Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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). Hudson said he was optimistic. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Travis has made some great dance routines and is a great dancer. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. 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. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . National News | Lavallee also revealed to The Star that Wall gave him ecstasy that night, and we were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now. Lavallee told the Star he invited a friend to come over to divert where he felt the night was going and a few months later, Wall ceased all communication with him and didnt show up for a scheduled teaching session. 185.120.77.169 Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. 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.. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. They provide amazing opportunities. Break The Floor Productions is a Music & Music Related Services, and Media & Internet company located in New York, New York with $2.40 Million in revenue and 62 employees. 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. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Allegations and Scandal Update. Lavallee said he did not tell Stroming or BTF staff about what he alleges happened with either Wall or the other choreographer, saying he thought his concerns would not be taken seriously. - See show line-ups. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Star revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. 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. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. About us. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Founders Gil Stroming. The biggest problem facing the dance industry (and everything, quite frankly) is uncertainty. Lavalee also charges that in an earlier incident, he attended a hotel room party in California where Wall gave him crystal meth so he could stay awake for his flight back home to Arizona. (Lavallee had never done any drugs at all prior to the alleged incident). Touring to 16 amazing cities across America and Canada, Break The Floor's SUMMER JAM is a full workshop and competition experience featuring a creative mix of all BTF tours: Jump, NUVO, 24 Seven & Radix! Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Break The Floor puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that they will be looking into the allegations against Wall. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Find salaries. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. . Arts Apr 20. His mental health deteriorated. FREE Shipping. 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. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasn't with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. I carry so much shame, because I knew who this person was I still indulged in the attention anyways, and it made me feel super icky. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. This will be a real. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. 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. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . Headquarters. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. j***@breakthefloor.com. National News | www.floorproductionsllc.com. By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. 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. How? 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. A people person? A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. 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. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. Check! In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. We could have and should have done better. Founded Date 1999. Button taught at Radix conventions. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. 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. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. 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. Your IP: It has been humbling. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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. Three of these dancers were under 18. 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.. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. 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.. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. New York,NY . 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After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Our dance studio friends are finding it hard to plan for the new season. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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. 15 reviews. 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. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In an interview earlier this year with the AP and the Star, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing sexual or physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. 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. 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 . Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . 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). 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. 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 . So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. 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 . 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.. I then felt very embarrassed. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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.