The Tracking Indian Youth Workers Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the lives of young workers across India.
At just 24, Rishi Punker has turned his passion for dance into both a livelihood and a purpose. Based in Hisar, Haryana, he works as a school dance teacher while also teaching at a local gym. A first-generation artist in his family, Rishi has faced his share of hardships, but dance gave him both direction and strength. Today, he balances responsibility at home with his dream of opening his own dance academy.
“When you love what you do, it never feels like work. Dance gave me strength when life was hard, and today it gives me joy. If you stay true to your passion, it will carry you forward.”
Read his full story below. Profile by Sajjad Khan.
S: Hi Rishi, can you introduce yourself briefly?
R: My name is Rishi Punker. I’m 24 years old and I work as a dance teacher in a school in Hisar, Haryana. I live with my mother, my sister-in-law, and her child. After school hours, I also teach dance and aerobics at a local gym.
S: Where did you learn to dance?
R: I started learning dance when I was around 14 years old at a dance academy called The PUNK. That academy had such a deep impact on me that I added ‘Punker’ to my name as a tribute.
My father passed away when I was very young, and it was my mother who raised me and my elder brother. Those were extremely difficult times. It was the dance academy and my teachers who helped me stay on the right path. Today, I’m not only able to support my family but also do something I love every day—and that means a lot.
S: What does your daily routine look like?
R: I wake up in the morning, get ready, and go to school by 8:00 AM. My school hours are till 1:30 PM. After that, I head straight to the gym, where I teach dance and aerobics to both children and adults from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. After that, I either spend time with my friends or go straight home.
S: How did you get into teaching dance?
R: I started by teaching dance to my friends back when I was a student at the academy. Over time, I began teaching formally at the same academy. Later, some of my friends helped me find opportunities in schools. Since then, I’ve continued to grow in this profession step by step.
S: What do you like and dislike about your work?
R: I genuinely love working with children. Maybe it’s because someone guided me when I was a child, and now I want to be that light for others. I want to show them that dance can bring joy and magic into life. I dance from morning to evening and still don’t feel tired—that says a lot about how much I enjoy what I do.
As for dislikes, it’s not about the work itself but sometimes the environment. When school management isn’t cooperative, things become difficult. Parents and school authorities often want amazing performances from the students but don’t allocate enough time for practice.
Sometimes, my classes are cancelled due to exams, other school activities, or incomplete academic portions. My periods get handed over to other subjects, which I find very disheartening.
S: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
R: My dream is to open my own dance academy one day—a place where students like me can come, learn, and grow through dance.
S: Is your current job helping you move towards that dream?
R: The salary I get from school goes towards running our household—I give it all to my mother. The income I earn from my aerobics classes at the gym, I save for my future academy.
I also earn some extra money by collaborating with brands on Instagram and other platforms. They usually send me 20-second dance templates, and I recreate the steps on video. It’s relatively easy for me, and the money I earn from that goes into my personal expenses, travel, and emergency savings.
S: What is your perspective on youth employment in India? Do you think there are enough opportunities?
R: Honestly, I don’t think the current job market offers very promising opportunities for freshers. Most young people are either overworked or underpaid when they start out. That’s one of the reasons I have to work outside of school hours too.
Building relationships is crucial. Wherever you go, maintain good connections. A strong network and rapport with people can go a long way in helping you grow in your career.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from young workers across India. Follow us on social media for more updates.