The whole story seems fishy. 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).Break The Floor puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that . 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. 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.. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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 Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . www.floorproductionsllc.com. 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. I was naive, and I was just letting it all happen, Lindsey said. How much do Break The Floor Productions employees make? National News | He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. 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. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Read More. Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. 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. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd 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. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . 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.. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. 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. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. 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. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin High school student, convention boyfriend. FREE Shipping. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. National News | 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 . Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. 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. 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. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. Im not trying to bring this company down. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. 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. 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 . This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. Stroming did not respond to specific questions, though told the Star that the dance company did not have fully thought out policies and procedures regarding this and, over the last year and a half we have worked very hard to make BTF a better and safer environment for everyone.. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Etc. He was inviting her to his hotel room. Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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. Break The Floor Productions. 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. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. A people person? The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Lavallee said he did not tell Stroming or BTF staff about what he alleges happened with either Wall or the other choreographer, saying he thought his concerns would not be taken seriously. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. 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. Allegations and Scandal Update. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. 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. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Check! Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Dancers say leading company bred culture of, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Dancers say leading company bred culture of sex, silence, California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit, Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims, Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin, San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out, Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. How? 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 . 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.. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. 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 . He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 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. 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 . At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). Employers / Post Job. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids 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 of sex and silence, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff and students. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. 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. 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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.. 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 Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. it's worth it! 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. 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. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. Upload your resume. Im not trying to bring this company down. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. 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.
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