers from 19 groups who are taking part in the NDP show segment. With the theme “Majulah Singapura”, the show comprises

four different acts inspired by the National Anthem

.

Addressing the media on July 12, Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Ng Eng Ping, chairman of the NDP show support committee, said: “The National Day Parade has always been the premier platform for our local artistes and creatives to showcase what they have to offer.

“This year, apart from the artistes, we have the young students, the active seniors, and the beautiful, inspiring individuals with disabilities – and all of them form an important part of the fabric in Singapore.”

LTC Ng added that this year’s parade show segment has four key messages: celebrate diversity and Singapore’s people; reflect on the nation’s aspirations; reinvigorate spirits; and move forward with a stronger sense of us.

A stage for all ages

Rigorous training for the annual spectacle took place over months. On the days of the live rehearsals, the performing team gather at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre to rehearse the choreography, get their make-up done, change into their outfits and collect their props, before heading to the Padang in the evening.

Performers getting their make-up done at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

But performers like Ms Koo are undeterred.

She said: “It’s physically demanding since we stand for long hours, and the beat of the music can be quite fast. I’ve been trying to maintain a strong mentality, though, that I definitely need to partake in this.”

Alongside senior performers, there are also around 400 young people in a performance featuring students of four local schools: CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Fuhua Secondary School, Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) and Anderson-Serangoon Junior College (JC).

Alongside senior performers, there are around 400 young people in a performance featuring students of four local schools.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

The students, togged out in red and white vests and crimson bucket hats, perform a choreography routine to popular National Day songs from the past, such as Home and The Road Ahead.

Each student holds up a placard bearing personalised responses to the prompts “I want to...” and “I want us to...”, reflecting their hopes and aspirations as individuals and for Singapore.

Seventeen-year-old Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth, a first-year student from Anderson-Serangoon JC, decided to take part in this year’s NDP performance after watching his older brother march in the commando contingent at the 2024 parade.

Anderson-Serangoon JC student Srinivasan Shiv Siddarth decided to take part in this year’s NDP after watching his older brother march at the 2024 parade. 

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

On balancing schoolwork and a hectic practice schedule, Srinivasan said it has been difficult but manageable.

“During rehearsals at the Padang, there’s a lot of waiting time, which you can spend doing work. When you’re studying with your friends, I think it’s quite easy to get a lot done fast,” he said.

“If there’s anything we didn’t know (in our homework), we could ask our friends or even the national servicemen who were there.”

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Another student performer is Zori Rebecca Singer who, at 13, is one of the youngest dancers in her segment.

Student performer Zori Rebecca Singer, 13, is one of the youngest dancers in her show segment.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

The Secondary 1 student at CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School said: “Although it can get really tough and tiring, it’s really rewarding at the same time. You learn how to go and do things even when you’re really exhausted, and just never give up and persevere.”

Her favourite part of the performance is the mellow, emotional second half, when they dance to the song Home.

Zori said: “I think a lot of Singaporeans think of Home as something meaningful, and really connect it to Singapore.

“Personally, it’s my favourite National Day song because it’s just so meaningful, and I think the performance would really bring tears to the eyes of the people in the audience – it’s so good.”