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. Josh Shapiro said he will propose a three-year incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, police officers and nurses when the Democrat unveils his budget plan on Tuesday. 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. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. Six of them have agreed to go public with their 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. . Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. For more than 30 years, Russell has been CEO of numerous companies and run a portfolio of investments in theatrical film production, sports lending, film finance and lending, media buying, and . . Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. \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":". 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. Sign in. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. In summer 2018, about two years after Ellis approached Stroming about Lazzarinis conduct, 17-year-old Zeke Lindsey met Lazzarini and began taking his classes. 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. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Starrevealed allegationsof widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. Hicks said he sought therapy and a sexual treatment course in an effort to hold myself accountable and also deal with the feelings of feeling like I had wronged him in that way when that was never my intention. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. 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. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Break The Floor Productions. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Read More. 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. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didn't respond. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. 2.7 out of 5 stars. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. - And more! 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. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 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. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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 Star reviewed the text messages. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. 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. Description. 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. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. 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.. 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. 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Website. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. 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.