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. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. 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. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. . 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. confront my own shortcomings, I vow to take every step necessary to turn them into the very strengths I will use to help empower and protect others. Travis has made some great dance routines and is a great dancer. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. FREE Shipping. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? 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. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. It has been humbling. Check! 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. Write a review. 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 is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. The lawsuit and its disturbing allegations have rocked the ballet world, one populated by young dancers most of them girls who train under exacting instructors in hopes of reaching the top . Break The Floor Productions. 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. 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. Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. I dont think I was aware of how manipulated I was and how easy it was for (Lazzarini) to take advantage of the situation, Lindsey said. We understand that some studios and families might not yet feel comfortable attending the in-person workshop. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. 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. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. Subscribe to our emails. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. orlando, fl. 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. Thank you. Break The Floor Productions. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Contact. 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. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Arts Apr 20. Break The Floor Productions 6555 Barton Ave., Ste. 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.. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. 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. - And more! In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). What if we plan on it and they are cancelled again? An exclusive Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by Break the Floor (a big part of the dance community of North America) coaches over . 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). 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. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. 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.. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. 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 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . 15 reviews. 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, said Uchida, who alleges in 2015 he had a six-month consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini when he was 19 and Lazzarini was 31. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). 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. 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 . He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. The whole story seems fishy. Discover jobs. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. New App with lots of helpful features. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. 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 is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. Break the Floor Productions LLC operates as a dance entertainment company. 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the AP and the Star, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry.. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. 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. 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. 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. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Break The Floor Productions LLC of Los Angeles, CA. Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. 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. 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.