Is it kung fu? Is it street dance? Dancers from St Stephen's School and Woodgrove Primary School kept the crowd guessing - and entertained - as they blended both styles in an item called "Fuze!".

Capturing the hearts of the audience as they burst onto the stage holding hands, the dance troupe from Methodist Girls' School got the crowd tapping their feet with their jazzy grooves, complete with cartwheels.

Hurling his baton into the air, the Drum Major from Ping Yi Secondary School caught it effortlessly without missing a beat as the rest of the band stood in formation.

A dance pair depicting star-crossed lovers injected a dash of romance to the spirited performance of the Ping Yi Secondary School Marching Band.

The soothing yet strong vocals from the 726-strong Combined School's Choir delighted the crowd with their rendition of familiar favourites sung in the four national languages.

Who can resist the advance of Kallang Wave as it sweeps through the stadium? The infectious energy of the audience stayed high as they lapped up the performances on stage.

Flag-bearers from the uniformed groups were all eager to lead in the parade contingents, with all their uniforms looking sharp and flags ready to be held up high.

Serious but no less passionate, the Parade segment featured contingents from various uniformed groups. It was led by Parade Commander Cadet Inspector Liew Xia Ri, Caine from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

"Forever friends we'll be..." crooned Joy Tan from St Margaret's Primary School as she mesmerised the audience with the SYF theme song.

These dancers from Deyi Secondary School twirled and executed their moves perfectly, after months of dedicated practice. But that's not all that the group had to offer ...

As the cloth was unfurled to resemble the shape of a pyramid, the crowd gasped at the breath-taking display of props. Yet more impressive was the Deyi Military Band, fronted by Haikal bin Rosli, who was awarded Best Drum Major this year.

The Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Band from Malaysia showed the audience how it keeps the "Torch of Friendship" alive, putting up a captivating performance. The first Cadet Corps in Malaysia, it has competed around the world ever since its first win at the 1st Malaysian National Secondary School Bands Competition.

The Bowen Military Band scored a perfect ten, garnering its 10th consecutive Gold Award at the SYF this year. They impressed the audience with their impeccable footwork and accuracy in executing backward steps, as well as close interweaving movements. On the left, two dancers depict the story of a man travelling back through time to the ancient city of Persepolis - alas, only to have his heart broken.

One couldn't help but be charmed by the exuberance of these youths from Catholic High School as they put up a shining performance of mass display, entitled "Awakenings". It portrayed how youths battle challenges, represented by thunder and lightning, in pursuit of their dreams.

As the floats moved back and forth in this thought-provoking artistic display, these two different groups of dancers from River Valley High School implored the audience to preserve the harmony between Man and Nature.

The finale was a blur of colour, activity and agility. The opening ceremony may be over, but watch out for more performances to come. This year's SYF spans the months from July to August, to coincide with the Youth Olympic Games, and various performances will be held around Singapore to entertain our foreign guests.