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. Founded Date 1999. So I think I always kind of accepted it as, it is what it is, you cant do anything about it. . Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. join our mailing list - See all classes with helpful filters. 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. 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. Gabriel, another famous dancer and choreographer, allegedly sent a nude photo on Snapchat to a 16-year-old dancer who says she was so horrified she threw her phone across the room. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. These include Viewport Meta, IPhone / Mobile Compatible, and LetsEncrypt. 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. Who is Floor Productions. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Lazzarini would laugh and smile and would play it lighthearted so as to not take on the full responsibility of what he was doing, said Ellis. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didn't respond to requests for comment. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . Break The Floor Productions. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Entering a BTF event is like walking into a carnival. Out So You Think You Can Dance winner and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from dance company Break the Floor's tours following an . I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. 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. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. break the floor Blogs, Comments and Archive News on Economictimes.com . Follow. 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. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. Every year, one of the world's 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. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. CODA aims to revolutionize the dance competition experience and is complimentary for every routine registered for JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven and The Dance Awards. 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. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. 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. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. but trust us. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. 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. National News | 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. 185.120.77.169 Take a look at our available positions: 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. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. (US Only) Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. 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.. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. This will be a real. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. But after speaking with the AP and the Star in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. A post shared by MYLES LAVALLE (@myleslavallee). 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 puts on performances and hosts dance schools across the United States & has said that . 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . Phone Number 818.432.1234. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. 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. (The Star has not seen the now-deleted text from Lazzarini, but has spoken with two people with whom Clarke shared or discussed the message). His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically.. 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 . 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. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Hudson said he was optimistic. Your IP: 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. Ellis alleges that Stroming decided there was no sexual harassment because Lazzarini never touched his genitals. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. A Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by BTF coaches over their younger students, where dancers say their complaints of inappropriate conduct have been dismissed by the companys owner, letting the problem fester for years. break the floor Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. 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! A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. 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. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Our dance studio friends are finding it hard to plan for the new season. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Write a review. Upload your resume. 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. I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. 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. 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. The number of employees ranges from 25 to 100. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Not saying it definitely never happened, but I need more proof before Im willing to label Wall or anyone else a predator. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Through transparency, integrity, and professionalism, we believe we can become a model throughout the dance industry. In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. Three of these dancers were under 18. This option would also allow the dancers or studios attending the virtual workshop to still come to the venue for the competition portion of the event. The Star reviewed the text messages. We will be limiting attendance, working with our venue partners to increase ballroom space and implementing health procedures and guidelines to be able to offer the safest environment for our attendees. Break the Floor Productions LLC operates as a dance entertainment company. Check! He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. 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. September 17, 2021. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Contact Email info@breakthefloor.com. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. 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 Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. The creative type? The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Thank you. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. 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. Since then, Break The Floor has become one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 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 . 165.8K Followers. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. orlando, fl. [Winners] get the most attention and respect. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. Break the Floor has a fervent following. Description. Lonetree alleges Hicks later confronted him, took off Lonetrees headset, and told him to take a walk and come back with the answer I want. Hicks strenuously denies saying this and denies removing Lonetrees headset. But the secret ate away at him. (Please note: Some fall cities have a registration deadline of only 14 days prior). Others did make allegations about BTF staff to owner and CEO Stroming, but their concerns were dismissed, allege two former staffers who say they were harassed on the job. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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. 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. New York,NY . Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. Gabriel, another famous dancer and choreographer, allegedly sent a nude photo on Snapchat to a 16-year-old dancer who says she was so horrified she threw her phone across the room. 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. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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. 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 whole story seems fishy. Whenever I worked with a struggling student, I always reassured them that confronting our shortcomings is not a showing of weakness, it is the beginning of strength. As I 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. 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. 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. 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.. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Stroming did not respond to specific questions, though told the Star that the dance company did not have fully thought out policies and procedures regarding this and, over the last year and a half we have worked very hard to make BTF a better and safer environment for everyone.. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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.