Lonetree was 19. 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). Break The Floor Productions is a Music & Music Related Services, and Media & Internet company located in New York, New York with $2.40 Million in revenue and 62 employees. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . Russell is known for a high level of professionalism in the entertainment industry. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. That night, they had sex in his apartment. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. A people person? 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. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. 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. 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 typically end with parents on the sidelines shooting photos of their beaming children in leotards and makeup, striking poses alongside famous choreographers and dancers. Website. 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. 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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, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. JUMP/NUVO/24SEVEN/TDA.Watch the latest video from Break The Floor (@breakthefloor). Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. \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":". 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, said Uchida, who alleges in 2015 he had a six-month consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini when he was 19 and Lazzarini was 31. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. Hudson said he was optimistic. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. 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. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. The whole story seems fishy. 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.. 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. We could have and should have done better. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. We could have and should have done better, he said. Location. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. About us. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. New York,NY . 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. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Photos: Break the Floor, Joe Corrigan/Getty Images, Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Beau Campbell, Miss Toto Rodgers, KiLeigh Williams, ngel Vasquez, Lee Gumbs, Broderick Baumann. The new owner, Russell Geyser, said the allegations have nothing to do with the current company, and that people involved with purported misconduct no longer work for Break The Floor. 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. 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. 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. 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 . Break the Floor has a fervent following. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. 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 didnt respond to the specific allegations. Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Finally, 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. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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.. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . 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. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. - See all classes with helpful filters. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. What will the in-person events look like? 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 dance instructor said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions today to be watchful and aware of the potential for abuse of power. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. but trust us. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. Start of main content. 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. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. Your IP: 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.. 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. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions, whose alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and Super Bowl . Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! Our dance studio friends are finding it hard to plan for the new season. 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. 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. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. One dance instructor said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions today to be watchful and aware of the potential for abuse of power. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . (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). 2.7 out of 5 stars. 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. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. 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. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. They provide amazing opportunities. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. 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.. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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 is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. LOS ANGELES Every year, one of the worlds leading dance competition companies sells the dream of Hollywood fame to hundreds of thousands of ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on television, in movies and on stage. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. 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. Related Articles j***@breakthefloor.com. They provide amazing opportunities. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. it's worth it! The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. National News | Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Contact. Operating Status Active. 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. 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 took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. 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. 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. His mental health deteriorated. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. 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. 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. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. But in January, as the AP and the Star were investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him and others involved in the company, Stroming announced that he had sold Break the Floor and stepped down as CEO. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. 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. 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. Description. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. 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. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . Upload your resume. I just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Founders Gil Stroming. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. About two decades ago, when she was a dance teacher accompanying her students to a Break the Floor event, she said she refused Stromings $500 offer to join him in his hotel room. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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.. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didn't respond. Lavallee also revealed to 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 divert where he felt the night was going and a few months later, Wall ceased all communication with him and didnt show up for a scheduled teaching session. las vegas, nv. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Three of these dancers were under 18. . Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. 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. 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, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. 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. I loved his reality show All the Right Moves & had a crush on Travis, if true makes my crush go away. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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.. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? 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. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). 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. 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.. 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.

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