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. ", The day before, the company posted another statement on its Instagram account. Three of these dancers were under 18. During this time we have received training from Youth Protection Advocates in Dance, have introduced new tools for faculty education, have worked with Wade Robson on implementing a revised faculty and staff code of conduct, and have updated company policies and procedures all with a focus on safety at our events. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. Watch popular content from the following creators: (@americanpiefan), Rachel Daly(@rachelkdaly), (@americanpiefan), Break The Floor(@breakthefloor), Rachel Daly(@rachelkdaly) . I just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. Thank you. Discover short videos related to breakthefloor allegations on TikTok. 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.. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. 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Dancers say they were sexually harassed or groomed by famous choreographers and the dance company failed to protect them, Choreographer Nick Lazzarini pulled from dance company tour following Star investigation, The CEO of Break the Floor where famous dance coaches were accused of sexual misconduct says he is selling the company, This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. https://t.co/213nsiNJ73 Morgan Bocknek (@mobocks) October 21, 2021 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. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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. 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. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. Since the accusations have come to light, Break the Floor has removed Travis Wall as a staff member for the time being. 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. 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. "In. In an interview with the Star/AP, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. Twitter I believe if I had been taken seriously at the time I came forward with my experiences, this could have prevented another person from finding themselves in the same position that I was forced into, Ellis said. "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. Thousands of. Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. 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. 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. 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. Donald Padgett. 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. 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.". 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. In the. Two-time Emmy-winning choreographer and So You Think You Can Dance star Travis Wall has been taken off of the Break the Floor dance company's tours after allegations of sexual misconduct and grooming were leveled at him by a then-underaged dancer with the company. Stroming started the company after he came to fame in the 1990s, performing in an off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon where six husky hoofers show off more than their fancy footwork.. 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. ","heading":"","fullWindow":false,"fullBleed":false,"showFullBleedOnMobile":false,"headColor":"","type":"html5mobile","textColor":"","mobileImageUrl":"","bgColor":"","imageUrl":"","registeredOnly":false,"linkUrl":"","aodaTitle":"Jeremy Hudson Instagram post","internalScroll":false,"displayStyle":"small-up"},{"text":"Meismer was recently removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. 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 . Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. "In. 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. "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 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. 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. The company also published a new code of conduct. 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. "In. 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. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, AFI Honors Rust Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins With Scholarship Fund for Women Filmmakers, 13 New Fall TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers, From Grand Crew to CSI: Vegas (Photos). 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 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. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. 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 I carry so much shame, because I knew who this person was I still indulged in the attention anyways, and it made me feel super icky. In dance studios, Hudson said Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Meismer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. 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. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. "We are committed to being a serious voice in this conversation and. 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. 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.. This site uses cookies for analytics, personalized content, and ads. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly. Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." But as his company grew, the alleged sexual misconduct continued. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. Many described an overtly sexual environment. rights reserved. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. His family has an INCREDIBLE amount of money. Wall helped bring the first same-sex pairing to So You Think You Can Dance. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. 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. - December 15, 2022 Break the Floor company is taking appropriate measures to investigate the allegation of inappropriate behavior made against its Emmy-winning choreographer, Travis Wall. After the Stars October 2021 story published, dancers came forward with more than 15 additional accusations, about Stroming and Break The Floor faculty. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that "the accusations against me are false," in response to the Star's initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floor's tour as a result of the accusation. He accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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 said he had never done drugs of any kind before. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Representatives for Wall and Break the Floor did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment Saturday. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year old running the whole show. Due to the investigation, the dance company said it will be looking into the accusations further. The problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. His representatives at MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Due to the investigation, the dance company said it will be looking into the accusations. The combination of hypersexual dance content and the close contact between adult teachers and the young dancers creates an atmosphere ripe for abuse, said Jamal Story, co-chair of the National Dance Committee for The Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. The profile of Gabriel whos performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more has disappeared from the companys website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. Your 24/7 streaming source for equality news and lifestyle trends. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly. 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. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. So the boy was playing on the floor with these toys, like not even . 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. Wall is just one of several Break the Floor employees facing allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior from former staff and students. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. 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. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. He remembers Meismer shushing him; someone was asleep in a nearby room, Meismer allegedly warned. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. Check out the all NEW Advocate Channel! Be sure to follow Hours later, Gil Stroming told his staff and customers he had sold the company for an undisclosed amount to Los Angeles real estate investor and producer Russell Geyser and was stepping down as CEO. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Break the Floor has a fervent following. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. 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. Dancers accuse some of Break the Floor's famous choreographers of sexual harassment and grooming. This investigation, in partnership with the Associated Press, has found the alleged misconduct goes even deeper, and involves some of those responsible for turning Break the Floor into a dance industry empire. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. 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. He said the fact that the sale occurred at the time of mounting allegations was a coincidence. Instagram 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. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. When allegations of sexual misconduct hit the world-famous dance company Break the Floor last fall, CEO Gil Stroming tried to calm the tight-knit community of dancers and their parents. 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. One dancer alleges he was 16 when Wall gave him ecstasy and methamphetamine, and now believes Wall was grooming him for a sexual relationship. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual misconduct that some readers could find distressing. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. I then felt very embarrassed. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. 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. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"captionPosition":"overlay","origImageSize":"960x1200","fullWindowGenericImage":false,"lastmodified":1650411169104,"forceoriginal":false,"caption":"Gary Schaufeld was a teenager in 2004 when he alleges a dance instructor pushed him up against a wall in an Ottawa, Ont., hotel room and forced oral sex on him. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. 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. Advocate on your favorite social platforms!Facebook Lavallee told the Star that Wall gave him ecstasy that night, and we were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now. Lavallee told the Star he invited a friend to come over to diffuse the situation, and a few months later, Wall cut off communication with Lavallee, which Lavallee believes was a direct result of him avoiding a sexual relationship with Wall. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As lawmakers filed into the House chamber after a lunch break on Thursday, the desk of former state Rep. Scotty Campbell sat empty, the characteristic lawmaker name plate . ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"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 was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. In hotel ballrooms across the United States and Canada, Break the Floor sells the dream of Hollywood fame to ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on television, in movies and on stage. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. Through a publicist, Wall told the Star that the accusations against him were false. Another told the Star Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. This was in 2008, when Wall was at the height of his fame, having become a staple on television after placing second on So You Think You Can Dance. Wall has denied these allegations. He won the best dancer title in 2014 and worked for BTF for two years as a dance assistant, travelling across Canada and the United States. "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 next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport.