High Strung (2016 film)

High Strung (also known as Free Dance) is a 2016 American drama film directed by Michael Damian and written by Janeen Damian and Michael Damian. The film stars Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour, Sonoya Mizuno, Richard Southgate and Paul Freeman. The film was released on April 8, 2016, by Paladin.

High Strung
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Damian
Produced byJaneen Damian
Michael Damian
Written byJaneen Damian
Michael Damian
StarringKeenan Kampa
Nicholas Galitzine
Jane Seymour
Sonoya Mizuno
Richard Southgate
Paul Freeman
Maia Morgenstern
Music byNathan Lanier
CinematographyViorel Sergovici
Edited byPeter CabadaHagan
Janeen Damian
Michael Damian
Byron Speight
Production
company
Riviera Films
Sforzando Productions
Castel Film Studio
Distributed byPaladin
Release date
  • February 6, 2016 (2016-02-06) (SBIFF)
  • April 8, 2016 (2016-04-08) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$53,447[2]

Plot

Ruby is a classical ballet dancer who gets a scholarship to a Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts. She meets an edgy, moody young violinist named Johnnie who performs in the New York City Subway. He gets distracted while helping her, and his violin and the rent money he has earned busking was stolen. She tries to help him with a loaner violin from the Conservatory, but he tells her he doesn't want charity and seems to be accusing her of being a rich, entitled snob because she attends the Conservatory. She learns he is illegally living in the USA, which is why he didn't report the theft to the police or ask them for help. She also learns that there is a competition where a dancer performs with a string musician, and the winner gets a scholarship, which could qualify Johnnie for a student visa. Ruby's scholarship is on the line because she is failing a mandatory contemporary dance class so she and Johnnie must find a way to save Ruby’s scholarship and keep Johnnie from being deported. Johnnie had paid an immigration attorney to help him get a green card but the attorney turns out to be a fraud. The situation is made more complicated by the rivalry of some other students entering the competition, one of which has a particular jealousy of Johnnie's talent. With the help of a hip hop dance crew they must find a common ground while preparing for a competition that could change their lives forever.

Cast

Release

The film premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 6, 2016.[3] The film was released on April 8, 2016, by Paladin.[2]

Sequel

A sequel, High Strung Free Dance, was released theatrically in 2019, and on Netflix on May 31, 2020.[4][5] Jane Seymour is the only one of the original cast returned for the sequel.

References
  1. "'High Strung': Santa Barbara Review". Hollywood Reporter. 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  2. "High Strung (2016) (2016)". Box Office Mojo. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  3. Amanda N'Duka (2016-01-12). "2016 Santa Barbara Film Festival Lineup Set". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  4. High Strung Free Dance, retrieved 2020-06-03
  5. says, Katie??????????? (2020-05-28). ""High Strung Free Dance" Comes to Netflix". ACED Magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
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