"In the past, Break The Floor's policies and procedures did not focus on these issues as closely as they could have. Then, in early February, amid a flurry of new allegations against Break the Floor instructors on social media, Stroming disappeared from the companys website. The parents Cecilia Sheeren, Toni Carr, Vicki Oglesby, Jerry Walker and Jarneia Beacham accused studio manager Debra Green of misusing the funds they paid to send their daughters to the JUMP. Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. "Travis will not be traveling with BTF until we've had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations," Break the Floor said in a statement posted on Instagram Stories on Friday, according toThe Wrap. ISLA CLARKE Ex-BTF Student NICK LAZZARINI Ex-BTF staff I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Schaufeld said Wallace asked him to assist him at an event in Ontario, along with another female dancer, and they were sharing a room in an Ottawa hotel. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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. Others shared specific allegations that choreographers used their positions of power to manipulate them into sexual situations. The AP and Star have not seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. 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.. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #breakthefloor, #dontbreakthefloor, #breakthelimitations . "Travis will not be traveling with BTF until we've had an opportunity to look into these allegations." BTF announced in a statement via Instagram. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," Break the Floor said in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. SYTYCD alumni / choreographers face allegations of sexual harassment ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. He accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Facebook work filtering posts 'cost me my humanity' - BBC News They provide amazing opportunities. Lonetree was 19. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. With stronger policies, he and his executive team would secure the sprawling organization that hosts as many as 300,000 aspiring dancers each year. however he still holds a major position in the company, and it is rumoured that he is paying off news networks and social media workers to remove/not write negative posts about him. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. By clicking accept, you agree to this use. Woman Claims Man Attempted to Break Into Her Hotel Room at 1 - Newsweek The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. just about 10 hours ago, the owner of BTF Gil, who has also been accused of abuse has stepped down. 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., In a written statement he told AP/Star I have been very upfront that when I first started the company at 19, over 20 years ago, there were issues of inappropriateness., The reach of California-based Break The Floor Productions extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. 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 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. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. He had been heading it uninterrupted for 22 years, presiding over its consistent growth, when a 2021 Star investigation revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by Break the Floor coaches over their younger students. 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. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. Mapless mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photo when it appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. Donald Padgett October 25 2021. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. He was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. Due to the investigation, the dance company said it will be looking into the accusations. In light of this, over the last 18 months, we have made substantial strides to ensure BTR is a better and safer environment for everyone. A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Associated Press has found alleged sexual misconduct stretches back to the dance companys early years, and involves some of its most prominent instructors and Stroming himself. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. But as Stroming grew the company from a dance convention into an industry powerhouse, he also allegedly perpetuated a culture of sexual misconduct and silence, where dancers were assaulted, harassed and manipulated, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff and students. Travis Wall taken off tour with Break the Floor dance - The Star 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. The Toronto Stars story, which was published Thursday, detailed widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior at the North America-based Break the Floor. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. 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. 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. Famous Break the Floor instructors accused of sexual harassment | The Star Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming 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. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . These alleged relationships took place between 2000, a little after Stroming launched the company, and around 2008, when Stroming would have been in his late 20s. Through a publicist, Wall told the Star that the accusations against him were false. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. 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 investigation by The Toronto Star into his alleged sexually inappropriate behavior. In addition to competitions with cash prizes, Break The Floors conventions which cost between $200 to $350 USD per student offer dozens of workshops, under strobing lights and thumping music. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. To order To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Lazzarinis next job, teaching students at the Titans of Dance convention, ended in October, 2021, shortly after the Star published that story. As for the other allegation from the then-16-year old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behaviour that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teenager. Tennessee Rep. Scotty Campbell resigns after harassment violation Accept. Lavallee accused Wall of making sexual advances toward him then giving him ecstasy before Lavallee called a friend over to help him in the situation. 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. Dancers accuse some of Break the Floor's famous choreographers of sexual harassment and grooming. He was inviting her to his hotel room. One dance instructor, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of professional consequences, said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions to be watchful and aware of the potential for abuse of power. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. ", The day before, the company posted another statement on its Instagram account. Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with P!nk, 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. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been suspended from Break the Floor dance companys traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of sexually inappropriate behavior made against him in a story published by the Toronto Star. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but his alleged assault by a dancer who went on to play a key role at the company continues to haunt him. The Break the Floor dance company is parting ways with the dancer after he and others were accused of a range of sexually inappropriate conduct while on tour. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. 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. Break the Floor cited new training that employees have been required to take along with a new and updated code of conduct. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. Break the Floor would not confirm if he was one of the four that were let go in the days after Stroming sold the company. Break the Floor would not confirm if he was one of the four that were let go in the days after Stroming sold the company. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," the company wrote. Carroll came out with her accusations against Trump in a book titled "What Do We Need Men For?" and in an excerpt of the tome published in New York Magazine in 2019. Travis Wall Dismissed From Tour After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. 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However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who did not respond. Mega Dance Company Bred Culture of Sex, Silence, Dancers Say - US News Representatives for Wall and Break the Floor did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment Saturday. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Advocate on your favorite social platforms!Facebook 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.. 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. ISLA CLARKE WAS 16 WHEN SHE ALLEGES SHE RECEIVED A NUDE PHOTO TEXTED BY ONE OF NORTH AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS DANCE CHOREOGRAPHERS, A MAN NEARLY TWICE HER AGE. Your 24/7 streaming source for equality news and lifestyle trends. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. ","title":"Get more stories like this one in your inbox"},{"text":"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. I then felt very embarrassed. 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. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Thousands of. HE WAS INVITING HER TO HIS HOTEL ROOM. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. They provide amazing opportunities. 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. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. Hundreds of studios and schools from. One dancer alleges he was 16 when Wall gave him ecstasy and methamphetamine, and now believes Wall was grooming him for a sexual relationship. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full out devastating attacks. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. "The problem was not [the taking of his own life]. 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. 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. 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 performances led by elite dancers and choreographers known from Broadway, film and television. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that the accusations against me are false, in response to the Stars initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floors tour as a result of the accusation. Accusation was leveled against SYTYCD alum in Toronto Star report about widespread sexual harassment at the dance company, (Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Wall was not cut from Break the Floors tours, but suspended pending investigation.). We could have and should have done better, he said. https://t.co/213nsiNJ73 Morgan Bocknek (@mobocks) October 21, 2021 That night, they had sex in his apartment. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about In dance studios, Hudson said Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said he let four people go because of credible allegations of misconduct. A dance instructor alleges Stroming offered her $500 to come to his hotel room. Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. Parents sue Tomball dance studio - Chron 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. Be sure to follow 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. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. Three of these dancers were under 18. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. 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 problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. He was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. "In. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. It has been humbling. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. After the Stars October 2021 story published, dancers came forward with more than 15 additional accusations, about Stroming and Break The Floor faculty. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. "We are committed to being a serious voice in this conversation and. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the Star/AP, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"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. rights reserved. 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. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article : r/dancemoms - Reddit As a result of the story, Break the Floor is bringing in a third party to launch an investigation into the accusation made against So You Think You Can Dance alum Wall. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Schaufeld had fallen in love with tap at seven years old, and this opportunity offered a chance to raise his profile and learn from one of the best. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," Break the Floor said in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. But after speaking with the Star/AP in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. A few months later, without warning, Lavallee said, Wall cut off communication with him in the middle of one weekend and didnt show up to one of their scheduled teaching sessions. After this investigation published, BTF issued a statement saying it fired the choreographer following this incident because of concerns about this type of behaviour., After receiving questions regarding the allegations, Lazzarini sent text messages to three of the dancers who spoke to the Star, saying to one, I will do my best to be a better person and apologizing to another, Im so so sorry I ever made you feel uncomfortable.. Myles Lavallee is one of eight former staffers and students in a . Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." 11 74 101 Show this thread Morgan Bocknek @mobocks Oct 22, 2021 You can read the full investigation here: thestar.com 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. 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. Travis Wall Cut From Break the Floor Dance Company Tour Amid - Yahoo Emmy Award winner Travis Wall taken off tour with Break the Floor dance Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. He added new conventions and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Dance Convention Under Fire After Sexual Harassment Comes to Light While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, those accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys reach and popularity. Wall's publicist maintains that the accusations are entirely false. Travis Wall Allegations : r/DCCMakingtheTeam - Reddit The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Twitter All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the professional dance community. The CEO of Break the Floor where famous dance coaches were accused of sexual misconduct says he is selling the company A Star investigation found allegations of widespread sexual harassment. A year or so later, shortly after her 18th birthday, Stroming flew the dancer out to New York, where he told her he had lined up dance auditions, she says. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. 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. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Wallace was already a star in the dance world and would later go on to be hired by Gil Stroming to direct Break The Floors 24 Seven. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. Travis Wall Removed From Dance Tour After Misconduct Allegation Btf Tv So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video that appears to show himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. 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. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly.
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