All rights reserved. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Thank you. 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. 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. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. 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.. 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. The largest room is reserved for the main stage, where at many events, aspiring dancers perform showcases and compete for the title of best dancer.. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . Film Production. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. One dancer said she met Stroming when she was a 16-year-old high school junior attending one of Break the Floors first events with her parents. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. Looking to travel? 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). CODA aims to revolutionize the dance competition experience and is complimentary for every routine registered for JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven and The Dance Awards. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. We will be limiting attendance, working with our venue partners to increase ballroom space and implementing health procedures and guidelines to be able to offer the safest environment for our attendees. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. New York,NY . She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. She said once she turned 18, Gabriel, 29 at that time in 2017, invited her to his hotel room in a text message with a shirtless photo. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Star revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. 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, said Uchida, who alleges in 2015 he had a six-month consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini when he was 19 and Lazzarini was 31. Break The Floor Productions. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. - See all classes with helpful filters. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Follow. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! 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.. The alleged victims story is shaky at best. How? I then felt very embarrassed. Break The Floor puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that they will be looking into the allegations against Wall. 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. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. His mental health deteriorated. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. Performance & security by Cloudflare. It has been humbling. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Read More. 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! 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. My resolve is unwavering. Founders Gil Stroming. This story was reported as a partnership between The Associated Press and the Toronto Star, 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.. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. Break the Floor Productions LLC operates as a dance entertainment company. Gabriel, when asked about Maples accusation, said in a written statement that he had been drinking heavily that night to control fears about serious health problems in his family. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. 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 Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. Break the Floor (who is bringing in a third party to launch an investigation into the accusation lobbied against Wall) said in a story on the companys Instagram page on Friday Travis will not be traveling with BTF until weve had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations,going on to say We take this very seriously and will take further action if necessary.For his own part, Wall told the Star through his publicist thatthe accusations against me are false, but has not commented on on being cut from Break the Floors tour due to the accusations. Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with Pink, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, and appearances in more than a dozen films including La La Land and FAME. For 17 years, he kept to himself about what happened with Meismer. agreed. 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. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. Emmy-winning choreographer, So You Think You Can Dance breakout star, and Shaping Sounds co-founder Travis Wall has been removed from a tour with Break The Floor dance company as allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior that have surfaced are being investigated (via The Toronto Star). The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out Los Angeles Every year, one of the worlds leading dance competition companies sells the dream of Hollywood fame to hundreds of thousands of ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on television, in movies and on stage. 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. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Phone Number 818.432.1234. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Description. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Company Type For Profit. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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.. Photos: Break the Floor, Joe Corrigan/Getty Images, Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Beau Campbell, Miss Toto Rodgers, KiLeigh Williams, ngel Vasquez, Lee Gumbs, Broderick Baumann. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. Your IP: He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. What will the in-person events look like? He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. 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. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. 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 . Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. Snapshot; Why Join Us . Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. How much do Break The Floor Productions employees make? Im not a monster but I feel like one, Wallace wrote, adding that he has a lot of hazy memories and a huge list of regrets/mistakes from that time period. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. Subscribe to our emails. In a statement, BTF Productions said, For some time, we have taken substantial steps to ensure BTF is the safe and comfortable environment that our attendees and employees deserve and expect.. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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. Break The Floor Productions. 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. 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. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. An ongoing investigation by the Star in partnership with the AP now has uncovered alleged sexual misconduct that stretches back to the dance companys early years, and involves Stroming himself. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Three of these dancers were under 18. Hours earlier, the Toronto-born teen performed before a panel of judges that included the choreographer, Nick Lazzarini, a luminary in the dance world and first-ever winner of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance.. 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. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. . Write a review. Travis has made some great dance routines and is a great dancer. 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 . Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Button taught at Radix conventions. Hudson said he was optimistic. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Lonetree alleges Hicks later confronted him, took off Lonetrees headset, and told him to take a walk and come back with the answer I want. Hicks strenuously denies saying this and denies removing Lonetrees headset. Lavallee also revealed to The Star that Wall gave him ecstasy that night, and we were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now. Lavallee told the Star he invited a friend to come over to divert where he felt the night was going and a few months later, Wall ceased all communication with him and didnt show up for a scheduled teaching session. I carry so much shame, because I knew who this person was I still indulged in the attention anyways, and it made me feel super icky. 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 . Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Contact. Russell is known for a high level of professionalism in the entertainment industry. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video production and apparel. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Break the Floor has a fervent following. 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. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Break The Floor Productions LLC of Los Angeles, CA. Out So You Think You Can Dance winner and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from dance company Break the Floor's tours following an . 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. Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. He was inviting her to his hotel room. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. As a student I was in inappropriate relationships with teachers, and vice versa, and just looking back I was like, oh wow, I think a lot of us dont even realize at first the power that we have in the dance world.. Contact. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Operating Status Active. 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. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. National News | Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. That night, they had sex in his apartment. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Discover jobs. 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. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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. 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Check! JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. 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. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. Dancer Isla Clarke, seen here performing in June 2021, alleges she was propositioned for sex by a choreographer nearly twice her age when she competed at a Break the Floor dance competition at age 16. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. 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. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. . Glassdoor provides our best prediction for total pay in today's job market, along with other types of pay like cash bonuses, stock bonuses, profit sharing, sales commissions, and tips. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. 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. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. We could have and should have done better, he said. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Lazzarini would laugh and smile and would play it lighthearted so as to not take on the full responsibility of what he was doing, said Ellis. On all orders over $100! The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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 is a private company. Once on the convention circuit, children as young as five years old and teens spend entire weekends, from early morning to sometimes past midnight in hotel ballrooms and convention centres. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. . 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. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. - See show line-ups. 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. 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.. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Jeremy Hudson, now a professional dancer, came of age on the convention circuit and won Outstanding Dancer of the Year at the first JUMP Nationals in 2004. 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. Click to reveal This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. 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 whole story seems fishy. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. Thousands of hopefuls cram into hotel ballrooms across the continent for the chance to be discovered by a top choreographer and catapulted into the spotlight. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry.
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