Awards ceremonies will be broadcast live immediately following the competition. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. 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. Jackie Stroming is a Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions based in N Hollywood, California. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. September 17, 2021. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. but trust us. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. I then felt very embarrassed. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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.. National News | I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Thousands of hopefuls cram into hotel ballrooms across the continent for the chance to be discovered by a top choreographer and catapulted into the spotlight. Legal Name Break The Floor Productions. Check! 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. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Your IP: Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek | Associated Press and Toronto Star. 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 . Film Production. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. 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. The Star reviewed the text messages. agreed. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. About us. A people person? 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. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. Arts Apr 20. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. Josh Shapiro said he will propose a three-year incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, police officers and nurses when the Democrat unveils his budget plan on Tuesday. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Famous Break the Floor instructors accused of sexual harassment | The Star We could have and should have done better, he said. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . <style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. What will the in-person events look like? In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. . Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. 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 . Hudson said he was optimistic. Break The Floor Productions Pay & Benefits reviews - Indeed 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. Break the Floor (who is bringing in a third party to launch an investigation into the accusation lobbied against Wall) said in a story on the companys Instagram page on Friday Travis will not be traveling with BTF until weve had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations,going on to say We take this very seriously and will take further action if necessary.For his own part, Wall told the Star through his publicist thatthe accusations against me are false, but has not commented on on being cut from Break the Floors tour due to the accusations. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. He was inviting her to his hotel room. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! \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":". 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 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. 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. For payroll inquiries: payroll@breakthefloor.com For accounting inquiries: accounting@breakthefloor.com For human resources: hr@breakthefloor.com For general information about our dance programs: info@breakthefloor.com 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. 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 at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. Break The Floor Productions: Contact Details and Business Profile 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.. 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. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . 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 the text conversation, Hicks told Lonetree, I have a blow job with your name on it. Lonetree brushed off Hickss propositions over text, the texts show. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. Hudson said he was optimistic. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 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. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Many students endured inappropriate sexual advances or comments from their instructors, Uchida said. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. Break the Floor has a fervent following. BREAK THE FLOOR LIVE is now April 18-19! San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. Three of these dancers were under 18. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Dancer Isla Clarke, seen here performing in June 2021, alleges she was propositioned for sex by a choreographer nearly twice her age when she competed at a Break the Floor dance competition at age 16. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. My resolve is unwavering. But the secret ate away at him. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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. New York,NY . Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. 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. 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. California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit Floor Productions - Overview, News & Competitors | ZoomInfo.com Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. Find company research, competitor information, contact details & financial data for Break The Floor Productions LLC of Los Angeles, CA. 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. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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 staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. 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. We know this season will look a little different for now. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Of the eight allegations made, Wall is only implicated in the one featured in this article- and it happened nearly fourteen years ago. 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. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. 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. 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. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. The creative type? 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.. Clarke was competing that July 2012 day at a New York City event put on by Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting dance schools and putting on . 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 . Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. 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. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). National News | 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.. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Sami Levinbook - Director of Venue Sourcing - Break The Floor 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 . I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. New App with lots of helpful features. 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. Take a look at our available positions: Discover jobs. 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. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Break The Floor Productions LLC - Company Profile and News On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Company Type For Profit. . Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Gil Stroming founded the excellent company named Break The Floor Productions in 1999 and has since grown it into one of the most famous dance entertainment companies in the world. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Several individuals have recently stepped forward to publicly express their feelings of hurt or betrayal based on interactions they had with me between 2012 and 2020. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Related Articles All rights reserved. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. Travis Wall Cut From Break the Floor Dance Company Tour Amid - Yahoo! Im not trying to bring this company down. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. One of those dancers was Patrick Ellis, who alleges that he told Break the Floors CEO, Gil Stroming, that Lazzarini had stuffed his hand up through a hole in Elliss pants and tried to fondle him. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Contact. 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. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. 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. 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. Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions 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 . Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? 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. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasnt with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. Contact. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. 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! 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. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. j***@breakthefloor.com. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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.. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . - See all classes with helpful filters. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. Gil Stroming - Chief Exe.. - Break The Floor Productions | ZoomInfo 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. 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.. Clarke was competing that July 2012 day at a New York City event put on by Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States and Mexico hosting dance schools and putting on performances led by elite dancers and choreographers known from Broadway, film and television. 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. Etc. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd Subscribe to our emails. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the tight-knit professional dance community.