Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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.. As for the other allegation from the then-16-year old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behaviour that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teenager. Stroming started the company after he came to fame in the 1990s, performing in an off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon where six husky hoofers show off more than their fancy footwork.. All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the professional dance community. Marci A. Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who founded CHILD USA and is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children, said dance is one of the last forums where adults have unsupervised access to younger students. Meismer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Lonetree said he was soon after moved to a different convention, which he said made him feel like he had to start over and establish himself with a new team. 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Dancers say they were sexually harassed or groomed by famous choreographers and the dance company failed to protect them, Choreographer Nick Lazzarini pulled from dance company tour following Star investigation, The CEO of Break the Floor where famous dance coaches were accused of sexual misconduct says he is selling the company, This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. Wall helped bring the first same-sex pairing to So You Think You Can Dance. She says she didnt attend any auditions and returned home devastated. ", The day before, the company posted another statement on its Instagram account. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that the accusations against me are false, in response to the Stars initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floors tour as a result of the accusation. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. I then felt very embarrassed. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Myles Lavallee is one of eight former staffers and students in a . As a result of the story, Break the Floor is bringing in a third party to launch an investigation into the accusation made against "So You Think You Can Dance" alum Wall. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. Uchida, who was working as a dance assistant for BTF, alleges Lazzarini groped him in public without his consent before and after their relationship, and made derogatory, as well as racist comments about him in front of his peers and boss. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Meismer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. During this time we have received training from Youth Protection Advocates in Dance, have introduced new tools for faculty education, have worked with Wade Robson on implementing a revised faculty and staff code of conduct, and have updated company policies and procedures all with a focus on safety at our events. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. just about 10 hours ago, the owner of BTF Gil, who has also been accused of abuse has stepped down. U.S. Crime Twitter Human trafficking A woman tweeted Wednesday in a now viral thread that a man allegedly tried to break into her hotel room in Washington, D.C., at 1 a.m. on October 11. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . 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. TikTokWant more news, top stories, and videos? - December 15, 2022 Break the Floor company is taking appropriate measures to investigate the allegation of inappropriate behavior made against its Emmy-winning choreographer, Travis Wall. After receiving questions regarding the allegations, Lazzarini sent text messages to three of the dancers who spoke to the Star, saying to one, I will do my best to be a better person and apologizing to another, Im so so sorry I ever made you feel uncomfortable.. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that "the accusations against me are false," in response to the Star's initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floor's tour as a result of the accusation. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Im not trying to bring this company down. 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. It has been humbling. "In the past, Break The Floor's policies and procedures did not focus on these issues as closely as they could have. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. Be sure to follow Hundreds of studios and schools from. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with P!nk, 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. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Wall's publicist maintains that the accusations are entirely false. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"In an interview with the Star/AP, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. 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. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. 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. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. 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. 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. Schaufeld had fallen in love with tap at seven years old, and this opportunity offered a chance to raise his profile and learn from one of the best. "In. New students poured into dance studios, along with a growing number of health and fitness aficionados. Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior, Break the Floor said in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." The company also published a new code of conduct. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Marci A. Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor who founded CHILD USA and is the author of Justice Denied: What America Must Do to Protect its Children, said dance is one of the last forums where adults have unsupervised access to younger students. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. I believe if I had been taken seriously at the time I came forward with my experiences, this could have prevented another person from finding themselves in the same position that I was forced into, Ellis said. Thousands of. 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. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son., The code of conduct also requires educators to report any suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities., Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.

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