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Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. Read More . National News | 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. 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. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. 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. 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.. 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.. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. 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. 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. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. We and our third party vendors, like Google, use first party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to inform, optimize and serve ads based . We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. 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. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . His mental health deteriorated. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. 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. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. 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.. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Film Production. Lonetree was 19. Headquarters. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, the instructors and executives accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys revenue and popularity. 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. I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. (US Only) 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 . But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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 didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . Company Type For Profit. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. Related Articles In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. This will be a real. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). 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. Find salaries. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . 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. j***@breakthefloor.com. 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. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. 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. join our mailing list Email. The next summer, Ellis said he approached Stroming at the Dance Awards, the biggest BTF event of the season, to tell him how Lazzarini had harassed him. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. - See show line-ups. Take a look at our available positions: In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. 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. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 24Seven 2021. 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. In the text conversation, Hicks told Lonetree, I have a blow job with your name on it. Lonetree brushed off Hickss propositions over text, the texts show. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. Follow. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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. 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. Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. (The Star has not seen the now-deleted text from Lazzarini, but has spoken with two people with whom Clarke shared or discussed the message). Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. What if we plan on it and they are cancelled again? Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. orlando, fl. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. This option would also allow the dancers or studios attending the virtual workshop to still come to the venue for the competition portion of the event. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she 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. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions, whose alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and Super Bowl . Lazzarini noticed a tear in Elliss pants and he just shoved his hand up my pants, to which I quickly reacted because I was already embarrassed and didnt need a hand grabbing my genitalia, alleged Ellis. I just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. 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. 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. 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 . Three of these dancers were under 18. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. 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. 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. 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. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasn't with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. 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. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. 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. 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. july 8-15. hyatt regency orlando. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. 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.. Break the Floor Productions is one of the worlds preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. 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.. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. 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. But the secret ate away at him. Once you get a positive response, make sure to find out about the interview process at Break The Floor Productions and prepare for tough questions. 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. . with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. They provide amazing opportunities. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. 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. About us. Whenever I worked with a struggling student, I always reassured them that confronting our shortcomings is not a showing of weakness, it is the beginning of strength. As I 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. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Pay & Benefits. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Phone Number 818.432.1234. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Teens who win titles at BTF events are invited back to work on the convention circuit as dance assistants for choreographers on the BTF roster, known internally as faculty.. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. 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. 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. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. . The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations.