KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — A group of dancers dressed in full white attire will be the highlight of the 57th Merdeka Day celebration tomorrow.

Some 100 school students aged between nine and 16 together with several members of the Tourism and Culture Ministry will stage a performance to pay tribute to victims of MH17 and MH370 tragedies and to those who died in the Lahad Datu intrusion.

In the final full-dress rehearsal yesterday, the group stole the show when they danced and sang patriotic songs while holding high the Jalur Gemilang.

Choreographer Raziff Rahman, 30, said the white attire symbolised the souls that were lost.

Raziff, who choreographed the dance routine with two others, said students were brought in at the last minute as they were the future.

“They will be in the centre of what Malaysia has to offer in future,” he said.

One of the lead dancers from the ministry, Fairul Faiz Mahat, said although he had been part of the Merdeka parade for four years, the energy was totally different this year.

He said: “This year the focus is more down to earth. Let’s hope the parade will strengthen intercultural ties and we become a stronger society.”

Another dancer from the ministry, Nur Azreen Nizar, 23, said the last three weeks had been extremely tiring for her as they had to practise daily from 6am.

“I might be tired but the pride of just being here is overwhelming. I now have a deeper appreciation for Malaysia,” she said.

Nur Azreen, who had participated in the parade the last four years, said the feeling of being part of each Merdeka celebration differed every year, even if the performances might have been similar.

“I hope the young and old will appreciate and remember the sacrifices made by many people to make the country what it is today,” she said.