Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. 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. 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. 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. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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 the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Sign in. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. But in January, as the AP and the Star were investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him and others involved in the company, Stroming announced that he had sold Break the Floor and stepped down as CEO. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. 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. Employers / Post Job. 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. His mental health deteriorated. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Hudson said he was optimistic. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Check! 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. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. 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. 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. As I embark on a path of repentance, I will use the platform I have been given to do better in the future and to help others get it right too. 3 min read. 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. 24Seven 2021. A few months later, without warning, Lavallee said, Wall cut off communication with him in the middle of one weekend and didnt show up to one of their scheduled teaching sessions. 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. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. 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 . It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Headquarters. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Stroming did not respond to specific questions, though told the Star that the dance company did not have fully thought out policies and procedures regarding this and, over the last year and a half we have worked very hard to make BTF a better and safer environment for everyone.. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Thank you. A people person? Learn More About 24 Seven! For more than 30 years, Russell has been CEO of numerous companies and run a portfolio of investments in theatrical film production, sports lending, film finance and lending, media buying, and . Related Articles The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. An exclusive Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by Break the Floor (a big part of the dance community of North America) coaches over . If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . 165.8K Followers. 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. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Email. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. 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. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! - See all classes with helpful filters. National News | 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. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. 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. 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. 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. Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. 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. 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. Lavallee also revealed to The Star that Wall gave him ecstasy that night, and we were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now. Lavallee told the Star he invited a friend to come over to divert where he felt the night was going and a few months later, Wall ceased all communication with him and didnt show up for a scheduled teaching session. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. 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. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. 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. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. Button taught at Radix conventions. We could have and should have done better. 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. . 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Break The Floor Productions LLC. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Of the eight allegations made, Wall is only implicated in the one featured in this article- and it happened nearly fourteen years ago. 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.. 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. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. 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. 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. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Break The Floor Productions. As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teen. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. 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 . October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. 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, said Uchida, who alleges in 2015 he had a six-month consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini when he was 19 and Lazzarini was 31. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). 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. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. <style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> Break The Floor Productions, LLC 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 Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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.. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Allegations and Scandal Update. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out 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. Sign in. 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. 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. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. (US Only) Company Type For Profit. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. He won the best dancer title in 2014 and worked for BTF for two years as a dance assistant, travelling across Canada and the United States. 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 action you just performed triggered the security solution. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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). Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Break The Floor Productions. Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. 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.. - See show line-ups. 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. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. 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. Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . Hudson said he was optimistic. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. About us. las vegas, nv. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . 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 Productions. Contact. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Check! Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. 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. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. 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. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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. 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 . One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. As a student I was in inappropriate relationships with teachers, and vice versa, and just looking back I was like, oh wow, I think a lot of us dont even realize at first the power that we have in the dance world.. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Discover jobs. 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. 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. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Contact. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . National News | Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son. And it encourages discretion online regarding Religion, Social Justice, Discrimination, Politics, Love and Romance, Abuse, Mental Health, Bullying, and Terrorism., The new code of conduct also says educators are considered mandated reporters regarding suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities.. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 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. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. But the secret ate away at him. 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. On all orders over $100! He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. Upload your resume. 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. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . Your IP: Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. Description. with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star National News | Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. I then felt very embarrassed. 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. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld 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, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff 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. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. Location. Click to reveal I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said.