Tell us what exactly Zumba Step is. How is it different from regular Zumba?

Zumba is a total-body workout where you dance to a blend of high-energy Latin and international beats. On the other hand, step aerobics involves executing a sequence of aerobic moves on the step, which is an elevated platform.

Zumba Step combines Zumba dance moves with step aerobics variations and fitness movements. It is a diverse mix of traditional fitness (30%), dance (40%) and step aerobic moves (30%). It’s about getting fit in a fun way.

Why do you think it’s becoming so popular?

Many attendees say it’s a fun class that also offers a great workout.

What about people who can’t dance—would this workout be suitable for them?

Yes, Zumba Step is all about working out together in a group setting, while having fun.

What fitness benefits can we derive from Zumba Step? Which parts of the body does it target?

It provides an intense lower-body workout by encouraging participants to use more energy to lift their body weight on the step. It also offers extreme body sculpting benefits—it tones lower-body muscles including the glutes, thighs and legs, while also aiding balance and coordination. You can expect to burn up to 1000 calories in an hour-long Zumba Step class.

How many classes of Zumba Step should we attend a week to see results?

It really depends on each individual’s fitness level, but I daresay that after two or three sessions, participants will feel more confident executing the moves. Once they become more acquainted with the routine and music, they tend to start pushing themselves to the next level. That’s when most people start seeing results.

Do you think the Zumba revolution is here to stay?

Zumba is already well-liked and has a strong following. Hence, Zumba Step, which takes Zumba to a whole new dimension, has gotten a good amount of interest.  In fact, Zumba Step classes have been increased to three times a week at Virgin Active due to overwhelming demand.

Virgin Active now offers three Zumba Step classes a week, on Wednesdays (12.30pm), Thursdays (7.30pm) and Sundays (1.30pm). 

My first collection, which I did for a contest, was dedicated to my mum. The judges laughed at me, and it was very, very hurtful.

I’m not born with a silver spoon; I came from a humble family. I wouldn’t be able to afford an education if I hadn’t gotten a scholarship. I am where I am today because of my experiences.

A creative person cannot be contented.

People say I look like Hong Kong star Ronald Cheng. I think it’s a compliment, because he’s always on TV and that means I’m always on TV. Random people have asked for my autograph.

I care more about what my family thinks about my character than how the outside world perceives me. Looks can be deceiving.

I tell my designers and interns that you don’t have to dress up for work—all I need is for your character to show.

I do things very fast—I walk very fast, I react very fast, I bom [lose temper] very fast, and I reconcile very fast.

I like gambling, but it’s more about the time spent with friends. I don’t want to play with strangers and win money.

If you drink to forget, you’ll be stressful to other people when you’re drunk. But drinking when you’re in a good mood is fun.

We seem to be more selfish nowadays. People who have succeeded in their fields may not have considered creating platforms to help emerging talent. Those who receive such assistance may also not be grateful. As a result, we can’t improve.

I love to watch Oprah Winfrey, because I want to be her. She has a big heart. A lot of people think that she’s doing it for fame, but even if she wants fame, she’s still helping people.

I admire a friend who helps out at an association for Myanmar women who were captured and forced into prostitution. She never fails to visit her parents every night and recognizes her dad as a hero.  She taught me a lot and inspired me to become a better person.

I don’t want to market myself and become a personality. I want to be myself and not worry about my behavior in public.

How did the two of you get together to come up with this?
The idea to start TINKR was back in November 2012. As two individuals with a great passion and interest in art, design and technology, and avid readers of WIRED magazine, we were intrigued by the rise of the maker culture in the western part of the world. We knew that we had to spread the maker’s gospel and kickstart it in Singapore. This gradually led to the launch of TINKR in July 2013.

How are the 3D printing regulations in Singapore?
The government has been pretty liberal so far. With the government’s continued support in this sector, we believe there will be laws specifically for governing 3D printing in the near future. These laws will largely revolve around Intellectual Property rights as well as copyright issues.  

If you had the ability to print anything at all, what would it be?
We would love to print a real livable Peranakan shophouse. And have every possible furnishing and architectural detail too.

What beckons for 2014?
2014 will be pretty exciting for 3D printing especially with patent rights expiring. We believe new materials will become more accessible to regular desktop 3D printers and that would also mean that the technology will start to make its way into the homes of regular consumers.

You have worked in both film and theater. How do they differ?

I started off with stage plays, and even in those early days people would point out that there were cinematic elements in my work. With filmmaking, I tend to ask myself “what do I see?” and for plays it’s more “what do I hear?” With this show, we are using muay Thai as the fuel for creation. To me it’s not just a sport or martial art, but a philosophy. But, of course, it’s got lots of action. Also, it’s exciting because this newly-built theater comes with a 360-degree stage, so it’s not a one-dimensional projection. 

Is it produced mainly for foreigners?

We are well aware that Asiatique’s target is foreigners. But I did come across many Thais who really immerse themselves in the show. For me muay Thai is a gem of art, but it needs to be presented with style. It’s about finding that balance between the traditional and the modern. It’s a hybrid in terms of both art and culture. Many asked me if I ever grow tired of muay Thai after working on so many projects. For me, there’s a charming conflict with muay Thai: it’s a unique blend of violence and beauty that really accommodates creativity.

We heard the play jumps between different time periods, too.

It’s similar to a superhero narrative. We start from the origin, what made these legends. I see these legendary muay Thai figures in colors, too. For example, I would picture Phra Chao Sua (Thai King during Ayutthaya period) who kicked off the golden era of muay Thai as gold in color. Boxing legend Nai Kanomtom, who is almost like a Thai gladiator, is red, as he represents the fight for freedom and patriotism. Then, there’s a modern day romance about a boyfriend who is obsessed with muay Thai. Each story will have different visual textures.

Having worked on many projects, what do you make of this production?

It’s different from anything I have done so far. It has intense elements of a martial arts show combined with the elements of musicals and action stunts. It’s challenging to work with live cinematography while trying to stay away from being gimmicky. It’s hyper-real; there’s a theatrical and fantastical feel to it, which matches the larger-than-life tale of legends and heroes. With the visuals and interactivity the audience will feel as if they are in the scene themselves. There’s not a single black out, everything just runs seamlessly. 

What is your next project?

I’m currently filming Skin Trade with Tony Ja. It also stars Ron Perlman (Pacific Rim, Drive), Peter Weller and Dolph Lundgren. It’s shot in Canada and Thailand, and many of the action sequences are adapted from muay Thai moves. It should be released near year-end or early next year. 

Muay Thai Live shows daily at 8pm. More details here.

 How do you think the local arts scene has changed over the past ten years?

It has definitely become more vibrant and exciting. The cultural calendar is now crowded with performances and exhibitions all year round. Artists are also more ready to take risks, both artistically and thematically. Plus, locals are being exposed to the arts at a younger age now, especially in schools. It’s an exciting time for the arts in Singapore.

 How do you think the scene will be ten years from now?

The social and cultural fabric of Singapore is always changing. Artists will respond to these changes and create works that reflect, critique or interrogate these changes. I hope there’ll be an even greater multiplicity of voices, and more intercultural and inter-lingual practices. 

 How exactly did the “disappearing” theme for this year’s anniversary bash materialize?

We didn't want to do the usual celebrations with pomp and flair—instead, we wanted something contemplative, but not too serious. Chong Tze Chien, the artistic director for our anchor show The Next Stage, came up with the idea of "absence"—specifically, a tongue-in-cheek tribute of an alternate universe in which The Arts House does not exist. The concept plays on our memories, and hopefully the show will make people think more deeply about the role and achievements of The Arts House. 

What books, local or otherwise, would you recommend?

The Chinese novel Art Studio by Cultural Medallion winner Yeng Pway Ngon is a monumental achievement. Confrontation by Mohamed Latiff Mohamed and The Inlet by Claire Tham are quite amazing too. Malay Sketches by Alfian Sa'at seems ripe for adaptation, while Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is such a fun romp.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Meeting the different artists and working with them. Their passion and unwavering faith in the importance of art is always inspiring. 

What is the greatest challenge that you’ve faced so far?

Pulling off our 10^th anniversary celebrations!

The Arts House kicks off its 10^th anniversary celebrations with its anchor show, The Next Page, from March 27-29, 8pm. 1, Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900, www.theartshouse.com.sg. $8-$10.

How’s the tour circuit for you guys these days?
The energy has been great.  We are very fortunate to play shows and have people singing along to every word.

It must be tough for bands to have members coming and going. Tell us about your experience.
It definitely isn't easy.  I think that Taking Back Sunday is the happiest and strongest it has ever been.  The time John and I spent away from the band made all five of us realize how much we need each other to succeed and excel creatively.

Your fans loved your TAYF10 Anniversary Tour in 2012. Why did you guys decide to do it?
We did the TAYF10 Anniversary tour because we genuinely felt so lucky to still be creating music together ten years after Tell All Your Friends was released.  We wanted to celebrate that record and how it changed all of our lives.

Step back for a moment to the '90s. What would the “past you” say to yourself now?
I'd say, "Hang in there kid, you will have everything you've ever wanted.  Everything you are going through now is a small price to pay for what is to come."

Is there a fan that has impressed Taking Back Sunday so much they'll never be forgotten?
There are a group of fans that have named themselves "The Randos".  They are the best.  They travel thousands of miles to come to tons of shows all around the US, bake us treats, hang out all day, defend us from internet bullies and never ask for anything in return.

If Taking Back Sunday woke up one day as an all-female band, how would you style yourselves?
I'd want to find myself attractive so I'd style myself like my wife. Long dark hair with lots of tattoos; tight jeans with vintage T-shirts or cute dresses.

How real is the Amityville Horror?
100% FALSE!  I think people can be unaware of how powerful and devastating mental illness is.

What does Taking Back Sunday not want to be labeled as?
Nostalgia.

Listening to TAYF10, why does it get so emotional on stage for Taking Back Sunday?
We felt such a strong connection with the intimate crowd that we were so close to.  Everyone was singing along so loudly we were touched and just grateful to be up there playing those songs.

What are you most thankful for in the past 15 odd years?
There are so many amazing things that have happened to me it's hard to list.  I'm thankful for my beautiful wife, my amazing son, my great family and friends.  I'm thankful for the record we are about to release and all the amazing people we have working for us.  I'm thankful for our new home at Hopeless Records and looking forward to a bright future with them.

Taking Back Sunday performs at *SCAPE on March 2. 7pm. Tickets from $58-$68.

Over 100 works by Salvador Dali will be on show at Dali: The Pierre Argillet Collection. Argillet was Dali’s friend and publisher, and owns one of the most spectacular collections of Dali’s work. His daughter Christine tells us what it was like growing up with Dali.

What was your impression of Dali?

Dali was a workaholic, very much into his projects with my father. He was always busy with his paintings and talking to all kinds of people—from scientists with whom he spoke about DNA research, bakers with whom he was preparing the longest baguette in the world with, Vogue magazine when they had Dali design their summer issue, fashion designers and models—all these people would mingle together in his hotel in Paris. He loved being in the center of the royal court.

What do you remember of his working style?

Dali would stay in his home in Port Lligat, Spain, working from early morning to late afternoon on his paintings. He tried all kinds of materials—he worked on his copper plates with roulettes, scissors, nails, diamond and ruby stylus; he even asked for my mother’s lipstick to draw with. One day, he had found on the seashore a beautiful dead octopus, which he immersed in acid and imprinted on a copper plate. From this animal imprint, Dali created the Medusa from the Mythology series, which will be on display during this exhibition.

Which are your favorite pieces in the collection and why?

My favorite pieces are those where Dali used unusual tools or broke new ground, like the Hippies series. Dali placed different time periods and places together—you would discover Don Quixote next to a hippie with a guitar, a Buddhist temple and Santiago of Compostela. Dali wanted to put a link in between the various cultures of the world, and the Hippies were a fantastic vector between East and West during the 60’s.

What’s your most vivid memory of Dali?

My father had organized a huge meeting in Paris where Dali was going to etch in public—there were maybe 200 journalists present. When Dali arrived, he had strange, fixed eyes. He went on stage, drew furiously in a whirl and then left abruptly. My father ran after him, but Dali left without saying a word. A few days later, I went to his hotel with my father to bring him the copper plate, and we found out that Dali, following Timothy Leary’s suggestions, had taken LSD for the first time on the day of the public etching. A few days later, he etched the Women in the Waves, which is one of the most striking etchings of the Hippies series.

Dali: The Pierre Argillet Collection is on from Mar 22-Apr 20 at Redsea Gallery. Free.

The call-to-action social campaign "Put It On Friend Mode" is now here. Initiated by four friends from NTU's Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, this social movement comes with a simple request for everyone to be better friends. The team tells us what sets them apart.

Tell us what the movement's aim is.

The main objective is to instill social awareness among people in Singapore about using mobile phones in social settings. While mobile phones enable us to connect with friends and family, they can conversely cause a disconnect when used excessively around each other.

The types of behavior the movement targets include the following: gaming, browsing the internet, idly browsing Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, taking photos of food and proceeding to edit them, being absorbed in a text conversation, and in general paying unnecessary attention to your phone at the expense of loved ones.

How has the response been?

Our friends were supportive of this movement, even in spite of some initial doubt that it would take off. Many have said our movement has been a great reminder for them to change their anti-social habits. We have received an amazing response from our campus visits. Through these roadshows, our online efforts and word-of-mouth, we have garnered more than 1800 pledges to date.

The people we approached to be a part of our campaign also believe in the need for such a cause. Many of the cafe owners not only agreed with the cause, but even suggested some interesting ideas that we could adopt.

We were initially doubtful that we would get support of YouTube personalities, but the Tree Potatoes proved us wrong - they not only took time to speak with us, they also agreed to be involved in one of our videos, "10 Ways to Get Your Friends Off Their Phones".

So are you guys leading by example at social gatherings?

We don't like to follow after hypocrites. We would say that prior to launching this campaign, some of us were guilty of using our phones unnecessarily. Now that we are part of this campaign, we have taken it upon ourselves to practice what we preach, and to always "Put It On Friend Mode" (i.e. phones face-down) when we are with our friends and families. In any case, failure to do so will always be met with threats to have photographs of us taken and posted on Stomp. We take these threats very seriously. So the answer is yes—we strive to lead by example.

It is unfortunately very challenging for our generation of people not to utilize our phones in front of others. We know that technology has given us quick and convenient entertainment, and technology has become so mobile. 

Did you have any reservations about people’s reaction at being told what to do?

We decided not to turn it into something revolving around etiquette. People tend to shut down easily when you tell them what to do. You won't find anything that goes along the angle of “being polite”. The social movement encourages people to think of friendship and relationships. A question we would like people to ask themselves is: "When did we begin allowing our phones to take higher importance than the people we care for, who are right before us?"

Are you planning to bring “Put It On Friend Mode” to greater heights? 

We will continue to engage with those who are with us on our Facebook page for 2014. We hope to see "Friend Mode Day" become an annual affair. 

Check out their Facebook page to find out more about the initiative.

A great night out is… great music and a few drinks with great friends.

What doesn't kill you makes you… smarter.

If not for DJ-ing… I'd probably never get to see Singapore.

In New York… it's REALLY cold right now!

To have lived is to… have loved. Obvious, but true.

If I could turn back time… I wouldn't change much.

Kids these days… want to be famous & popular without putting in the necessary work.

There is no one like…​ Mom!

DJ Spinbad will perform at V³ by KU DÉ TA and Grey Goose on Mar 8, 9pm till late. $38 at the door.

How would you describe the nightlife scene in Singapore?
Vibrant, ever-evolving and definitely world class!  Musically, it's one of the fastest growing in Asia. Commercial EDM is quite prevalent, but more classic and fringe sounds are starting to really make a move here.  There are more and more clubs knocking out some fantastic sounds lately and bringing a more underground feel to it all. It used to be small, dark and unknown clubs that played the more underground and traditional house, but now it’s starting to get a real go here.  Singapore’s nightlife scene definitely ranks high on my list.

Best set ever?
It would have to be when I headlined alongside former world number one DJ Paul Oakenfold last year. He’s one of the reasons why I got into deejaying in the 1990s.  So it was definitely a significant night for me, to be able to finally stand and play next to a legend who for the most part got me into [the scene].  That night, the crowd was absolutely off the hook and the energy was amazing too!

You’re known to be a self-taught DJ. How did you start teaching yourself? Would you like to be teaching one day?
I started watching other DJs and their techniques at clubs and on videos—well before YouTube! I also got friendly with a few DJs who let me watch and party with them near the booth at their gigs.

Then, I started DJing in high school, doing house parties with my parent’s home stereo system and a couple of CD players—well before I could afford proper gear!

To me, it’s not about what specific tracks you play. It’s about creating and building a vibe, reading what the crowd wants, responding to it, and then teasing them with that. I’ve often been asked to play a certain sort of music at clubs, and I do that only to realize it’s not working. So you need to shift about and be dynamic. It’s the DJ who is creating the vibe and mood and a large part of how vibrant the night is depends on the DJ’s performance.  To me, to be able to move the crowd is what gives DJing a real sense of enjoyment.

From time to time, I’ve helped and coached up-and-coming DJs who are really into music and are passionate about the craft.  But I don’t think I’d ever teach per se.

Do you prefer an indoor or outdoor set? Why?
Very hard question! I do enjoy indoor sets where people are fixated on the DJ and the music. But outdoor sets and beach party style events bring a completely different vibe and it’s much more of a party.

I’ve played at some amazing places around the world for outdoor events, and the ones where you’re banging out an amazing set on top of a cliff overlooking an ocean are pretty special moments. There’s also something deeply emotional about playing dance music to a crowd of people as you see the sun creeping over the horizon at dawn.

Is there a certain level of competitiveness when it comes to the DJ circuit? Or is everyone too tipsy to care?
Yes, there is certainly a level of it given that there are so many DJs out there now. It's always a challenge to break into new markets where your name isn't well known.  Also, it’s a very personal kind of career in that people either like you, or they don’t. Not everyone is going to like your music or your style, irrespective of whether they appreciate your talent. So, it's important to be able to accept that.  And with that, competitiveness comes the personalities!

DJ Modium will be spinning the closing set of Tanjong Beach's Full Steam Ahead on March 29 from 2-4am. Free.