The parents Cecilia Sheeren, Toni Carr, Vicki Oglesby, Jerry Walker and Jarneia Beacham accused studio manager Debra Green of misusing the funds they paid to send their daughters to the JUMP. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"captionPosition":"overlay","origImageSize":"960x1200","fullWindowGenericImage":false,"lastmodified":1650411169104,"forceoriginal":false,"caption":"Gary Schaufeld was a teenager in 2004 when he alleges a dance instructor pushed him up against a wall in an Ottawa, Ont., hotel room and forced oral sex on him. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work with students in other settings. But as his company grew, the alleged sexual misconduct continued. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Then, in early February, amid a flurry of new allegations against Break the Floor instructors on social media, Stroming disappeared from the companys website. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. Others shared specific allegations that choreographers used their positions of power to manipulate them into sexual situations. 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. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. Break the Floor dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. ","heading":"","fullWindow":false,"fullBleed":false,"showFullBleedOnMobile":false,"headColor":"","type":"html5mobile","textColor":"","mobileImageUrl":"","bgColor":"","imageUrl":"","registeredOnly":false,"linkUrl":"","aodaTitle":"Jeremy Hudson Instagram post","internalScroll":false,"displayStyle":"small-up"},{"text":"Meismer was recently removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Republication or distribution of this content is We could have and should have done better. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star HE WAS INVITING HER TO HIS HOTEL ROOM. A former student, Myles Lavallee, told the paper that Wall started grooming him when he was 16 and Wall was 20. Hundreds of studios and schools from. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. 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. Lazzarini would laugh and smile and would play it lighthearted so as to not take on the full responsibility of what he was doing, said Ellis. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced onstage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. 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. In light of this, over the last 18 months, we have made substantial strides to ensure BTR is a better and safer environment for everyone.". 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. Wallace was already a star in the dance world and would later go on to be hired by Gil Stroming to direct Break The Floors 24 Seven. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. Since the accusations have come to light, Break the Floor has removed Travis Wall as a staff member for the time being. ISLA CLARKE Ex-BTF Student NICK LAZZARINI Ex-BTF staff His representatives at MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say - 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Check out the all NEW Advocate Channel! After this investigation published, BTF issued a statement saying it fired the choreographer following this incident because of concerns about this type of behaviour., 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.. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Break the Floor faces new sexual misconduct allegations ","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. I then felt very embarrassed. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. The Star/AP spoke to the dancers father, who said that in the years following, she told him about what happened with Stroming. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. The Star reviewed the text messages. 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. 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.. 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. Lazzarini has denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Donald Padgett October 25 2021. "In. 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. His family has an INCREDIBLE amount of money. 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. 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Dance Convention Under Fire After Sexual Harassment Comes to Light Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. In light of this, over the last 18 months, we have made substantial strides to ensure BTR is a better and safer environment for everyone. Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. "We take this very seriously and will take further action if necessary. 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. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. "In. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the Star/AP, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. The Break the Floor dance company is parting ways with the dancer after he and others were accused of a range of sexually inappropriate conduct while on tour. One of those students, Myles Lavallee, accused Wall of beginning to groom him when Lavallee was 16 and Wall was around 20. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Stroming declined interview requests and did not respond to the specific allegations. 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. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. just about 10 hours ago, the owner of BTF Gil, who has also been accused of abuse has stepped down. Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say BTF TV. But for many years the secret ate away at him. This was in 2008, when Wall was at the height of his fame, having become a staple on television after placing second on So You Think You Can Dance. Wall has denied these allegations. 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.. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $(document).ready(function() {\n $('.SA_response-container').click(function() {\n $('.SA_hidden', this).toggle();\n });\n });\n ","wallHtmlBody":". He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Thank you. Travis Wall Cut From Break the Floor Dance Company Tour Amid Sexual Your 24/7 streaming source for equality news and lifestyle trends. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. 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. Explore the latest videos from hashtags: #breakthefloor, #dontbreakthefloor, #breakthelimitations . 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 really understand why communication was cut off. 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 All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the professional dance community. Includes allegations against Break the Floor founder Gil Stroming (referenced in 1 episode by Abby), as well as choreographers Mark Meismer (had Elliana as a regular assistant over the pandemic, taught the older girls choreography at ALDC LA) and Travis Wall (danced with Maddie on SYTYCD . He accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. 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. Travis Wall Dismissed From Tour After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. 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. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. 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. Trump 'slammed' E. Jean Carroll before allegedly raping her - New York Post SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, AFI Honors Rust Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins With Scholarship Fund for Women Filmmakers, 13 New Fall TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers, From Grand Crew to CSI: Vegas (Photos). But after speaking with the Star/AP in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. ", The day before, the company posted another statement on its Instagram account. Per the Star, 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.. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. 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And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. The AP and Star have not seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . Lonetree was 19. Break the Floor would not confirm if he was one of the four that were let go in the days after Stroming sold the company. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As lawmakers filed into the House chamber after a lunch break on Thursday, the desk of former state Rep. Scotty Campbell sat empty, the characteristic lawmaker name plate . Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 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. Hudson said he was optimistic: This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. We could have and should have done better, he said. It has been humbling. 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. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8, allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour. In the. NSFW Travis Wall Allegations For those who don't know, the competitive dance world is exploding with allegations of s*xual grooming and overall predatory behavior at Break the Floor dance conventions. Travis Wall Sexual Misconduct Accusation, Cut From Break the Floor Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Representatives for Wall and Break the Floor did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment Saturday. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. Representatives for Wall and Break the Floor did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment Saturday. "In the past, Break The Floor's policies and procedures did not focus on these issues as closely as they could have. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. The combination of hypersexual dance content and the close contact between adult teachers and the young dancers creates an atmosphere ripe for abuse, said Jamal Story, co-chair of the National Dance Committee for The Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). Dancer Nico Lonetree, of Saint Paul, Minn., alleges he was propositioned for oral sex by BTF employee Vincent Hicks via texts while they both worked at the RADIX BTF dance convention on Feb. 11, 2017, in Houston, Texas. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year old running the whole show. Im not trying to bring this company down. 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 . 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. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," the company wrote. This investigation, in partnership with the Associated Press, has found the alleged misconduct goes even deeper, and involves some of those responsible for turning Break the Floor into a dance industry empire. These alleged relationships took place between 2000, a little after Stroming launched the company, and around 2008, when Stroming would have been in his late 20s. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Associated Press has found alleged sexual misconduct stretches back to the dance companys early years, and involves some of its most prominent instructors and Stroming himself. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. So the boy was playing on the floor with these toys, like not even . The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"type":"cta","buttonText":"Sign Up Now","buttonLink":"/emails.html?nsrc=article-inline-longreads","description":"Take your time with the Star's biggest and best features with our Weekend Long Reads email newsletter. In the NEWS. Finally, 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. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall and forced oral sex on him. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Judge Dismisses Jury in Trump Rape Trial for the Day ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. 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 of sexual misconduct and grooming were leveled at him by a then-underaged dancer with the company.