Berlin, May 28 (CNA) Taiwanese children, dressed in costumes representing Taiwan's aboriginal tribes, danced and beat drums Sunday as they marched with performers from other countries in a festive parade at the Berlin Carnival of Cultures.

Most of the young dancers and drummers, who are second to sixth graders at Jianshan Elementary School in Kaohsiung, were in a foreign country for the first time, their principal Lin Jung-yi said.

"They are all excited and doing their best," Lin said on the sidelines of the parade, which attracted more than 4,000 people from 99 performing arts groups.

The Berlin Carnival of Cultures in late May is one of the biggest annual cultural events held in Germany's capital. It began in 1996 in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, home to many of Berlin's immigrants, with its communities providing food, concerts and dance performances.

The highlight of the event is usually a parade, featuring festive samba music and dancing. Organizers estimated that more than 1 million people showed up for this year's parade.

(By Lilian Lin and Elizabeth Hsu)
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