World News for Students of English

09-01-2026 15:00

Arkestra dance shows take place in rural parts of India and attract large groups of men to night events.

Young women dance on stage for many hours, often under strong pressure from the crowd. The shows bring money and excitement to fairs and villages; however, they also create danger for the women who perform.

Many dancers enter this work because of poverty and a lack of other jobs. Some start when they are still very young, and middlemen often bring them into the shows. On stage, women face harassment, touching, and threats. Off stage, they face shame from family and society, which can hurt their future.

Police and social workers say some girls are forced into this work through illegal networks.

Police sometimes rescue very young girls, but many later return because their families need money. The shows continue because men pay to watch, and deep social rules make change slow.

Difficult words: pressure (strong force that makes someone feel they must do something), poverty (having very little money), middleman (a person who brings workers and customers together and takes money), harassment (bad or rude actions that make someone feel unsafe or uncomfortable).

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