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. Teens who win titles at BTF events are invited back to work on the convention circuit as dance assistants for choreographers on the BTF roster, known internally as faculty.. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. 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! Three of these dancers were under 18. 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. Phone Number 818.432.1234. Break The Floor Productions. How? 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. 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. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. They provide amazing opportunities. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. 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. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. 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 Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. 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 Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. 2.7 out of 5 stars. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. His mental health deteriorated. 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. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . 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. Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with Pink, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, and appearances in more than a dozen films including La La Land and FAME. For 17 years, he kept to himself about what happened with Meismer. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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 . That night, they had sex in his apartment. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. We know this season will look a little different for now. New App with lots of helpful features. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . FREE Shipping. 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. 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. Founded Date 1999. Location. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. It was founded by Gil Stroming (Tap Dancer) in 1999, and today it is one of the most important dance companies in the world, encompassing traveling theater productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate clothing events, real estate production rental studios, software . (US Only) Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 3 min read. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. While for some of the dancers in this story the sexual interactions were, at the time, consensual, they now feel a power imbalance pressured them into relationships with leaders of the dance world who are many years older than them. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. Clarke was competing that July 2012 day at a New York City event put on by Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting dance schools and putting on . One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall of a hotel room they shared with a female assistant and forced oral sex on him. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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. 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. Snapshot; Why Join Us . 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. 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 the secret ate away at him. 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. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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. But the secret ate away at him. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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 . Lazzarini denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances, adding that he would not respond to each and every claim in your forthcoming article that is false, taken out of context or completely exaggerated.. 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. 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.. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! 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. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. 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.. Whenever I worked with a struggling student, I always reassured them that confronting our shortcomings is not a showing of weakness, it is the beginning of strength. As I Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. Button taught at Radix conventions. National News | We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. 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. Jackie Stroming's Phone Number and Email Last Update. Performance & security by Cloudflare. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Alex Murdaugh will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his wife and son, Colorado election denier Peters guilty of obstruction, US sending bridge-launchers in next Ukraine aid package, Doctor: Lesion removed from Bidens chest was cancerous, Dear Abby: I love my wife but I think I better get divorced, Harriette Cole: She has gone too far with the remote work option, Bobcat seen using Highway 17 wildlife crossing hours after it opens, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Authorities: Man bombed PG&E transformers in South San Jose, Ask Amy: I didn't ask for what I wanted, and I'm sad they couldn't guess, William backed Harry and Meghan's eviction, prefers brother never 'set foot in England again', Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Miss Manners: I felt bad that they all skipped her baby shower -- and then I found out why, Brawl forces end of NorCal high school basketball playoff game, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. 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. 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. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. We understand that some studios and families might not yet feel comfortable attending the in-person workshop. . Others did make allegations about BTF staff to owner and CEO Stroming, but their concerns were dismissed, allege two former staffers who say they were harassed on the job. 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.. All rights reserved. Description. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. 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. 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. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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. Break The Floor Productions General Information. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. 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. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. 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.. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. 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. Break the Floor has a fervent following. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. 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.. . 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 . Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. 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. 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. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. The whole story seems fishy. Button taught at Radix conventions. Who is Floor Productions. Subscribe to our emails. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. National News | Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . 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. orlando, fl. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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.. Learn More About 24 Seven! In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Nico Lonetree (left) and Myles Lavallee are among eight dancers who allege they were subjected to sexual harassment or predatory behaviour from staff of the prominent dance company, Break the Floor. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer., In a statement, Lazzarini apologized to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth.. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Break The Floor Productions LLC of Los Angeles, CA. 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. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. . Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. Allegations and Scandal Update. 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. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). 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. Upload your resume. September 17, 2021. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Description. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). Email. 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. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. 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.
Division 1 Rowing Rankings,
Alex Brightman Vocal Range,
Sonia Kashuk Biography,
Sour Diesel Ready To Harvest Pics,
What Powers Would A Child Of Aphrodite Have,
Articles B