My short film Henry Dances debuts next month in America’s media city. Screening in Burbank, California—the first to debut a movie on the city’s adult education campus—the seven-minute Henry Dances depicts a single exercise in self-expression as catalyst to a breakthrough in living a mindful, wholesome life.
Henry Dances screens at 2pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Burbank. Screenwriter and director Mike Voutsinos and yours truly, whose story, “Strapped,” inspired him to write and co-create Henry Dances, will introduce the film, which we shot on November 7, 2025. I met Mike Voutsinos years ago on campus when he took my writing course.
A question-and-answer session moderated by Hollywood producer David LaCour Simien follows the screening.
Inspired by the story of a dancer
The short story which inspired Henry Dances depicts a dancer in a gay bar who’s seized by terrorists acting on an ayatollah’s orders and forced to “dance or die.” The tale climaxes with a strike on Iran.
“Strapped” debuted in Africa as the lead prose of Libretto Magazine in a predominantly Islamic country, Nigeria, where terrorist group Boko Haram imposes religion as law. “Strapped,” available in Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One, debuted in the United States in a Midwestern press co-founded by three American soldiers who fought the Taliban together in Afghanistan.
From next month’s press release:
‘Strapped’ is unlike anything I’ve read,” Open Trail Productions boss Mike Voutsinos, an independent filmmaker who studied in Scott Holleran’s Writing Boot Camp at Burbank Adult School, said. “My thought while reading was whether this could be filmed as a short film, feature film or a longer television episode.”
Mike Voutsinos cast me in my onscreen movie debut, jettisoning the story’s terrorism plot to re-purpose the theme that experiencing art moves those who choose to think. The film’s cast features actress and dancer Sofia Isabella Flores as Nancy with Will Curtis, Lady Giraldo, Tyler Williams and Xander Toti. Mike Knowlan edited sound. Jairo Perez was cameraman. Dimitri Voutsinos, who also studied in my adult educational writing course, edited Henry Dances. The dance scenes sample “Catch Me” (2011) by the Jezabels and “River” (2021) by The Knocks with Parson James.
About the Filmmakers, Moderator and Screening
Open Trail Productions founder Mike Voutsinos wrote and co-created Henry Dances. As an actor in 20 films and TV series, including Batman Beyond, and screenwriter, director and producer of several short films, including Cell, Mr. Voutsinos makes movies across a range of genres with realism and compelling stories.
Scott Holleran writes, dances and choreographs as well as coaches for New York City-based Weight Watchers and teaches reading, writing and media at Burbank Adult School. His first book, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One, debuted in 2025 in Amazon’s top 50 of literary short story collections and he’s won dance contests and choreographed and performed dance with Chubby Checker in New York, Flo’Rida in LA and the Vanessa Davis Band in Chicago. Mr. Holleran, who won a Press Club award in 2021 for Best Sports Journalism, won a Col. Darron L Wright Memorial Writing Award prize for his fiction writing in 2025.
Moderator David LaCour Simien is vice-president of development for Los Angeles-based Double Dutch Productions, LLC, which is making movies about Sylvester, Karen Carpenter and Mahalia Jackson.
About Burbank Adult School
Burbank Adult School serves those seeking to train for a career, improve existing skills and learn English with supportive teachers, counselors and staff to assist in achieving educational goals.
Screening press and guest inquiries: press@scottholleran.com
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