City choreographer wins award for best dance academy

LUDHIANA: Harpreet Singh Happy is indeed a happy man. The dance director who started the Happy Beat‘n’Dance Academy 10 years ago, is the proud winner of ‘Best Dance Academy’ award given at the Business Excellence awards organized by a marketing research company. The awards were given to felicitate north India’s leading companies and professionals who have excelled in the manufacturing, healthcare or services industry.
The 27-year-old, who has just returned to his home city after an assignment in Pune, is thrilled that his work has found recognition and that he could receive the award from former captain of the Indian cricket team, Kapil Dev.
"It is like a dream come true that though the city has other academies that are run by famous dance directors like Saroj Khan and Remo, my academy has been chosen for the award and that I received it from legendary cricketer Kapil Dev. I believe the day is not too far when my name will be taken with top Bollywood dancers and choreographers."
Speaking to TOI, Happy said he had started dancing when he was three. He grew up to be trained in the Shiamak Davar Academy and also in Prabhu Deva’s dance school. Happy, whose Bollywood role model is Hrithik Roshan, said he is the only dancer in the city who is working as a professional dancer in the Gold Gym and training people. Happy’s academy also gives free training to differently-abled students of Deaf and Dumb School.
The young dance director has choreographed Punjabi videos and trained popular singers like Inderjit Nikku, Ravinder Grewal and Vir Sukhwant. He has also won Sahir Ludhianvy Award for training special students. Handing the award to Happy on November 22, Kapil Dev had said, ‘‘Congratulations on winning the Best Brands Research Excellence Award! You have exemplified your commitment to excellence because you not only understand but excel at delivering best quality and ensure customer satisfaction.’’