<style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. - And more! Read More . We will be limiting attendance, working with our venue partners to increase ballroom space and implementing health procedures and guidelines to be able to offer the safest environment for our attendees. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. 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). Hudson said he was optimistic. 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. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. 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 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 . 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. Sign in. 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. The largest room is reserved for the main stage, where at many events, aspiring dancers perform showcases and compete for the title of best dancer.. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. 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. 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. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). 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. FREE Shipping. Im not trying to bring this company down. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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.. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. (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). 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. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Break The Floor Productions General Information. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. Take a look at our available positions: At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Looking to travel? Thank you. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. Related Articles - See show line-ups. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. Etc. 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. 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 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.. High school student, convention boyfriend. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. Soon after, Lavallee, then 16, attended a hotel-room party in California where he said Wall, who was around 20, gave him crystal meth a highly addictive stimulant so he could stay awake for his flight back home to Arizona. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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.. Ellis recalled that on the last night of the dance season in May 2017, when Ellis was 21, Lazzarini kissed him while they were out at a club with other staff members. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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.. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. 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. 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. . This will be a real. BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. 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. 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. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didn't respond. Susan Kao illustration with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, John Lamparski/Getty Images, Broderick Baumann and ngel Vasquez, VIDEO OF BTF EVENT, OCT. 14, 2018: NICO LONETREE/@NICOGOOFS. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . 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. A people person? Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. 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. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. 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. j***@breakthefloor.com. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. 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. 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. What will the in-person events look like? She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. 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. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. 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 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. 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. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. Of these sources, four say he sometimes brought young Break the Floor participants to parties or company events, where they were introduced as his girlfriend. 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. 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally.
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