Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? 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.. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. 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. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Take a look at our available positions: Location. 550 Los Angeles, CA 90038 818.432.1234 info@breakthefloor.com. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. 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. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. it's worth it! Read More. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . j***@breakthefloor.com. Etc. High school student, convention boyfriend. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. 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 . At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. In a statement, BTF Productions said, For some time, we have taken substantial steps to ensure BTF is the safe and comfortable environment that our attendees and employees deserve and expect.. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. www.floorproductionsllc.com. 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 Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 2.7 out of 5 stars. September 17, 2021. 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 . A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Hudson said he was optimistic. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 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. 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. - And more! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. Start of main content. 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. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. Company reviews. We could have and should have done better, he said. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. 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. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. Film Production. 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. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. 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. Subscribe to our emails. Company Type For Profit. - See all classes with helpful filters. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didn't respond. Break The Floor Productions. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. 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 BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Click to reveal las vegas, nv. 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.. Our dance studio friends are finding it hard to plan for the new season. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. 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. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. 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. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video production and apparel.Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . New App with lots of helpful features. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Allegations and Scandal Update. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Sign in. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. 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. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. I then felt very embarrassed. Break The Floor Productions. 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.. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. At Break the Floor Productions, we are committed to creating a dance culture rooted in excellence and focused on the well-being of our dancers and staff. 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. A people person? Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. 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. Receive up-to-date schedules and info when attending any of the Break The Floor events: JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, The Dance Awards, DancerPalooza and Dance Teacher Summit! [Winners] get the most attention and respect. We could have and should have done better. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Check! Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Josh Shapiro said he will propose a three-year incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, police officers and nurses when the Democrat unveils his budget plan on Tuesday. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Break The Floor puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that they will be looking into the allegations against Wall. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. It was founded by Gil Stroming (Tap Dancer) in 1999, and today it is one of the most important dance companies in the world, encompassing traveling theater productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate clothing events, real estate production rental studios, software . And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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.. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. (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). National News | Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . Check! CODA aims to revolutionize the dance competition experience and is complimentary for every routine registered for JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven and The Dance Awards. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. 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. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 185.120.77.169 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 2.7. Jackie Stroming's Phone Number and Email Last Update. The televised dance shows brought fame to dancers Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall and Misha Gabriel, who became big name attractions as Break The Floor instructors. 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. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. 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 . He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. His mental health deteriorated. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. All rights reserved. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. Performance & security by Cloudflare. july 8-15. hyatt regency orlando. Learn More About 24 Seven! The biggest problem facing the dance industry (and everything, quite frankly) is uncertainty. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . 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. 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. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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). A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. 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. 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. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. 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. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. 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 have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. 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 .

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