This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Jackie Stroming's Phone Number and Email Last Update. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Founded Date 1999. . In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. 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. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. 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. 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. 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. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 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.. 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 . 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. About us. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin Thank you. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. Upload your resume. 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. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. but trust us. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer., In a statement, Lazzarini apologized to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth.. Dancers say leading company bred culture of, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Dancers say leading company bred culture of sex, silence, California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit, Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims, Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin, San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out, Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault. 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. 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. Company Type For Profit. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. 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. Lazzarini denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances, adding that he would not respond to each and every claim in your forthcoming article that is false, taken out of context or completely exaggerated.. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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.. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. 2.7 out of 5 stars. 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 hosts conventions in cities across North America, putting on events in hotel ballrooms every weekend over the course of a six-month season. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. 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.. - See show line-ups. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Break The Floor Productions 6555 Barton Ave., Ste. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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. 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. 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. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Who is Floor Productions. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. I was naive, and I was just letting it all happen, Lindsey said. Founders Gil Stroming. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. This will be a real. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Related Articles [Winners] get the most attention and respect. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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.. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions, whose alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and Super Bowl . All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Receive up-to-date schedules and info when attending any of the Break The Floor events: JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, The Dance Awards, DancerPalooza and Dance Teacher Summit! He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). Any claims to the contrary are simply untrue., Nick Lazzarini: My Apology and Promise to Do Better. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Employers / Post Job. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. It has been humbling. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. The largest room is reserved for the main stage, where at many events, aspiring dancers perform showcases and compete for the title of best dancer.. Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he 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. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. Location. join our mailing list Arts Apr 20. What will the in-person events look like? 15 reviews. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Glassdoor provides our best prediction for total pay in today's job market, along with other types of pay like cash bonuses, stock bonuses, profit sharing, sales commissions, and tips. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. las vegas, nv. 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. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. 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. 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. - See all classes with helpful filters. 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. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). Ellis recalled that on the last night of the dance season in May 2017, when Ellis was 21, Lazzarini kissed him while they were out at a club with other staff members. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 185.120.77.169 BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. On all orders over $100! 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. The next summer, Ellis said he approached Stroming at the Dance Awards, the biggest BTF event of the season, to tell him how Lazzarini had harassed him. Eventually, Lazzarini began to avoid her at dance conventions, Clarke said, and this made her anxious, as she feared he was in a position to impede her career. National News | 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. 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.