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). All rights reserved. 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. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. 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. How? 3 min read. 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 . join our mailing list Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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. 185.120.77.169 Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). 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. 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. We could have and should have done better, he said. The creative type? Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. Contact. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Company reviews. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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.. New York,NY . Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . 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. Contact. 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. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. 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 Productions is one of the worlds preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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.Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. 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. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. 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. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. Learn More About 24 Seven! 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. Employers / Post Job. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Lonetree was 19. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. Hudson said he was optimistic. 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 said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. 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. Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. 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. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. His mental health deteriorated. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. What will the in-person events look like? And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. 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.. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. 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. Break The Floor Productions 6555 Barton Ave., Ste. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Thank you. 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. 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. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. But after speaking with the AP and the Star in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. Phone Number 818.432.1234. 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. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. He was inviting her to his hotel room. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. Break The Floor Productions. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. Three of these dancers were under 18. 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 . Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Out So You Think You Can Dance winner and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from dance company Break the Floor's tours following an . I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. it's worth it! Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Snapshot; Why Join Us . 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. 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. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Check! 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. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. 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 . 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. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. 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. Break the Floor Productions LLC operates as a dance entertainment company. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. Email. . 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.. 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. 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. September 17, 2021. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! I then felt very embarrassed. BREAK THE FLOOR LIVE is now April 18-19! National News | 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. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. 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. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. That night, they had sex in his apartment. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. Break the Floor has a fervent following. It has been humbling. Jackie Stroming's Phone Number and Email Last Update. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. 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. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. 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. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. About five years later, Lavallee, who now works as a professional dancer and choreographer, told his mother, Wendy, about everything that happened between him and the two older choreographers. 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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. Film Production. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. 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. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . 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. 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). 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. 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.. Check! 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 . This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 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. 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. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Pay & Benefits. 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.