In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin National News | Hudson said he was optimistic. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) | TikTok Your IP: Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall of a hotel room they shared with a female assistant and forced oral sex on him. 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. Break the Floor Productions - NYC-ARTS The alleged victims story is shaky at best. Snapshot; Why Join Us . Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . 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. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. 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. Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? 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. Employers / Post Job. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. 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. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. 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). He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. j***@breakthefloor.com. Film Production. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Upload your resume. Button taught at Radix conventions. agreed. Russell Geyser - CEO at Break The Floor Productions | The Org But behind the bright lights and pulsing music, some dancers say they were sexually assaulted, harassed and manipulated by the companys powerful founder and famous teachers and choreographers, according to a joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Toronto Star. 11/20/2022 12:38 PM. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Description. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. 24Seven 2021. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. 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. Break The Floor Productions - Datanyze: Find Business Contact Info for 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. Of the eight allegations made, Wall is only implicated in the one featured in this article- and it happened nearly fourteen years ago. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Break The Floor Productions - Tech Stack, Apps, Patents & Trademarks As I embark on a path of repentance, I will use the platform I have been given to do better in the future and to help others get it right too. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. 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 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.. 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. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. Arts Apr 20. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. He was inviting her to his hotel room. 550 Los Angeles, CA 90038 818.432.1234 info@breakthefloor.com. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 3 min read. 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. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. CODA is Break The Floor's innovative online system of style specific score sheets, video tutorials, data analytics and judge training. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Gil Stroming - Chief Exe.. - Break The Floor Productions | ZoomInfo 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. This is quite common in the industry and is used to cover the time and expense Studio Owners incur while organizing, registering and attending these events. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. Start of main content. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions 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. Discover jobs. . july 8-15. hyatt regency orlando. . 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 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. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall of a hotel room they shared with a female assistant and forced oral sex on him. 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. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. \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":". Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! Sami Levinbook - Director of Venue Sourcing - Break The Floor The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Famous Break the Floor instructors accused of sexual harassment | The Star 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. On all orders over $100! Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . The company was launched 22 years ago by a charismatic dancer, Gil Stroming, who came to fame in the 1990s, performing in the off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon.. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. 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 . We are committed to making studios and families feel confident and secure when registering for our events. 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. What if we plan on it and they are cancelled again? To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 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.. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! 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. 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. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. High school student, convention boyfriend. Phone Number 818.432.1234. 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.. 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. We view this situation as an opportunity to expand our vision to bring the excitement of dance to everyone, all over the world, no matter the circumstance. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their 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. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. 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. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. Break The Floor Productions. Break The Floor Productions, LLC was formed in 1999 by Gil Stroming with the rock-tap show Break The Floor. 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. I loved his reality show All the Right Moves & had a crush on Travis, if true makes my crush go away. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Who Is Gil Stroming Break The Floor? Allegations and - Mixedarticle 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.. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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 . And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Home - Break The Floor 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. Break The Floor Productions | PBS NewsHour las vegas, nv. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. 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. But the secret ate away at him. 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. Headquarters Regions Greater Los Angeles Area, West Coast, Western 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. 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. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Break The Floor - Apps on Google Play Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Headquarters. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Break The Floor Productions LLC - Company Profile and News 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. They provide amazing opportunities. 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.