Thousands of hopefuls cram into hotel ballrooms across the continent for the chance to be discovered by a top choreographer and catapulted into the spotlight. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. www.floorproductionsllc.com. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. - See all classes with helpful filters. 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. but trust us. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. 15 reviews. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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! Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. 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. 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. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! it's worth it! Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . 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. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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. 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. 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. Etc. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. National News | In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Three of these dancers were under 18. 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. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. Thank you. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. 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 . Break The Floor Productions is a private company. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. Upload your resume. 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. Every year, one of the world's 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. 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. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. Related Articles BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. - See show line-ups. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Three of these dancers were under 18. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. I dont know in which ways more to be accountable, in which ways more to apologize, or in which ways more to make it right, Hicks said. Description. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. This will be a real. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. 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. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. Find salaries. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Read More. 3 min read. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions, whose alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and Super Bowl . Since then, Break The Floor has become one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. 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. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Hudson said he was optimistic. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. Description. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. 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. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. But behind the bright lights and pulsing music, some dancers say they were sexually assaulted, harassed and manipulated by the companys powerful founder and famous teachers and choreographers, according to a joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Toronto Star. When Ellis explained that he recoiled before Lazzarini actually touched his genitals, he alleges Stroming declared it wasnt actually sexual harassment because he didnt actually touch me.. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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. 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. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Employers / Post Job. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? 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. Who is Floor Productions. Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. Contact. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. 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. But it all blew up when Beacham's husband, Kirk, contacted Gil Stroming, owner of Break the Floor Productions, about why the company would cancel the studio's registration to the Jump and Nuvo . To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. We and our third party vendors, like Google, use first party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to inform, optimize and serve ads based . The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out 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. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. The next summer, Ellis said he approached Stroming at the Dance Awards, the biggest BTF event of the season, to tell him how Lazzarini had harassed him. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. His mental health deteriorated. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. 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. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. Check! 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. I loved his reality show All the Right Moves & had a crush on Travis, if true makes my crush go away. Sign in. We understand that some studios and families might not yet feel comfortable attending the in-person workshop. 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.. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). 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. I then felt very embarrassed. 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. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . Wall did not respond to detailed questions sent by The Star, and said only the accusations against me are false, in a statement through a publicist. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Founded Date 1999. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . 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.