How did you start dancing?
I saw a TV show that invited hip hop crews in to show their moves. They blew me away. I never knew you could dance like that. So I told my mom that I wanted to start dance classes and she sent me to learn hip hop dancing. I was eight years old. I kept practicing until one day I felt the need to share my moves with people to get their opinions, so I started uploading video clips of my dancing to YouTube. It drew attention from RS’s Kamikaze Records who later signed me up.

How did you get on Dancing with the Stars?
The producers were impressed with my dancing after randomly watching my music video for “No More,” so they asked me to audition. Honestly, I’m not as famous as the other competitors who are singers and actors, but I’m really proud that I used my skills to get into the competition and win the first season.

What was your favorite week of the competition?
I liked them all because they each featured different dance themes. I’m not a ballroom dancer; all I know is hip hop and freestyle. Of course, I felt more comfortable in those weeks when there was a faster beat for me to show my moves. The week that I loved most, though, would have to be the week that I won. I only had four days to practice and I still managed to win people’s hearts. I never thought I would win because I was the youngest in the competition, but I’m really happy that I passed the test. I feel like I’ve won approval from people all over the country.

What’s next for you?
I will continue with my dream of dancing and singing. I’m going to release a new single, “In Time,” next month. It will see me introduce a new style of dancing called “rocking.” It’s really hard work as you must be creative and it’s very physically demanding. I don’t see many people here who are capable of it. I’m trying to practice it at least three to four hours for three days a week. I’ll also be going to university, as I’m finishing my final grade at St. Gabriel College. I want to study psychology or communication arts. I’m still weighing it up.

Any dance tips you’d like to share?
For young people who love to dance, just keep practicing because it’s the only way for you to get better. I’m all for encouraging more people to get out and dance. It doesn’t have to be B-Boy or hip-hop. It can be ballroom dancing. You can dance at any age. It’s a great way to exercise, as it’s also fun. Don’t worry about your size, either. You don’t have to dance beautifully, just love to dance it off!