break the floor productions
About five years later, Lavallee, who now works as a professional dancer and choreographer, told his mother, Wendy, about everything that happened between him and the two older choreographers. 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. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. 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 just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. The alleged victims story is shaky at best. I was naive, and I was just letting it all happen, Lindsey said. The biggest problem facing the dance industry (and everything, quite frankly) is uncertainty. 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. . Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. july 8-15. hyatt regency orlando. National News | Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Looking to travel? He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. 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. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault 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 . The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. 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. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. join our mailing list Hicks said he sought therapy and a sexual treatment course in an effort to hold myself accountable and also deal with the feelings of feeling like I had wronged him in that way when that was never my intention. Our dance studio friends are finding it hard to plan for the new season. 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. National News | On all orders over $100! Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Operating Status Active. 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. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. 2.7. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers 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. 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. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been suspended from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of sexually inappropriate behavior made . I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Description. 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. 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. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). Company reviews. 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. - See show line-ups. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. Follow. j***@breakthefloor.com. That night, they had sex in his apartment. New York,NY . Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Founders Gil Stroming. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. Upload your resume. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Performance & security by Cloudflare. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Sign in. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? 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. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. 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. 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 might just be his lucky break into professional dance. National News | Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. 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. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. 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 . 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. This option would also allow the dancers or studios attending the virtual workshop to still come to the venue for the competition portion of the event. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. break the floor Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. 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.. High school student, convention boyfriend. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. 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. 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. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. 2.7 out of 5 stars. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Related Articles September 17, 2021. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. 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. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. 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 . Susan Kao illustration with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, John Lamparski/Getty Images, Broderick Baumann and ngel Vasquez, VIDEO OF BTF EVENT, OCT. 14, 2018: NICO LONETREE/@NICOGOOFS. 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! Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. Break The Floor Productions LLC. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). 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! 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.. 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. 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 . 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. But the secret ate away at him. 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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.. Find salaries. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Subscribe to our emails. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. 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. with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star 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. 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. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . The whole story seems fishy. Who is Floor Productions. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. 185.120.77.169 Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . 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. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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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. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. JUMP/NUVO/24SEVEN/TDA.Watch the latest video from Break The Floor (@breakthefloor). Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. - And more! I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star.
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