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. 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 payroll inquiries: payroll@breakthefloor.com For accounting inquiries: accounting@breakthefloor.com For human resources: hr@breakthefloor.com For general information about our dance programs: info@breakthefloor.com The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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 . Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. - See all classes with helpful filters. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. 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 . Start of main content. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Lavalee stated that he felt he was being groomed for a sexual relationship and that he was now being punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. 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. The whole story seems fishy. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . 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. 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). 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. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. 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. 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.. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . 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. 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. 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 only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. 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. Founders Gil Stroming. National News | Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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 didnt respond to the specific allegations. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Read More. 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. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. A people person? Every year, one of the world's 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. It was founded by Gil Stroming (Tap Dancer) in 1999, and today it is one of the most important dance companies in the world, encompassing traveling theater productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate clothing events, real estate production rental studios, software . 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 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). Etc. Subscribe to our emails. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Find salaries. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). He was inviting her to his hotel room. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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 . Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd 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. 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. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. 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. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. \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":". Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. 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. 165.8K Followers. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Break The Floor Productions. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Employers / Post Job. 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. 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 . Upload your resume. 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. agreed. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 2.7 out of 5 stars. Hudson said he was optimistic. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. 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. Write a review. His mental health deteriorated. Arts Apr 20. 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. Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Hudson said he was optimistic. 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. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Button taught at Radix conventions. orlando, fl. confront my own shortcomings, I vow to take every step necessary to turn them into the very strengths I will use to help empower and protect others. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. 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. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Discover jobs. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. Related Articles Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. How? Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. Contact. 24Seven 2021. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. 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. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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.. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). 3 min read. One of those dancers was Patrick Ellis, who alleges that he told Break the Floors CEO, Gil Stroming, that Lazzarini had stuffed his hand up through a hole in Elliss pants and tried to fondle him. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. but trust us. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. 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. Learn More About 24 Seven! Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. 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. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. 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.. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. All rights reserved. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. 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. Three of these dancers were under 18. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. 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. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. 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. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. 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). Break the Floor has a fervent following. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star 550 Los Angeles, CA 90038 818.432.1234 info@breakthefloor.com. 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 . The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. Description. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. it's worth it! I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. 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 . 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. Snapshot; Why Join Us . 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. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. Break The Floor Productions LLC. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. While for some of the dancers in this story the sexual interactions were, at the time, consensual, they now feel a power imbalance pressured them into relationships with leaders of the dance world who are many years older than them. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. Dancer Nico Lonetree, of Saint Paul, Minn., alleges he was propositioned for oral sex by BTF employee Vincent Hicks via texts while they both worked at the RADIX BTF dance convention on Feb. 11, 2017, in Houston, Texas. 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. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. 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. 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims 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. 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.
