What can contestants and viewers expect from you as a judge?
They will probably see a judge with a heart and head. The audience should be able to relate to that quite easily. Hopefully they can also learn and appreciate what I have said.

What have your students said about you?
They say that I am a very detailed person. I like to guide my students in everything from dance technique to grooming. I expect myself to be a coach, not just a teacher. A coach looks after the welfare of the students. Not just dance, but (what's) on their minds and how they can put themselves through competition. Sometimes I am also a psychiatrist!

Have you ever lost your cool?
Oh, definitely! Artistes are very emotional. If you want to be a good dancer, you want to be told where to go from there. The truth is always painful. You'll never say ‘Hey, it's good' all the time. A good teacher will always tell you the truth whether you like it or not.

Have you made any of your students cry?
Yes, of course! (laughs) Oh dear oh dear…

What kind of contestant behaviour is a big turn-off?
Those who are very big-headed and they give you that ‘Why am I not good enough?' attitude. You can see why he's gonna fail. If he has so much trash in his head, he cannot learn.

Some of your students are in the competition. How do you avoid being accused of giving preferential attention?
If anyone in the dance floor competition comes to me, I will offer them advice. I will tell them how to go on from here, not just my students. Because I want to see a group of successful dancers make it. If all the contestants want to learn and improve themselves, then we will have a great contest ahead of us!

How prepared are you to face criticisms from the public?
I really hope what I impart to the show will be positive as well as treasured by people who want to listen. There will always be people who won't be happy with you. It's a fact of the world.

What is the most important attribute of a dancer?
Talent with the right attitude. Talent adds on to what you are. The right attitude includes being humble, hardworking, determined, passionate, disciplined, being able to commit and persevere in what you want to do. This is the attitude that you need to have. And if you add talent on top of it, no one can stop you.

What is your favourite dance form?
The rumba. It's about joy, love and about freedom. The music itself will melt you. And if you are able to blend the music and dance into one, that will be the dance that will melt you.

Which dance would you not be caught dead performing?
Pole dancing. Never!

What was your biggest sacrifice as a dancer?
Time is one big sacrifice. When you are a dancer, you have to devote your life to dance. What you don't have is the time in the day to do the things you want to do. My two children are 12 and four years old. The four-year-old needs a bedtime story! (laughs)

What does your family think of you being a judge on The Dance Floor?
My family is very close. We are always proud of each other's achievements. I'm always proud of her (Gladys' 12-year-old daughter) when she dances. She always comes in as champion. She's very proud of both of us.

What advice would you give to contestants?
Never say that you can't. Always believe in yourself. If you truly have passion for the dance, you will never give up. And if you truly love dancing, you will always want to improve yourself. If you truly are a dancer, dancing is definitely part of your life. You just have to carry on to make it big and make it successful.