Pradeep (right) with singer Abhijeet (centre) and choreographer Kutti (left) after winning the runner-up title in the Boggie Woogie dance competition

Giridih, Aug. 28: Six years ago, the boy who did proud to the residents of Giridih district after being declared the runner-up in a popular television programme Boogie-Woogie, got the opportunity to teach dance at a premier dance institute in Mumbai, he is now back in his hometown to earn a living.

For better prospects and to make a living, thousands of youths from the district have always migrated to metropolitan cities for greener pastures, but very few could pursue their dreams, as their financial condition never let them to do so on their own.

Pradeep Gope, son of milkman Arjun Gope, always had a passion towards dancing. Since the age of 10 Pradeep was inclined towards dancing. Soon, without any training from professionals, Pradeep became a dancer and started winning almost all the competitions held in and around the district.

In 1999 Pradeep took part in the audition of Boogie-Woogie and got selected.

On his triumph in Boogie-Woogie, he said: ?They called me in the studio and later in the competition I came second,? Pradeep recalled.

?But more than winning the prize, I had to successfully impress everyone present in the show, including Javed Zafari and Abhijeet,? added Pradeep.

?After the programme, I asked actor Ravi Behel to arrange a job for me. Behel offered me a teaching job at Dinesh and Nitin Dance Academy. In between, I also worked in Sharad Kapoor starrer movie Path and was heading towards a good future in Bollywood,? informed Pradeep.

But coming from a large family that was not well-off with three brothers and three sisters, Pradeep had to come back home frequently from Mumbai, to help family members lead a better life .

?I had to quit the job and thereafter leave Mumbai in 2004,? rued Pradeep.

Now Pradeep has a dancing institute in Giridih ? Shivam Dance Institute ? to train new kids on the block.

The only such type of institute in district has around 30 students, who are learning the dancing skills from Pradeep.

?With the help of the institute, I want to realise the dreams of those youths who want to step into Bollywood. What I could not achieve in my life, I would like to do for these students,? hoped the dancing master.