Cultural Products as Historical Narrative | Jan 27, 2026
Learn how to use use the arts to help students develop historical thinking skills, deepen digital literacy, and engage with diverse perspectives in the...
Overview
Call Me Dancer follows a 21-year-old street dancer from Mumbai, India who is torn between his artistic dreams and his struggling parents’ expectations. When he meets a feisty 75-year-old ballet master, a friendship evolves – and an adventure begins.
The Call Me Dancer teaching resources include:
- Learning Guide for Grades 2-6
- Learning Guide for Grades 6-12
- Mini Discussion Guide / Bell Ringer (3 -pages, printer-friendly)
- Dance-Focused Slideshow, for Physical Education classes and related learning spaces.
These resources incorporate materials created by teachers who screened the film in partnership with the film director.
They can be used in Career Studies, Economics, English Language Arts, Geography, International Relations, Music, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Social Emotional Learning, and Visual Arts classes.
They are valuable for global education, social emotional learning, building vocabulary and critical thinking skills, building classroom community, bolstering positive habits and more.
Where to Watch
Call Me Dancer is available to watch for free on YouTube in two versions:
Learning Guide
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Section 1: Mumbai and India
Subject: Geography
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Section 2: Dreams and Expectations
Subject: Career Readiness, Career Studies, English Language Arts, Geography, Social Emotional Learning
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Section 3: Mentorship Across Cultures
Subject: Career Readiness, Career Studies
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Section 4: Economics of the Arts
Subject: Career Readiness, Career Studies, Economics
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Dance as a Universal Language
Subject: Career Readiness, Career Studies, Geography, International Relations, Language Arts, Music, Social Emotional Learning
For Grades 6-12
Learning Guide
For Grades 2-6
This guide opens with a Director’s Statement, Film Participant Biographies and Photos, and Useful Terms/Vocabulary.
Section 1: Follow Your Dreams
Subject: English Language Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, Visual Arts
Section 2: Friendship Across Differences
Subject: English Language Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, Visual Arts
Section 3: Hard Work and Practice
Subject: English Language Arts, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Social-Emotional Learning, Visual Arts
Section 4: Family/Community and Support
Subject: English Language Arts, Health, Mental Health, Social-Emotional Learning, Visual Arts
Section 5: Be Yourself!
Subject: English Language Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, Visual Arts
This guide closes with Extended Learning Activities and Additional Resources.
This Learning Guide is valuable for global education, social emotional learning, building vocabulary and critical thinking skills, building classroom community, bolstering positive habits and more.
Discussion Guide
This Mini Discussion Guide/Bell Ringer is a 3-page printer-friendly guide for discussion or reflection by students. It includes:
Driving Question
Discussion Questions
Extended Learning Activities
Additional Resources
Physical Education / Dance Google Slideshow
This slideshow explores the film and the individuals featured in the film. It also includes short video clips of traditional Indian dance and Bollywood dance. In addition, it features useful terms/vocabulary, dance-related extension activities, and engaging images of dance in action.
It is designed primarily for use in Physical Education and Dance classes.
Group Discussion Facilitation Guidelines
These tips can help you create safe space for classroom engagement on the themes and subjects of this film.
Booking Speakers
Book a Zoom Q&A with the main character Manish Chauhan and/or the film directors! Contact the film team.
More Ways To Support This Film
- Follow the film on social media: @CallMeDancerMovie
- Leave a review on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
- For more information visit www.CallMeDancer.com.
If you have any questions please reach out to the filmmakers: CallMeDancerMovie@gmail.com.
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