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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Breaking the silence: Dancers accuse choreographers of sexual 24 Seven Dance Convention I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. All rights reserved. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Break The Floor Productions is a Music & Music Related Services, and Media & Internet company located in New York, New York with $2.40 Million in revenue and 62 employees. The whole story seems fishy. Button taught at Radix conventions. Follow. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. Break The Floor Productions. A people person? 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.. (US Only) I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. Hicks said he sought therapy and a sexual treatment course in an effort to hold myself accountable and also deal with the feelings of feeling like I had wronged him in that way when that was never my intention. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. 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. Marci A. Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who founded CHILD USA and is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children, said dance is one of the last forums where adults have unsupervised access to younger students. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Lazzarini denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances, adding that he would not respond to each and every claim in your forthcoming article that is false, taken out of context or completely exaggerated.. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. 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. Related Articles The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. In an interview earlier this year with the AP and the Star, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing sexual or physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. Sign in. 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. 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. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Break The Floor Productions: Contact Details and Business Profile At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Starrevealed allegationsof widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. The televised dance shows brought fame to dancers Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall and Misha Gabriel, who became big name attractions as Break The Floor instructors. Learn More About 24 Seven! One dance instructor said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions today to be watchful and aware of the potential for abuse of power. 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.. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Break The Floor Productions - opradancewear Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. 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. Break The Floor LIVE | Virtual Dance Convention - YouTube Three of these dancers were under 18. Lonetree was 19. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Break The Floor Productions - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Performance & security by Cloudflare. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. National News | 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Marci A. Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who founded CHILD USA and is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children, said dance is one of the last forums where adults have unsupervised access to younger students. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. Wall did not respond to detailed questions sent by The Star, and said only the accusations against me are false, in a statement through a publicist. Check! As I embark on a path of repentance, I will use the platform I have been given to do better in the future and to help others get it right too. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Break The Floor Productions. 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 . October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. Company Sold Dream of Fame. Dancers Call It a Nightmare - Newser A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. 15 reviews. Travis Wall Cut From Break the Floor Dance Company Tour Amid - Yahoo! Russell Geyser - CEO at Break The Floor Productions | The Org Read More. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. Break The Floor Productions Overview | SignalHire Company Profile Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd Break The Floor Productions Salaries - Glassdoor Your IP: The new owner, Russell Geyser, said the allegations have nothing to do with the current company, and that people involved with purported misconduct no longer work for Break The Floor. Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. They provide amazing opportunities. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. \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":". This is quite common in the industry and is used to cover the time and expense Studio Owners incur while organizing, registering and attending these events. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. 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 . The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions Break The Floor Productions, LLC is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Ellis recalled that on the last night of the dance season in May 2017, when Ellis was 21, Lazzarini kissed him while they were out at a club with other staff members. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Nico Lonetree (left) and Myles Lavallee are among eight dancers who allege they were subjected to sexual harassment or predatory behaviour from staff of the prominent dance company, Break the Floor. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. Break The Floor Productions LLC. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). 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. 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 . Break The Floor Productions LLC - Company Profile and News Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. 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. A Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by BTF coaches over their younger students, where dancers say their complaints of inappropriate conduct have been dismissed by the companys owner, letting the problem fester for years. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Button taught at Radix conventions. Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. but trust us. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. We know this season will look a little different for now. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. <style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. The televised dance shows brought fame to dancers Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall and Misha Gabriel, who became big name attractions as Break The Floor instructors. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Isla Clarke was 16 when she alleges she received a nude photo texted by one of North Americas most famous dance choreographers, a man nearly twice her age. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. 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 . Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Receive up-to-date schedules and info when attending any of the Break The Floor events: JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, The Dance Awards, DancerPalooza and Dance Teacher Summit! 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 . 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. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer., In a statement, Lazzarini apologized to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth.. Hundreds of studios and schools from smaller communities bring teams of dancers to the events, branded by Stroming as JUMP, NUVO, 24seven, RADIX and DancerPalooza. 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. 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. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. I believe if I had been taken seriously at the time I came forward with my experiences, this could have prevented another person from finding themselves in the same position that I was forced into, Ellis said. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. September 17, 2021. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Break The Floor Productions. We understand that some studios and families might not yet feel comfortable attending the in-person workshop. Company Type For Profit. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. join our mailing list 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. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. In an interview earlier this year with the AP and the Star, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing sexual or physical ever transpired between them. Touring to 16 amazing cities across America and Canada, Break The Floor's SUMMER JAM is a full workshop and competition experience featuring a creative mix of all BTF tours: Jump, NUVO, 24 Seven & Radix! 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). 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).
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