The opening ceremony of the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games commenced with a mixed traditional songs and dances performance in Singapore on Saturday, which reflects the culture diversity of the Southeast Asian country.

Malay, Chinese and Indian performers arrived in waves, engaging the audience in a musical dialogue and a welcome dance which wove the nuances of each cultural groups.

Malay performers dance with tepak sireb and bunga mangga, both of which are traditionally used in Malay culture to welcome guests and dignitaries. Chinese performers danced with lanterns while Indian performers danced in traditional peacock costumes.

Lion dancers welcomed foreign guests to the Lion City before Eurasian, one of the four main races in Singapore and Peranakan performers impressed the audience with their umbrella dance.

Singapore consists of four main racial groups, namely Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians, with each having its own unique culture, customes and festivals. Over the years, these diverse cultures have knit themselves into the fabric of Singapore's multi-faceted society, giving it a diverse cultural heritage.

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