The SAF Grid Performers

This year’s National Day Parade stage has some very prominent features. ‘The Eye’ is one of them, surrounded by over 1500 glittering sequins. But another major element bringing this year’s NDP to the next level are the 9-storey grids that flank ‘The Eye’.

Besides the Bhaskar's Arts Academy with their dancers, there are also soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces performing in these grids. These servicemen have been training since April, “every week, 3 times a week”, says LCP Christopher James Thomas; a performer on Level 5. However, the intense rehearsals are necessary not only for choreography practices, but also to overcome any fear of height.

None of the servicemen whom we asked were professional drummers, and had to learn the rhythm and choreography of their chapters from scratch. According to PTE Muhd Raihn, who has had no stage experience, “it's very hard, because some of the servicemen are very shy; and some are slow learners, while others are fast.”

Coordinating their movements was not easy to achieve either. As each person is isolated in their individual grid, none of the drummers have a visual guide, causing problems in synchronisation. However, the servicemen were given frequent training – which includes weekends – allowing them to progress greatly. LCP Thomas says that “the timing is always difficult to get right, and only after a few months of practice, then I finally managed to get it.”

A dynamic element to this year’s parade, the drummers contribute to the scale of the show. They expand the number of performers on stage, and add another visual dimension to NDP. Coupled with the lighting effects, they enhance the experience, and display the true meaning of what it is like to Come Together.

“Excited? Oh yes. My first time performing for the nation, man!” says PTE Raihn, who is soaking up the NDP atmosphere!

LCP Christopher James Thomas and PTE Muhd Raihn will be performing in the grids during Chapter 5, entitled "Fast Forward", and during the Lion Dance segment in Chapter 1, "What Did He See?".

This article and its photographs have been contributed by Joshua Khoo from the NDP 09 Show Committee.