Combined Rehearsal 1

Today marks the first ever NDP 09 Combined Rehearsal at the Float @ Marina! Being the first time rehearsals have changed location from Nee Soon Camp to the Float, many performers arrived in morning with beaming enthusiasm and ready to rock the stage with their performances. With the change of rehearsal location, there were also many new challenges that had to be overcome.

Faced with the sweltering heat during the day from sun, most, if not all of our marching contingents and performers managed to get themselves tanned a few tones today. Water points were kept busy with continual influxes of performers rushing in to hydrate themselves and to get shade from the blazing rays.

One of the biggest challenges surrounding this year’s NDP is the smaller size of the stage, which is half in size compared to previous years. Although performers are now in much closer proximity to the audience, for the marching contingents, this decreased amount of space makes marching all the more challenging.

2LT Lu Zhengyou, who is also an ensign in this year’s Colours’ Party, shares with us some little known facts about being a part of the Colours´ Party. Something that he only realized after being an ensign was that every flag bearer would get a bruised forearm from marching because the forearm would continually get hit by the podium of the sword they bore. Another interesting fact was that when everyone stomps their feet on the platform, its reverberations are felt throughout the entire stage, causing the peripheral rows to wobble slightly. Nonetheless, he says "I am very honoured that my first time participation in NDP is marked by such a prestigious position."

Despite the hot afternoon, our performers were still all smiles and giving their best for the rehearsals. Although schedules ran tight, many performers were sweating it out, running with enthusiasm and laughter either backstage or to their positions on stage.

For the backstage crew, many worked tirelessly to refill all the water points for the performers and marching contingents. Marshallers kept the traffic flow going even with road closures while photographers and videographers went around capturing moments that would soon come to define this year’s National Day Parade.

Patrick Chia, 50 and Kathleen Chua, 43, were camping out at the edge of the floating platform long before the night rehearsal even commenced. Although they missed out on the opportunity to get tickets this year, they still remain NDP enthusiasts. Aerial stunts struck a chord with Kathleen while Patrick enjoys the parade segment and the marching contingents.

Subsequent Saturdays will also be NDP rehearsals at the Floating Platform, so come on down if you want to catch a preview of this year’s Parade before 9 August.

Stay tuned as we return with more updates from the Floating Platform!

Here are some pictures from the Combined Rehearsal 1.