High Strung

Ruby earns a scholarship to the Manhattan Conservatory of the Arts and begins her rigorous training. She navigates the prestigious program and finds her bearings among elite peers.

Ruby befriends her roommate Jasmine (Jazzy) and catches the eye of Kyle Endeca, a skilled violinist. These early relationships set up both friendship and romantic tension within the conservatory.

Ruby watches Johnnie, a moody violinist who earns money by busking in the New York City Subway. A high-energy dance-off between hip-hop groups erupts, drawing a crowd and drawing security's attention.

In the aftermath of the chaos, Ruby helps Johnnie after his violin and money are stolen during the commotion. He reveals that he is illegally living in the United States, which explains why he can't file a police report.

The next day, Ruby rents a loaner violin from the Conservatory and suggests Johnnie enter a joint competition where a dancer and a string musician perform together to win a scholarship, a visa, and $25,000.

At a pub, Kyle invites Ruby to a gala where he will perform, and Jazzy starts a new relationship. The night introduces romantic and social tensions that shape the upcoming events.

During the gala, Johnnie takes a job as a waiter with the Switch Steps and Ruby and Johnnie share a dance, deepening their bond. Kyle insults Johnnie for being a street performer, and the two men later face off as a violin duel, while the Switch Steps try to help by dancing for the crowd before security ejects them.

Johnnie visits Ruby at the Conservatory, and the two begin a romantic relationship. Johnnie agrees to enter the competition with Ruby, though Kyle later reveals that April and he are entering as a team.

Ruby struggles with contemporary technique and Jazzy's partying threatens expulsion for both of them. After a heated argument, they reaffirm their friendship and Jazzy starts to clean up her act.

With help from the Switch Steps, Ruby and Johnnie rehearse a hybrid routine that blends classical ballet with hip-hop. They practice intensively, blending ballet lines with street-dance moves to fit the competition brief. The rehearsal sessions strengthen their partnership and their trust in each other.

A consignment store calls about Johnnie's violin, and Ruby races to retrieve it. Johnnie is taken in by the police over his immigration status, and he bargains to help them locate a fraudulent immigration attorney he had paid.

Ruby tracks down the missing violin at the consignment store and returns it to Johnnie so he can perform. Her timely act reinforces their teamwork and commitment.

They deliver a hybrid routine that fuses ballet technique with street-dance flavor. The judges express mixed feelings about the non-traditional approach during the performance.

The group is declared the winners of the competition. The win awards Ruby the scholarship, and gives Johnnie a potential visa opportunity along with the $25,000 prize.