In a written statement, he told the AP and Star, I have been very upfront that when I first started the company at 19, over 20 years ago, there were issues of inappropriateness. He didn't respond to the specific allegations. Phone Number 818.432.1234. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Hudson said he was optimistic. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasnt with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. The combination of hyper-sexual dance content and the close contact between adult teachers and the young dancers creates an atmosphere ripe for abuse, said Jamal Story, a professional dancer who is co-chair of the National Dance Committee for The Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. <style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> Of the eight allegations made, Wall is only implicated in the one featured in this article- and it happened nearly fourteen years ago. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . Headquarters. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. In addition to competitions with cash prizes, Break The Floor conventions which cost between around $200 to $350 per student offer dozens of workshops, under strobing lights and thumping music. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. The company was launched 22 years ago by a charismatic dancer, Gil Stroming, who came to fame in the 1990s, performing in the off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon.. Learn More About 24 Seven! I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. When Ellis explained that he recoiled before Lazzarini actually touched his genitals, he alleges Stroming declared it wasnt actually sexual harassment because he didnt actually touch me.. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Uchida, who was working as a dance assistant for BTF, alleges Lazzarini groped him in public without his consent before and after their relationship, and made derogatory, as well as racist comments about him in front of his peers and boss. After Maples showed the screenshots to friends who shared them on social media, Gabriel sent her a message threatening to ruin her career, she said. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions; as the company has grown into an industry powerhouse, its leaders perpetuated a culture of sex and silence . Gabriel, another famous dancer and choreographer, allegedly sent a nude photo on Snapchat to a 16-year-old dancer who says she was so horrified she threw her phone across the room. They typically end with parents on the sidelines shooting photos of their beaming children in leotards and makeup, striking poses alongside famous choreographers and dancers. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. In summer 2018, about two years after Ellis approached Stroming about Lazzarinis conduct, 17-year-old Zeke Lindsey met Lazzarini and began taking his classes. As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teen. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. . But behind the bright lights and pulsing music, some dancers say they were sexually assaulted, harassed and manipulated by the companys powerful founder and famous teachers and choreographers, according to a joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Toronto Star. What will the in-person events look like? it's worth it! Sign in. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. Based on the Toronto Stars expose, Eight former staff and students allege BTF employees, famous in the dance world, initiated sexual conversations, propositioned them for sex, sent them nude photos, sexually harassed them at work or engaged in sexual relationships with them.Myles Lavallee (one of the students) has accused Wall of starting to groom him when Lavallee was just sixteen years old and Wall was approximately twenty years old. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. Break The Floor Productions. We view this situation as an opportunity to expand our vision to bring the excitement of dance to everyone, all over the world, no matter the circumstance. Read More . Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? Lavallee charges that in 2008, Wall made sexual advances on him when the two stayed at Lavalees parents home overnight while teaching a dance course close by. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. The biggest problem facing the dance industry (and everything, quite frankly) is uncertainty. About five years later, Lavallee, who now works as a professional dancer and choreographer, told his mother, Wendy, about everything that happened between him and the two older choreographers. Break The Floor Productions. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust., In a later response, after being presented with an additional accusation that he sent nude photos to a teenage dancer, Lazzarini added: I have never subjected anyone to unwanted sexual advances. But in January, as the AP and the Star were investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him and others involved in the company, Stroming announced that he had sold Break the Floor and stepped down as CEO. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. Lavalee also charges that in an earlier incident, he attended a hotel room party in California where Wall gave him crystal meth so he could stay awake for his flight back home to Arizona. (Lavallee had never done any drugs at all prior to the alleged incident). Clarke was competing that July 2012 day at a New York City event put on by Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting dance schools and putting on . All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the tight-knit professional dance community. Arts Apr 20. I dont think I was aware of how manipulated I was and how easy it was for (Lazzarini) to take advantage of the situation, Lindsey said. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall of a hotel room they shared with a female assistant and forced oral sex on him. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. join our mailing list He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions; as the company has grown into an industry powerhouse, its leaders perpetuated a culture of sex and silence, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff and students. Sign in. How? I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. FREE Shipping. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this" to a teen. About two decades ago, when she was a dance teacher accompanying her students to a Break the Floor event, she said she refused Stromings $500 offer to join him in his hotel room. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. They typically end with parents on the sidelines shooting photos of their beaming children in leotards and makeup, striking poses alongside famous choreographers and dancers. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. Susan Kao illustration with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, John Lamparski/Getty Images, Broderick Baumann and ngel Vasquez, VIDEO OF BTF EVENT, OCT. 14, 2018: NICO LONETREE/@NICOGOOFS. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. Break The Floor hosts conventions in cities across North America, putting on events in hotel ballrooms every weekend over the course of a six-month season. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. The AP and the Star spoke to the dancers father, who said that in the years following, she told him about these sexual interactions with Stroming, which left her deeply upset. . A few months later, without warning, Lavallee said, Wall cut off communication with him in the middle of one weekend and didnt show up to one of their scheduled teaching sessions. Eventually, Lazzarini began to avoid her at dance conventions, Clarke said, and this made her anxious, as she feared he was in a position to impede her career. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. Three of these dancers were under 18. Of these sources, four say he sometimes brought young Break the Floor participants to parties or company events, where they were introduced as his girlfriend. We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! 24Seven 2021. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. My resolve is unwavering. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. Josh Shapiro said he will propose a three-year incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, police officers and nurses when the Democrat unveils his budget plan on Tuesday. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. An exclusive Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by Break the Floor (a big part of the dance community of North America) coaches over . Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. It was discussed by everyone, but was talked about as more of an inconvenience than something that absolutely should never have been happening in the first place. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . Lonetree was 19. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Break The Floor Productions LLC. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Two-time Emmy-winning choreographer and So You Think You Can Dance star Travis Wall has been taken off of the Break the Floor dance company's tours after allegations . The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . Schaufeld had fallen in love with tap at 7 years old, and assisting Wallace offered a chance to raise his profile and learn from one of the best. They provide amazing opportunities. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Several individuals have recently stepped forward to publicly express their feelings of hurt or betrayal based on interactions they had with me between 2012 and 2020. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. We could have and should have done better. The company provides dance workshops and competitions, touring theatrical productions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel along with a broad range of business prospects to its customers. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Click to reveal The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions; as the company has grown into an industry powerhouse, its leaders perpetuated a culture . He apologized and said he himself was a victim of abuse as a teen, and that his texts to Maples were a one time ever brief exchange.. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit I have dedicated my life to creating happiness and joy in this world through dance and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have caused anyone to feel sad or hurt, he said. 15 reviews. Payment Terms for the 2020-2021 Season: The registration deadline will remain 30 days prior to the events, however payment will not need to be made until 14 days prior. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. Since then, Break The Floor has become one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. High school student, convention boyfriend. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as young as 5, to packed hotel ballrooms across the U.S. and Canada for weekend workshops and competitions. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Looking to travel? September 17, 2021. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. Employers / Post Job. Refund Policy for the 2020-2021 Season: If an in-person event is unable to be held on the originally advertised dates, and the studio decides not to attend the event virtually, Break The Floor will issue a FULL REFUND within 7 days of the scheduled event date. It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son. And it encourages discretion online regarding Religion, Social Justice, Discrimination, Politics, Love and Romance, Abuse, Mental Health, Bullying, and Terrorism., The new code of conduct also says educators are considered mandated reporters regarding suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities.. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment. Others did make allegations about BTF staff to owner and CEO Stroming, but their concerns were dismissed, allege two former staffers who say they were harassed on the job. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . Company instructors have appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Dance Moms and So You Think You Can Dance. When COVID-19 lockdowns suspended in-person workshops, Break the Floor enlisted social media superstar Charli DAmelio, whose TikTok account has around 10.5 billion likes, to record instructional videos. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Gil Stromings company capitalized on all of that studio growth, an industry that reached about $4 billion in value by 2021, employing more than 120,000 people, according to market research from analysts at IbisWorld. Break The Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. . A year or so later, shortly after her 18th birthday, Stroming flew the dancer to New York, where he told her he had lined up potentially career-launching dance auditions, she says. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. He was inviting her to his hotel room. It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son. And it encourages discretion online regarding Religion, Social Justice, Discrimination, Politics, Love and Romance, Abuse, Mental Health, Bullying, and Terrorism., The new code of conduct also says educators are considered mandated reporters regarding suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities.. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. Dancers repeatedly described feeling sexualized in their learning space, and multiple dancers said they felt leered at by some choreographers who would message them compliments on their appearance, sometimes immediately following classes. Lonetree said he was soon after moved to a different convention, which he said made him feel like he had to start over and establish himself with a new team. Write a review. In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the AP and the Star, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry.. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. In the fall of 2008, Wall was teaching a course near Lavallees house in Arizona, and Lavallees parents invited Wall to stay overnight, Lavallee said. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. But it all blew up when Beacham's husband, Kirk, contacted Gil Stroming, owner of Break the Floor Productions, about why the company would cancel the studio's registration to the Jump and Nuvo . Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Upload your resume. It has been humbling. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. Break The Floor Productions. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. Lavallee caught the attention of Wall an Emmy winner and So You Think You Can Dance runner-up who was judging his performance at a BTF competition in the summer of 2008, Lavallee said. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $(document).ready(function() {\n $('.SA_response-container').click(function() {\n $('.SA_hidden', this).toggle();\n });\n });\n ","wallHtmlBody":". One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. National News | Dance organizations create wide opportunities for adults to single out a child, groom them and then get them alone to sexually abuse them, she said. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. Find salaries. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. The creative type? Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . (US Only) Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? We know this season will look a little different for now. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney with perpetrating lewd acts on minors in a private dance studio, and is awaiting trial. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. Stroming was allegedly involved in a series of inappropriate relationships with students of the dance program he was running, according to more than a dozen former staff and students. Lavallee said he did not tell Stroming or BTF staff about what he alleges happened with either Wall or the other choreographer, saying he thought his concerns would not be taken seriously. All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the tight-knit professional dance community. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Finally, while some of what is being said about me is inaccurate or mischaracterized, there is enough truth in their stories to make me feel ashamed and remorseful. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. While some of what is being said about me is inaccurate or mischaracterized, there is enough truth in their stories to make me feel ashamed and remorseful. Allegations and Scandal Update. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions; as the company has grown into an industry powerhouse, its leaders perpetuated a culture of sex and silence . In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating.
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