Achievements
‘I owe my journey from talent to triumph to my school’
This younger achiever from Apeejay School, Model Town believes bhangra keeps him rooted in his culture
This terpsichorean dances like no one is watching. Meet Guransh who is studying in class VIII at Apeejay School, Model Town whose newfound love Bhangra is helping him to seek better versions of his personality and growth.
Read edited excerpts here.
Where did you learn bhangra from?
When I was younger, I wasn’t into bhangra but after joining with my coach, Mr Bhupinder Singh, I started taking an interest and became fascinated with the culture slowly. He had taught me everything from basic to higher level. Since that time I have been learning this dance form from him. Nowadays, he is in Canada so I am not able to meet him though on video calls we do enjoy and talk about it.
How did Apeejay support you to pursue this talent?
Apeejay supported my talent by encouraging me and providing a platform to groom myself. I have participated in annual functions and also in various celebrations at school where I have choreographed the performance. This has increased my level of confidence. Recently, I participated in the Surtal Sabhyacharak competition where I won the second prize.
What has bhangra taught you in life?
It has taught me in life to never forget your culture. We should always respect our culture and traditions. Moreover, this dance form has made me understand how to express our emotions in different ways.
Do you wish to pursue bhangra professionally in the future?
Yes, I wish to pursue bhangra professionally in the future. I wish to participate in competitions across cities and countries and be known as a famous bhangra dancer. It is my biggest dream to represent my culture.
Have you participated in any other competitions?
Yes, I participated in many solo bhangra competitions in which I got positions. Some time back, I participated in a team of dancers in the Surtal Sabhyacharak competition which was my biggest achievement. It was held in the CT Group where our team got third position.
Who is your inspiration behind learning bhangra?
My dance teacher Bhupinder Singh is the main inspiration for me. He is indeed working hard to represent our culture and even made a world record in luddi (the traditional folk dance of Punjab). He has been making constant efforts to make bhangra the talk of the town in Canada which is inspiring.
Who is your favourite bhangra celebrity dancer?
My coach is the biggest celebrity for me. Recently, he has hit 50K followers on his Instagram page which shows his hard work, dedication, determination, and undying affection towards this dance form. Because of all these qualities he is the most favourite person of mine.
