You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Founders Gil Stroming. 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. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. \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":". And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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. We could have and should have done better. 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. 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.. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Once on the convention circuit, children as young as five years old and teens spend entire weekends, from early morning to sometimes past midnight in hotel ballrooms and convention centres. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. But after speaking with the AP and the Star in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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. 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.. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Of the eight allegations made, Wall is only implicated in the one featured in this article- and it happened nearly fourteen years ago. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. 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BREAK THE FLOOR LIVE is now April 18-19! Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. - See all classes with helpful filters. orlando, fl. 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.. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Start of main content. 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. it's worth it! Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. Check! Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. New York,NY . Three of these dancers were under 18. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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. Read More. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Your IP: 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. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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. 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 . 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . . 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. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . Lonetree was 19. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. They provide amazing opportunities. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. 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. National News | Headquarters Regions Greater Los Angeles Area, West Coast, Western US. 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. 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. They provide amazing opportunities. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. 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. This is quite common in the industry and is used to cover the time and expense Studio Owners incur while organizing, registering and attending these events. The lawsuit and its disturbing allegations have rocked the ballet world, one populated by young dancers most of them girls who train under exacting instructors in hopes of reaching the top . With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment. Lavalee stated that he felt he was being groomed for a sexual relationship and that he was now being punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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.. That night, they had sex in his apartment. While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, the instructors and executives accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys revenue and popularity. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. Hours earlier, the Toronto-born teen performed before a panel of judges that included the choreographer, Nick Lazzarini, a luminary in the dance world and first-ever winner of the TV show So You Think You Can Dance.. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. We know this season will look a little different for now. Company instructors have appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Dance Moms and So You Think You Can Dance. When COVID-19 lockdowns suspended in-person workshops, Break the Floor enlisted social media superstar Charli DAmelio, whose TikTok account has around 10.5 billion likes, to record instructional videos. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall of a hotel room they shared with a female assistant and forced oral sex on him. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Break The Floor Productions LLC. Discover jobs. 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. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. For payroll inquiries: payroll@breakthefloor.com For accounting inquiries: accounting@breakthefloor.com For human resources: hr@breakthefloor.com For general information about our dance programs: info@breakthefloor.com Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. 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. 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. As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teen. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. Im not trying to bring this company down. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Operating Status Active. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. 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 . With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . 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.. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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). National News | Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). Who's who in the break the floor investigation. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. Sign in. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Email. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. 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. 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. 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. In an interview earlier this year with the AP and the Star, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing sexual or physical ever transpired between them. A people person? 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. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. 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. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. 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. Gil Stroming founded the excellent company named Break The Floor Productions in 1999 and has since grown it into one of the most famous dance entertainment companies in the world. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. 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. Break The Floor Productions General Information. It was discussed by everyone, but was talked about as more of an inconvenience than something that absolutely should never have been happening in the first place. Break The Floor Productions. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasnt with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. National News | My resolve is unwavering. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. join our mailing list 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. 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. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. 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. 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. 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. 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. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. 24Seven 2021. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. Button taught at Radix conventions. About us. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. He was inviting her to his hotel room. Break The Floor Productions. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. His mental health deteriorated. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. 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. Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. 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. I just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. Check! We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Employers / Post Job. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. 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. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, the instructors and executives accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys revenue and popularity. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Click to reveal 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. Sign in. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. Phone Number 818.432.1234. with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. As I embark on a path of repentance, I will use the platform I have been given to do better in the future and to help others get it right too. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 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.. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). Travis has made some great dance routines and is a great dancer. Founded Date 1999. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . Uchida, who was working as a dance assistant for BTF, alleges Lazzarini groped him in public without his consent before and after their relationship, and made derogatory, as well as racist comments about him in front of his peers and boss. Find salaries. 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. 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. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Break The Floor Productions LLC of Los Angeles, CA. 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 .