SINGAPORE — Performing troupes from a total of 15 different countries – the highest number of foreign nations to ever participate in Chingay since 1987 when the first foreign group featured – will join this year’s parade with specially choreographed items to celebrate the nation’s 50th birthday, lead organiser People’s Association announced today (Jan 14).

More than 1,000 international participants from five continents will perform, doubling that of last year’s 500-strong participants. Among countries taking part for the first time includes the Republic of Rwanda. The international contingent will also see regular participants from ASEAN neighbours Indonesia, Thailand as well as distant neighbours Japan and Korea.

According to Chingay executive committee member Nay Juay Hng, some of these performances are specially choreographed to commemorate Singapore’s 50th birthday.

One such performance will be an item by Thailand’s troupe Absolutely Thai. Featuring members from different regions of their country, the troupe will perform local celebratory dances from various parts of the country to celebrate the nation’s golden jubilee.

Other notable performances include the award-winning Kalinka from the Russian troupe.

The troupes will be part of the main parade scheduled to commence on Feb 27, in celebration of the Chinese New Year and the nation’s golden jubilee.

This year’s theme We love SG is set to break all records with the parade poised to be the biggest and grandest in its 42 years history. It will also be the first time that the parade sees more than 15,000 participants below the age of 35 - making it the youngest crowd ever to participate.

In a bid to appeal to younger generations, home-grown singer JJ Lin was invited to perform the parade’s finale song Dreams. A mobile application Chingay Youth Aspiration - the first for the parade - was also launched to encourage youths to share their dreams for the nation.