After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. 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. Travis Wall Removed From Dance Tour After Misconduct Allegation Email. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. Break The Floor LIVE | Virtual Dance Convention - YouTube Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 24 Seven Dance Convention 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. He was inviting her to his hotel room. 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. 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. 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.. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. Here's what we know about the sexual assault allegations filed against . 15 reviews. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Your IP: 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.. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. Emmy-winning choreographer, So You Think You Can Dance breakout star, and Shaping Sounds co-founder Travis Wall has been removed from a tour with Break The Floor dance company as allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior that have surfaced are being investigated (via The Toronto Star). Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. New York,NY . 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. Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say - Yahoo! News For payroll inquiries: payroll@breakthefloor.com For accounting inquiries: accounting@breakthefloor.com For human resources: hr@breakthefloor.com For general information about our dance programs: info@breakthefloor.com 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. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . Description. 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. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. The company provides dance workshops and competitions, touring theatrical productions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel along with a broad range of business prospects to its customers. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. 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 performances led by elite dancers and choreographers known from Broadway, film and television. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. break the floor: Latest News & Videos, Photos about break the floor We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. 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.. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Employers / Post Job. but trust us. Company reviews. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. break the floor Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. We will be limiting attendance, working with our venue partners to increase ballroom space and implementing health procedures and guidelines to be able to offer the safest environment for our attendees. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Travis Wall Dismissed From Tour After Sexual Misconduct Allegations 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. Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. Dancers say leading company bred culture of sex, silence - The Mercury News I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. 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. 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. 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! Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. 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. Break The Floor Productions Employee Reviews in Los Angeles, CA - Indeed An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. Break The Floor puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that they will be looking into the allegations against Wall. Floor Productions - Overview, News & Competitors | ZoomInfo.com CONTACT - Break the Floor Productions On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 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. 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). In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. 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. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. 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. FREE Shipping. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . 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. Saying Pennsylvania is in the midst of a workforce crisis, Gov. 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. 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.. 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. Break The Floor Productions LLC - Company Profile and News The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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. Snapshot; Why Join Us . He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Break the Floor Productions - NYC-ARTS And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Break The Floor - Apps on Google Play - See all classes with helpful filters. New App with lots of helpful features. Arts Apr 20. Who Is Gil Stroming Break The Floor? Allegations and - Mixedarticle With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims 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. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. A year or so later, shortly after her 18th birthday, Stroming flew the dancer to New York, where he told her he had lined up potentially career-launching dance auditions, she says. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. His mental health deteriorated. September 17, 2021. Eight former staff and students allege BTF employees, famous in the dance world, initiated sexual conversations, propositioned them for sex, sent them nude photos, sexually harassed them at work or engaged in sexual relationships with them. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney with perpetrating lewd acts on minors in a private dance studio, and is awaiting trial. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. 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. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Lazzarini noticed a tear in Elliss pants and he just shoved his hand up my pants, to which I quickly reacted because I was already embarrassed and didnt need a hand grabbing my genitalia, alleged Ellis.