Upclose and Personal

August Interview

1. Hi, can you do a self introduction?

M: My name is Marcus and I am 22 this year. I just completed my national service (On evoke opening night!) and I’m awaiting the start of my university life starting next January.

N: Hello... My name is Nicholas and currently still a student.. Hmmm basically I’ m one who is madly in love with popping and very enthusiastic in it.

Y: Yo! My name is Yi Zheng ....currently studying in Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Well my favorite dance style is "Popping".

K: This is Kejun here. I m 18 years old and I’ m currently studying in Nanyang polytechnic. Loves popping.

2. When did you start dancing and why?

M: I took casual classes for awhile back in late 2004. It was just an average of 4-5 lessons a month. Been busy with my poly final year and army since then and picked it up again in Dec '07. One of the main reasons was because there were popping classes. I have been interested in it for years but haven't really had any real direction for it. Also I
feel popping really helps me express ANY emotion as it is a very freeform-dance.

N: hmm I started a year ago. I was exposed to dance by my school's dance club when I first entered Poly. It really got my attention and made me want to try it out, which led me to taking dance lessons outside.

Y: I started dancing at the age of 16. It all happened when I saw Wade Robson did a cool
body wave on MTV! I was like "WOW".

K: I started last year August. There was an Open house party in Studio Wu where I tried a free locking class, and decided to try it. I found it a little too difficult for me. I joined popping after that.

3. Been doing only popping? Why?

M: I’ve been trying various dance styles and although I plan to focus more on popping, I will also devote time for the other forms. Each dance has its own unique expression and method of doing so, which compels me greatly!

N: The feel and style of popping attracted me a lot when I started dancing. I really felt for this style of dance wanted to learn about the dance to express myself.

Y: Hmm...I first started out with hip hop, during that period of time I could not find any studio that teaches "Popping" till I met Caleb. I felt that popping is so cool compared to other dance styles.

K: I tried breaking and locking, but my main interest is still lies in popping. It’s more of a preference of style for me.

4. What made you want to do the dance competition? How was the experience at the dance
competition?

M: Evoke was our very first performance and when it ended, we sort of missed the feeling of getting ready for a performance. Even the anxiety and all were taken in positively. We also want to promote popping in the now predominantly Hip Hop/ Jazz world. We feel that this would be a chance to push ourselves and show what popping can do! It is really very different when you have to choreograph your own steps, plan the blocking, organize the rehearsals and just about plan everything. What really seems like just a 3 min dance can take weeks to prepare! As such I think we gained more than just dance experience.

N: I have been going solo and playing around with freestyle battles all this while. I wanted to try out doing some group stuff and gain more experience. I then gathered some friends and took up this competition. The experience was great. I have learnt a lot during this period, the stress and problems we faced made me better.Y: I felt that joining any dance competition is a challenge to me, I wanted take this challenge and improve myself further. The experience at the dance competition.....* Nervous …?

K: Friends and the attractive prizes pushed me to join it. Thought it might have been scary since there are so many strong teams joining. It is also fun as there are times where we played certain games on the dance floors. Thinking of the audience to be present makes butterflies circle in my stomach.

5. Do you see yourself still popping at 40?

M: Hopefully still going strong past 50 =D

N: Definitely. As long as I still have the energy to pop, I will do so.

Y: Well....I don’t think so although I really hope so. I would be very busy working to bring my family up.?

K: I do not know. I’ll see how is my condition is like when I reach that age. Career and family plays a part in making my decision to this question.

6. Any favorite dancers / poppers that inspire you?

M: My first real impression of popping came from a Mr Wiggles Clip... Its been stuck in my head ever since. :)

N: Acky, Gucchon, SEEN, Poppin' Pete, SugaPop and many more haha.

Y: YEA !!! My favorite poppers are " Mr.Wiggles from the Electric Boogaloos from USA", " Kite from Former Action in Japan", last but not least " Oba from Japan."?

K: U~min, Nicholas Ho, Prince Jack

7. Any shout outs to our readers?

M: Dance is an expression of freedom in a freedom of expression. Keep the groove alive!

N: Dance to your fullest!

Y: Hmm...work hard ! Dance hard!

K: Ermm... Jia you. Have fun in dancing!