- See all classes with helpful filters. 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! I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Lavallee charges that in 2008, Wall made sexual advances on him when the two stayed at Lavalees parents home overnight while teaching a dance course close by. 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. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 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. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. How? In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. All rights reserved. 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 . 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 founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. 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 . Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. This will be a real. The Star reviewed the text messages. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. 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. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. I then felt very embarrassed. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. (US Only) Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. 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. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. My resolve is unwavering. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). Headquarters. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. 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. 3 min read. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. But the secret ate away at him. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . break the floor Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Description. 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. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. Ellis recalled that on the last night of the dance season in May 2017, when Ellis was 21, Lazzarini kissed him while they were out at a club with other staff members. National News | 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 . 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. 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. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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 LLC operates as a dance entertainment company. Sign in. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. 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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. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Check! 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. 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Im not trying to bring this company down. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. 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 didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Who is Floor Productions. Touring to 16 amazing cities across America and Canada, Break The Floor's SUMMER JAM is a full workshop and competition experience featuring a creative mix of all BTF tours: Jump, NUVO, 24 Seven & Radix! And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. 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. 185.120.77.169 Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. 165.8K Followers. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. 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. The company provides dance workshops and competitions, touring theatrical productions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel along with a broad range of business prospects to its customers. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. 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. Based on the Toronto Stars expose, 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.Myles Lavallee (one of the students) has accused Wall of starting to groom him when Lavallee was just sixteen years old and Wall was approximately twenty years old. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. agreed. National News | 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 . Emmy-winning choreographer, So You Think You Can Dance breakout star, and Shaping Sounds co-founder Travis Wall has been removed from a tour with Break The Floor dance company as allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior that have surfaced are being investigated (via The Toronto Star). 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. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? We could have and should have done better, he said. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. . 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 . But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. 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. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. 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. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 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. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Star revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. Learn More About 24 Seven! They provide amazing opportunities. September 17, 2021. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. 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. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. 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. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Location. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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.. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. That night, they had sex in his apartment. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. National News | 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. 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 was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff.