By Alesha Capone
A Hoppers Crossing pupil has been recognised as a top dancer.
Eight-year-old Hriday received the Best Male Dancer award at the Primary School Dance Competition, which was held in Williamstown last month.
Hriday performed a hip-hop and Bollywood-themed routine with other students from Derrimut Heath Primary School, which is part of Baden Powell College.
The dance routine won the Most Entertaining Performance award at the competition.
Students from the college’s other campus, in Tarneit, were named second runner-up in the High School Dance Competition, which was held on the same day.
Teacher Simona Grippi, who also runs the after-school Dance4All program at Baden Powell, said all the students in the competition “did fantastically”.
Hriday said he found out he had won the Best Male Dancer award after Ms Grippi phoned his father with the news.
“I felt really proud of myself, and I felt really shocked,” Hriday said.
“I enjoy dancing and my parents really encourage me to do it.
“I like hip-hop the most.”
Hriday, who started dancing on his first birthday, said he also liked singing and acting in plays.
