Achieving the Impossible – Call Me Dancer

Jan 2, 2024 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Sue Weston and Susie Rosenbluth, Two Sues on the Aisle

Call Me Dancer is a documentary by Leslie Shampaine, full of hope and inspiration. Through hard work and passion a Mumbai Street Dancer, Manish Chauhan, and an Israeli Ballet Master, Yehuda Maor connect and change each other’s lives. After a successful career in ballet, Yehuda is floundering, looking for his purpose and a place to call home. Manish is just starting his journey, after discovering his passion for dance, but his economic and social circumstances are holding him back. Their paths cross at the Danceworx Academy in Mumbai, where Yehuda a respected ballet teacher, discovers aspiring dancers, like Manish, and prepares to reach their dreams.

Call Me Dancer recognizes the power of dance to break through barriers, forge connections, and bring dreams to life.

Israeli Ballet Master

Yehuda Maor a dynamic ballet instructor who taught some of the greatest dancers including Rudolf Nureyev, and Natalia Makarova felt that at 70 his career was over. He found himself alone. His students did not respect his demands for perfection. Then he received a job offer from the Danceworx Academy in Mumbai.

The founder of the Danceworx Academy in Mumbai, Ashley Lobo, describes the special teacher/student relationship in India, “In India, we have a very rich tradition of Guru-shishya parampara…which is you respect the guru. Yehuda received the love and respect of the students which he would never get anywhere overseas.”

At Danceworx Academy in Mumbai, Yehuda started working with young dancers who were eager for his knowledge. Many of the students, like Manish, were inner-city kids, with talent and passion, but little means. Students came from backgrounds where dance was only associated with cultural expression in celebrations and was not considered a profession. India’s traditional culture requires children to provide for their families and their parents by securing stable well-paying jobs.

In India, Yehuda identified talented dedicated students. His training and connections elevated their dreams into careers among the elite performers. One protege, Amiruddin Shah received a place at the Royal Ballet School in London. (The filmmakers note they were unable to follow Amir’s path any further because the school prohibited filming).

Indian Street Dancer

Manish Chauhan stood out for his talent, discipline, and commitment. Because he began his career in ballet late, as a teenager, his opportunities in classical ballet were limited. Yehuda guided Manish to utilize his background as a street dancer to earn a place in contemporary dance training at the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Ga’aton, Israel.

In 2020, Manish took the role of playing Amir in the Netflix film Yet Ballet. During the filming, Manish was injured, it was unclear if he would recover and dance again. Then COVID hit another barrier for up-and-coming dancers.

He is currently a dancer with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company in New York City where, this holiday season, he was the lead in their rendition of The Nutcracker.

Forming Bonds Through Art

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.

“Art can act as an instrument for eradicating boundaries, whether socio-economic, religious, or national. Artists speak a language that anyone can understand – even when it’s not verbal. This is the story of how boundless determination and unremitting effort can lead to success in any endeavor – a story that I hope inspires people across the globe to push beyond their limits to follow their dreams.”

Shampaine is correct, dedication to dance connected Manish and Yehuda. Dance was a path for them to build bridges through understanding.  “This is a movie for every kid who has a dream, and everyone tells them you can’t do it,” she said. “Manish was told he was too old to be a dancer. Yehuda was told he was too old to teach. They both proved them wrong.”  Just as important was their ability to connect as people despite the difference in their backgrounds, they formed a strong, powerful bond that changed their lives.

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Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed. 

Call Me Dancer received a 3 Challah rating