“Touching… Lustrous imagery…the classic underdog story. Call Me Dancer reaches the heart through the archetypal quest of the film’s hero, and the charm of Manish Chauhan…Acts of stunning strength and agility with the joy of someone born to dance. He’s also beautiful…”

– MATTHEW CAREY, DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD

Host Robin Young speaks with Manish Chauhan, who stars in “Call Me Dancer.”

– NPR, HERE AND NOW

“Take a break…head to the movies to see ‘Call Me Dancer.’ The movie follows Manish Chauhan, a street dancer from Mumbai, India, who stumbles into the world of ballet and develops a new ambition to be a professional dancer.

– STEVEN VARGAS, LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Capturing Dance – and Dancers’ Lives – on Film. Merging cinematography and choreography requires a fine balance. Dramatic. When you watch this feel-good film, stay through the delightful credits.”

– ELIZABETH ZIMMER, VILLAGE VOICE

“Call Me Dancer is no fairy-tale but a character study in grit, which filmmakers Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour have rendered with deftness, sensitivity and heart, their cameras having followed Chauhan for five years. Beautifully shot and edited, it is a window into the social and cultural settings which Chauhan must navigate …”

– CARLA ESCODA, BACHTRACK

“A truly great documentary finds just the right balance between entertaining the audience, provoking them emotionally as well as intellectually. It also makes you forget that you’re watching a documentary because you’re so immersed in the subject’s life and in his or her story. ‘Call Me Dancer’ accomplishes those two major feats with flying colors.”

– NYC MOVIE GURU

“‘Call Me Dancer’ beautifully presents the family of dance and how it transcends religion, nationality and age. All are united by the love and dedication towards this art form, that requires ceaseless discipline.”

– CHIARA SPAGNOLI GABARDIL, CINEMA DAILY U.S

“[Director Leslie] Shampaine has brought us a buoyant film bolstered by important things to say about arts and its potential for providing commonality and purpose. At this perilous historical moment, ‘Call Me Dancer’ comes as a gift.”

– MARIO NAVES, THE NEW YORK SUN

“Expertly edited… Directors Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour take us on a roller coaster of emotions before delivering a heartwarming conclusion.”

– SHIV RAJAGOPAL, FILM FORWARD

“A compelling tale of perseverance, passion and friendship, filmmakers Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour forge a deeply personal investment in their subject. No question, Call Me A Dancer will be a festival favorite.”

– CELIA IPIOTIS, EYE ON DANCE/EYE ON THE ARTS NY

“A raw, nuanced film…thoughtful, quiet and powerful…the people featured in the film are shot with respect and a kind understanding of their economic and cultural circumstances.”

– CYNTHIA LOPEZ, Executive Director, NY WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION

“This film is the total package! It is an extremely heartwarming, beautiful story that is artfully told by directors Leslie Champagne and Pip Gilmour. It is more than a film about a dancer. It’s a story about hardship, perseverance, hope, compassion and love.”

– WENDY FEINBERG, UNSEEN FILMS

“A charming character-driven documentary about family, culture, and the improbable friendship between a 21-year-old Mumbai street dancer, Manish Chauhan, and a 70-year-old Israeli ballet master, Yehuda Maor. At its core the film is a touching backstage underdog story of resilience and perseverance that pays off, trumping all barriers.”

– SIMI HORWITZ, FORWARD

“Some stories take hold of you and just will not let go. The film Call Me Dancer tells such a story. This tale of hope, struggle, setbacks, triumph, and transformation is every dancer’s journey—but more universally, it is a classic hero’s journey….”

– KAREN GREENSPAN, FJORD

‘Call Me Dancer’…Claim Prizes At Sonoma International Film Festival

– MATTHEW CAREY, DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD

“Review: ‘Call Me Dancer’ tells inspirational story of Indian street dancer​”

– L. Kent Wolgamott, LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR

“Delivering an incontrovertibly inspired, magical, wholly grounded, compellingly evocative portrait of the travails and triumphs of the human spirit while beautifully illustrating the sheer, influentially emotional potency its foundational art form and story will elicit in you as a viewer… charmingly engaging, energetic, humorous, serious, and everything in-between.”

– KIRK FERNWOOD, ONE MAN FILM FAN

“An inspiring and highly entertaining underdog tale. Beautifully-shot, character-driven. The film enjoys dramatic ups and downs. ”

– PAT MULLEN, POV MAGAZINE

“Call Me Dancer” receives praise for breaking stereotypes. The film is winning praise, standing ovations, and recognition from critics and moviegoers alike from New York City and all across the world”

– BHAVANA P, NEW INDIA ABROAD

“Director Leslie Shampaine, a former dancer herself, brings a unique perspective, showing the grit, pain, and exhilaration of dance. Call Me Dancer shows how despite coming from different backgrounds dance can be a natural equalizer, challenging each participant to be fully present and focused on becoming their best.”

– THE JEWISH VOICE AND OPINION

“He was discovered as a break dancer in Mumbai. Now he’s trying to make it in NYC ballet.”

– Precious Fondren, GOTHAMIST

“Call Me Dancer transcends the ordinary, emerging as a holiday gem that delves into universal themes of resilience and the pursuit of dreams. Liberating itself from genre constraints, the film speaks directly to the hearts of its audience through a rich fusion of cultures, weaving a tapestry of diversity and beauty.”

– NEW YORK JEWISH PARENTING GUIDE

“Dance is an art form, and this movie is simply pure art!”

– YONI AVITAL, INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, KIBBUTZ CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY

“Call Me Dancer stands as a visual and emotional feast, boasting extraordinary cinematography that flawlessly captures the grace and passion embedded in every dance move. The film’s visual narrative is a symphony of movement, bringing to life the artistry and intensity of dance in a breathtaking display.”

– NEW YORK JEWISH TRAVEL GUIDE

“‘Call Me Dancer’ will take you on a magical journey…from the streets of Mumbai to the stages of New York. A story of perseverance, rebellion, passion, family, culture, and an unlikely friendship.”

– INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR LESLIE SHAMPAINE, SCREENSLAM

“Call Me Dancer is as much about Manish’s struggles to become a professional dancer as it is about the compassionate bond between him and Yehuda who becomes his mentor.”

– ASHLEY JUDE COLLIE​, BBN TIMES

A Dancer Documented: ‘Call Me Dancer’ featuring Manish Chauhan and Jay Sean!

– MALAIKA RAVINDRAN​, URBAN ASIAN

– SHOWBIZ INDIA

– AWESOME TV

– DISS DASH

– BHARGAVI KULKARNI, AMERICAN KAHANI

“Richly detailed…sequences that are celebratory, even transcendent.”

– JUSTINE SUTTON, ARLINGTON THEATER