PRESS
‘Call Me Dancer’…Claim Prizes At Sonoma International Film Festival
– MATTHEW CAREY, DEADLINE
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
“Touching… Lustrous imagery… 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
“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.”
“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
“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’ 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
“Review: ‘Call Me Dancer’ tells inspirational story of Indian street dancer”
– L. Kent Wolgamott, LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR
“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 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
“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.”
“He was discovered as a break dancer in Mumbai. Now he’s trying to make it in NYC ballet.”
– Precious Fondren, GOTHAMIST
“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
“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.”
“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.”
“‘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
“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
“After a successful run at film festivals and winning several awards, the film is gearing up for it’s North American theatrical release.”
– BHARGAVI KULKARNI, AMERICAN KAHANI
“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
“Richly detailed…sequences that are celebratory, even transcendent.”
– JUSTINE SUTTON, ARLINGTON THEATER
News
Call Me Dancer Is Resonating and Winning Awards with Audiences Around the World
Art of Storytelling Award ◦ Audience Award ◦ Excellence in Documentary Directing Award ◦ From New York City and across the planet, Call Me Dancer is receiving accolades, standing ovations, and recognition from experts in the film industry and audiences alike. New...
Jay Sean on Producing ‘Call Me Dancer’: Supporting Asians In The Arts
See this exclusive video interview with Executive Producer Jay Sean, who wrote two songs for the film. Call Me Dancer follows the story of a young Mumbai dancer who is determined to become a professional dancer despite his parents’ wishes that he would follow a...
Feb 5 – Review from Kirk Fernwood: From a village in Himachal Pradesh to the bustling streets of Mumbai, a unique talent resides within the masses
Read the full review at Onefilmfan.com Possibilities and the moments they create. While we might strive to look towards the future with a sense of optimistic fervor, too many times do those instances arise where we allow doubts and hesitations to sneak in, causing us...
Call Me Dancer is opening night film in NYC Dance On Camera festival! Feb 10, 2023
Dance Films Association (DFA) and Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) present the 51st edition of the Dance on Camera Festival from February 10 to 13, 2023. The festival opens with the New York premiere of Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmour's Call Me Dancer. Executive produced...
Call Me Dancer Premieres at Santa Barbara Intl Film Festival Feb 9, 2023
Come join us on Feb 9th for World Premiere at the Santa Barbara International film Festival. Santa Barbara Film Fest: Lineup Revealed for 38th Edition The 38th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which will run Feb. 8-18, will open with Miranda’s...
Call Me Dancer Coming Soon to Festivals Near You!
Stay tuned. We will soon be posting where Call Me Dancer will be screening!
Manish Performs at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC
Manish Chauhan performs with Bowen McCauley Dance Company for the their performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Read the full article here: After 25...
Indian ballet dancer headlines new documentary unveiled in U.S.
Manish Chauhan, an Indian ballet dancer who won a scholarship to be trained at New York Ballet School, is the star in a documentary film, Call Me Dancer, which had its official trailer launch in Washington, D.C. Sept. 8, 2021.
In India, Interest in Classical Ballet Training Is on the Rise
By Dr. Luis Dias
Written for Pointe Magazine
Western classical ballet is still a very unfamiliar art form in India. But in the last few years, promising talent has begun emerging, often in dancers from disadvantaged or working-class families with no prior association with Western classical music or dance.