SKY DANCE: Pilots from the Republic of Singapore Air Force Black Knights aerobatic team will wow the crowd with a six-minute aerial ballet. -- ST FILE PHOTO

View more photos

The 27,000 lucky people who land tickets to the Aug9 party, to be held at Marina Bay again, will catch the action up close.

A special three-tiered stage will be built between the seats and the floating platform after feedback showed that some who attended last year's parade felt the offshore-stage was too far.

'People had difficulty understanding what they were watching, so we had to find a way to bring performance and parade closer to the audience,' said Colonel Tung Yui Fai, chairman of this year's organising committee.

This year, the promenade separating the floating platform and the seating gallery has been expanded to about twice its original width - some of the tweaks made for the upcoming Formula One race in September.

This added space will allow the Guard-of-Honour contingents of the military parade to be on the promenade while the supporting contingents will be positioned on the new stage.

This means some stunts - the landings of the parachuting Red Lions, for instance - will take place mere metres away from the audience. It also means, though, that the jumpers have to train to land in a smaller area.

These and other details of the birthday bash of the year, being organised by the Singapore Armed Forces' Headquarters Guards, were unveiled yesterday.

The theme of the parade - Celebrating the Singapore Spirit - was inspired by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, among others, who have spoken at length about the Singaporean 'spirit', said Col Tung, adding that it is something with which people can connect.

To that end, he promised a parade with something for everyone.

For thrill-seekers: a six-minute aerial ballet by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Black Knights to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Air Force.

There will also be the traditional fly-past, 21-gun salute and fireworks segments.

Some items left out of last year's parade, such as the 400-strong combined schools choir, military band and the SAF's precision drill display, will make a comeback.

The action will stretch from the stage to the stands - the audience will be roped in to form a giant birthday card and more than 300 cheerleaders will keep spirits high by leading the Singapore Cheer.

ColTung said: 'You cannot make NDP a fine cuisine that caters to a certain segment of the population. It is...like a buffet. Anyone who comes to the parade must have something that they like.'

Rehearsals to stage the perfect show, involving about 3,000 performers, began as early as March.

The party will also not be a one-day affair - festivities, including arts and sports activities in the Marina Bay area, will stretch from July 16 until Aug 24.

Most, though, are likely to clamour for tickets to the main event, going by what happened last year - close to 500,000 applied for the 27,000 available tickets.

This year's balloting begins tomorrow.

There will also be standing room for another 150,000 to 200,000 people around Marina Bay and the Esplanade.

Those further afield can catch the parade live on www.ndp.org.sg

Launched yesterday, the site will also have the latest updates, pictures, and audio and video clips.

With the Beijing Olympics beginning on the parade's eve and without the novelty of the new venue, party planner ColTung admits he has a challenge ahead.

But he seems confident that Singapore's 43rd birthday bash will be just as brilliant as the parties that have come before.

He said: 'I'm not worried. Looking at the participants, the energy and determination they have to make the show better...the NDP has a brand of its own.'

jermync@sph.com.sg

What do you think defines the Singapore spirit?