Call Me Dancer

Call Me Dancer tells the story of a hip-hop dancer from Mumbai who is forever changed when he accidentally walks into a ballet class. Manish is captivated by ballet’s athleticism but he doesn’t tell his struggling parents that he has dropped out of school and used their savings to pay for dance classes. 70-year-old Israeli American Yehuda Ma’or arrives in Mumbai to teach ballet at an inner-city dance school after losing his last teaching position. He once had a renowned career as Israel’s top dancer at the Bat Dor Dance Company and had been a teacher to ballet’s greatest stars, like Rudolf Nureyev and Natalia Makarova. Teaching in Mumbai is not what Yehuda is used to – but he needs a job. When he discovers Manish, he feels like he’s won the lottery.

Call Me Dancer is a story of hope, heartache, and hard work. Together, Manish and Yehuda transform each other’s lives, searching to uncover who and what they are. Yehuda seeks a purpose and a place to call home. Manish dreams of dancing on the world-stage but struggles to break free from the confines of his own economic and social circumstances.

SPONSORED BY:
Hillary Meredith and Jeffery Goldberg
Weinberg Residence

Festivals and Awards

• Winner: Best Film, Miami Jewish Film Festival, 2024
• Winner: Best of the Fest Audience Vote (Feature Documentary), Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2024
• Winner: Audience Award, Vancouver International Film Festival, 2023
• Winner: Best Documentary by a Woman Filmmaker, New York Indian Film Festival, 2023 "