As the opening performance for Chingay 2012, 6 professional dancers from China Red Star Dance Troupe embrace the modern dance form at its peak with its remarkable display of style and beauty in their dance moves. As a national dance troupe under the People's Republic of China, the troupe has travelled widely and won numerous awards and accolades for both national and international dance competitions including clinching the Gold Awards for the Chinese National Classic Dance Works of the Twentieth Century, the 13th International Youth Festival and the Russian Siberian International Choreographic Art Competition.

The China Red Star Dance Troupe reappears in the Ta Ge item supported by a 300 member strong Chinese contingent, displaying the traditional Han Dynasty dance with elegance and style.

Presented by: China Red Star Dance Troupe

Choreography by: Ms Liu Min

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As Chingay 2012 marks the year of the Dragon, the flying dragon returns with its second appearance in Chingay, this time round with its familiar counterpart the flying phoenix from Shaanxi China. The majestic appearance of the pair brings about peace and prosperity to the people of Singapore as they fly to the skies to 40 metres above ground. Watch in awe as the 88 metres long dragon and 35 metres long phoenix springs to life instantaneously, manoeuvred by a team of sturdy and strong performers.

Presented by: China Shaanxi Huaxia Air Art Development Co Ltd
陕西华夏空中艺术开发有限公司

Choreography by: Mr Wen You Yuan

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Stilt walking acts are always a crowd pleaser with its fanciful costumes at towering height. A traditional art form that retains the spirit and festivity of Chinese New Year, let the Fu Lu Shou stilt walkers from Tian Loong Koong Stilt Walking Group and Johor Bahru Hong Yang Sports Association say 恭喜发财 "Gong Xi Fa Cai" and 万事如意 "Wan Shi Ru Yi" to all! Inviting them brings about prosperity, fortune and longevity to a brand new year! Let's wave to the spectacular performers from Singapore and Malaysia!

Johor Bahru Hong Yang Sports Association also participated in the annual stiltwalking festival held in Belgium called Les Echasseurs Namurois and even received a special award for participating!

Presented by: Tian Loong Koong Stilt Walking Group 天龙宫高跷队 and Johor Bahru Hong Yang Sports Association, Malaysia 柔佛州洪扬体育会

Choreography by: Mr John Ng Chwee Chuen and Mr Yeo Han Leong

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First ever human dragon to be presented in Singapore, it is formed by performers stacking on top of one another to make up a human dragon chain. It is a special act that requires lots of stamina, skill and flexibility.

With the combination of drums beats and sounds of gong in the background, the dragon weaves in and out, transforming into various formations, looking lively and enchanting from afar while retaining its toughness when viewed up close.

A national troupe preserved under the Guangdong Province Cultural Heritage, it consists of 50 performers specially invited from China Zhanjiang Dragon Dance Troupe. They form a magnificent human dragon, displaying the heroic spirit of the mystic creature and symbolising unity and strength of the performers.

Presented by: China Zhanjiang Human Dragon Dance Troupe
中国广东湛江人龙舞艺术团

Supported by: China Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Zone
湛江经济技术开发区

Choreography by: Ms Liang Hua Xiu

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Next is a wonderful display of international cultures from all over the world. First we have a fast paced and energetic dance item by a group of young and vibrant university students from Kagoshima Woman's College, Japan.

Dressed in navy blue kimonos with striking yellow aprons, the ladies focus on traditional Kagoshima dance that is presented in a cheerful and joyful manner to suit the theme of Chingay Parade!

Look at the sheer display of youth and vitality as they dance to the local folk song "Ohara-bushi" that has been specially re-arranged to incorporate modern elements in the melody. The group has been specially selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Tourism Agency to appear in a tourism promotional video and it has been shown in 133 countries worldwide.

Presented by: Young Odoriren Team Kajyotan

Supported by: The Japan Council of Local Authorities of International Relations (CLAIR) Singapore

Choreography by: Ms Eriko Komatsu

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Spring is the season where flowers bloom and all things come to life. Presented by The Lan Yang Dancer, their costumes portray different kinds of flowers such as orchids, peonies, lilies, lotus flowers and birds of paradise. Immerse in the graceful dance performance by this group of young and talented performers from Taiwan, as they hope to preserve and pass down the richness of Taiwan's unique minority cultures.

Presented by: The Lan Yang Dancer 蘭陽舞蹈團

Supported by: Taiwan Visitors Association

Choreography by: Ms Chen, Yu-Ju and Ms Huang, Tzu-Yen

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It began as an old traditional dance, as a great wise man gave one dancer a name from god secretly in his ear. The dancer starts to twirl in circles as the name keeps ringing in his ears. He then turns anti-clockwise, in harmony with the earth's rotation. As one of the most important dances in the East, Egypt and several other countries, the El Mawlawia dance is a symbolic ritual to communicate with God through music and dance.

The costumes have incorporated beautiful LED lights and look spectacular it looks as the performers twirl and toss their skirts higher and higher in the air.

Established in 1959, the Reda Folkloric Dance Troupe endeavors to revive Egyptian folkloric dance and improve its status as a distinctive aspect of Egyptian culture. Reda Troupe is also endorsed by the Egyptian Government "as a band capable of representing the Egyptian Folklore both in music and dance." The group travelled vastly in Egypt to collect different folk dances and spreads their arts and culture to various parts of the world as they tour from one place to another.

Presented by: Reda Folkloric Troupe, Egypt

Supported by: The Ministry of Culture of Egypt and Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Choreography by: Mr Ehab Hassan

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Helaran means "parade" in Sundanese referring to a group of people performing their gratitude and respect for a special occasion. It represents the activities of ethnic communities living in the West Java region. The people of would hold a procession to show gratitude to the Earth and their God.

One of the highlights in their props is a structure of the Komodo Dragon, which lives in the Komodo Island of Indonesia, also classified as one of the new seven wonders. The Komodo Dragon is the world's largest living lizard.

The "Sisingaan", also seen in the parade, are the lion replicas made of wood and bamboo, symbolizing gratitude and protection in Sudanese culture.

There are several other traditional and uniquely Indonesian cultural elements in the parade, including the Angklung, which is a traditional handmade musical instrument made of bamboo, and Payung Geulis or paper umbrellas with traditional paintings. The performers are dressed in contemporary outfits modified from their traditional costumes. You can also see performers in their traditional kebayas, kapmpret and iket kepala also known as their traditional head bands.

Presented by: Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, Indonesian School in Singapore, Indonesian Students Association in Singapore, FPIPS UPI Art and Culture Group (Bandung), Nusantara Art Forum (Jakarta)

Supported by: The Regional Government of West Java Province

Choreography by: Mr Ace Iwan Suryawan

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