As Malaysian hip hop artiste Namewee’s genre-blending track “China Reggaeton” blasted over the speakers at the 100PLUS Promenade, the high-energy tune that fuses Latin reggaeton rhythms with Chinese musical elements attracted the curious gazes of many onlookers.
It was none other than fitness instructor and hip hop enthusiast Zainul Shariff’s unique playlist for his weekly “International Remix - Dance Storm” classes that had the venue’s leisure runners stop in their tracks.
Standing atop steps, the 35-year-old clad in a streetwear jersey and a snapback commanded attention.
Against the scenic backdrop of the Kallang Basin, a group of 40 people were grooving to the beat in tandem to each of his slick and energetic moves.
“He plays very interesting music that you never heard before,” participant Brandon Tennakoon said.
Zainul has been a familiar face at the 100PLUS Promenade for close to eight years now, and his hip hop fitness classes have since become a staple in the Singapore Sports Hub’s Experience Sports Session (ESS) roster.
And the full-time fitness instructor has built quite a following over the years, with a WhatsApp group chat to disseminate details on his classes to eager followers.
“For participants, we normally go for the instructor. I mean, for myself, I go for the instructor. If I enjoy his class, he is fun, energetic, and he interacts with the participants, then I will find time to attend his class as long as the timing of his classes and venue are convenient,” Jamie Yang said as she waited for the session to start.
With more than two decades of experience in hip hop, the full-time fitness instructor also teaches kickboxing, stretch and tone, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and spin classes for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Also a master trainer for SupaFresh, a dance fitness certification, Zainul has always been both a keen learner and a passionate teacher.
“When I was actively dancing with my crew, we all learned from each other. We don’t have a particular instructor. Competing with the other top crews in Singapore, we looked up to them as our mentors. So we approached them and tried to get some ideas from them,” he said.
Now, 22 years on, the student has blossomed into a well-respected mentor.
With classes attracting more than 100 participants at their peak, Zainul’s international remix classes are currently one of the most popular on the ESS lineup.
Despite his popularity, Zainul remains grateful to his mentor Ahmad Yunus, also an instructor for ESS, who roped him in to become a dance fitness instructor in 2017.
“I love music, I love to dance but it didn't even come across my mind that it would become a career then. It was just me trying things out, trying to stay fit. At the same time, trying not to lose my dancing skills. So, everything was just about trying back in 2017. But, when I started (teaching), after a year, I felt more comfortable and I decided to make it a career.”
But it was not always smooth sailing for Zainul. He has had to constantly innovate and “keep things fresh” for his ever-expanding clientele.
“We have to see what the community enjoys or what we want to bring to them. I understand that we need to bring new things to (Sports Hub’s ESS program). I accept these challenges because I am familiar and comfortable with the participants. For my international remix class, I stick closely to the theme by trying to bring out different languages, styles and cultures in the music. It was a big challenge for me, way outside my comfort zone,” Zainul explained.
Ever the optimist, the upbeat instructor added, “But without a challenge, I wouldn’t be where I am right now, and I wouldn’t have participants who appreciate what I do. It’s always about accepting challenges and trying to do better.”
To prepare for his weekly sessions, Zainul spends his free time researching different types of music across a range of languages, tweaking his playlist over and over again to find the perfect fit for his students.
For participants Emily Chua and Ang Lay Lay, who have been attending his classes for two years, the unique tracks have kept them coming back.
“I was introduced to his classes by my friend, and I have been coming for two years now. It’s really fun and the songs are nice. We make friends here and I enjoy that,” Chua said.
And it is this community, built over the years, that continues to fuel Zainul’s passion for dance and his commitment to delivering a good class.
“Seeing them coming for the session makes me happy, (especially) to see them come in big numbers as well. Even when I am off duty, they will be messaging me, eager to know when the next session is. It keeps me happy when we continue to communicate with each other,” he said.
With some regulars having been under his tutelage since he started in 2017, they have evolved more from a teacher-student relationship to friends.
Zainul recounts a recent encounter during the Hari Raya festive period when some of his students came up to him to give him duit raya (green envelope) as a gesture to thank him for offering classes even during the holidays.
“I feel really appreciated by the community for their constant presence and support,” he said.
As the sun set on the horizon and day turned to dark, Zainul’s students continued to pull out smooth grooves to his charming beats, working up a sweat at the outdoor venue as the hour-long class came to an end.
Having attended Zainul’s classes for close to half a year after heeding a friend’s recommendation, Brandon added: “I like that I get the opportunity to exercise with people in a very breezy and nice environment… I am still quite new, but as you can see, those that have been here for long have a community already and as we integrate we get to know each other.”
For participant Michael Wong, the venue is a big plus point as well.
“I like the classes. I like the venue because it is an open space. It also doesn’t require booking. I can just walk in, and the timing is just right. I can come right after work. And of course, a great instructor. His moves are very cool,” the 53-year-old said.
Though the wide range of genres and styles of music might be unfamiliar to most, Zainul hopes that people can approach the classes with “an open mind”.
“All I want to do is to make people happy, introduce them to beautiful music and just have fun!”
Join Zainul for International Remix - Dance Storm every Monday from 7pm to 8pm at 100PLUS Promenade, Gate 2, National Stadium. For more details on other free daily Experience Sports Sessions click here.
Schedules, programmes and venues are subject to change. Singapore Sports Hub reserves the right to change, amend or postpone the Experience Sports Sessions without prior notice.
