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. . 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.. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. 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. Warning: This article includes accounts of alleged sexual harassment that some readers could find distressing. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault 185.120.77.169 Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. 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. 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 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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.. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. Home - Break The Floor Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Check! JUMP/NUVO/24SEVEN/TDA.Watch the latest video from Break The Floor (@breakthefloor). I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Company Type For Profit. National News | Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Find salaries. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. 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. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. 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. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. 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. Read More. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC :: California (US) - OpenCorporates It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Learn More About 24 Seven! This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . Dancers say leading company bred culture of, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Dancers say leading company bred culture of sex, silence, California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit, Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims, Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin, San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out, Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault. 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. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. 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. 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 . The alleged victims story is shaky at best. 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. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. Click to reveal 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.. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Break The Floor Productions - Datanyze: Find Business Contact Info for 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. CODA aims to revolutionize the dance competition experience and is complimentary for every routine registered for JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven and The Dance Awards. 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. 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 . All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. 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. I loved his reality show All the Right Moves & had a crush on Travis, if true makes my crush go away. 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. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Break the Floor dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Lavalee stated that he felt he was being groomed for a sexual relationship and that he was now being punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. 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. Sami Levinbook - Director of Venue Sourcing - Break The Floor Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. . www.floorproductionsllc.com. 24 Seven Dance Convention 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 . Saying Pennsylvania is in the midst of a workforce crisis, Gov. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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 . A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. National News | We understand that some studios and families might not yet feel comfortable attending the in-person workshop. FREE Shipping. 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. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. I carry so much shame, because I knew who this person was I still indulged in the attention anyways, and it made me feel super icky. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. 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. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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. 24Seven 2021. Break The Floor Productions Company Profile: Funding & Investors I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. We know this season will look a little different for now. 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. 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. We could have and should have done better, he said. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. 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 didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 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..
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