Hicks, who was working as the convention announcer, was in his early 30s. Man convicted of California rapes that attorney blamed on defendants twin An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Floor Productions - Overview, News & Competitors | ZoomInfo.com This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. BREAK THE FLOOR LIVE is now April 18-19! His mental health deteriorated. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment. Break the Floor has a fervent following. Contact. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . What will the in-person events look like? Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. The incentive is a tax credit designed to help address complaints from school boards, police departments and hospitals about the growing . He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star - 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. Check! New York,NY . 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 . 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. Travis Wall Removed From Dance Tour After Misconduct Allegation Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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 . He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. 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. This will be a real. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. 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 - And more! Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. JUMP/NUVO/24SEVEN/TDA.Watch the latest video from Break The Floor (@breakthefloor). 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. 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. In a statement, BTF Productions said, For some time, we have taken substantial steps to ensure BTF is the safe and comfortable environment that our attendees and employees deserve and expect.. 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.. 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. Break The Floor Productions LLC - Company Profile and News They provide amazing opportunities. Break The Floor Productions | PBS NewsHour CONTACT - Break the Floor Productions - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say 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. 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. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. 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. 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. 3 min read. 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. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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.. 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 . Allegations and Scandal Update. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. Russell is known for a high level of professionalism in the entertainment industry. A post shared by Travis Wall (@traviswall). 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 . I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Break The Floor Productions - Datanyze: Find Business Contact Info for I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. 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. Start of main content. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Break The Floor Productions - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding Home - Break The Floor At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. Hudson said he was optimistic. Jobs - Break The Floor 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. 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. Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. Who is Floor Productions. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. Break The Floor Competition Code - CODES By Break The Floor The creative type? 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Break The Floor Productions - Tech Stack, Apps, Patents & Trademarks Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. Our model gets smarter over time as more people share salaries on Glassdoor. 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. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . 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. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Thank you. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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 . Break The Floor - Break The Floor - Break the Floor Productions Break The Floor Productions LLC Company Profile | Los Angeles, CA Etc. 185.120.77.169 Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. 165.8K Followers. Jeremy Hudson, now a professional dancer, came of age on the convention circuit and won Outstanding Dancer of the Year at the first JUMP Nationals in 2004. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. 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). 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.. In summer 2018, about two years after Ellis approached Stroming about Lazzarinis conduct, 17-year-old Zeke Lindsey met Lazzarini and began taking his classes. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. Snapshot; Why Join Us . Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . Your IP: With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . 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). Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video production and apparel.Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . 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. Break The Floor Productions. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . Email. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. But the secret ate away at him. Nico Lonetree (left) and Myles Lavallee are among eight dancers who allege they were subjected to sexual harassment or predatory behaviour from staff of the prominent dance company, Break the Floor. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Employers / Post Job. 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. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. A typical convention weekend lasts from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and features dance classes with some of the world's leading dance educators. Check! 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 . In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Attendees squeeze into small ballrooms where choreographers teach classes. Company reviews. 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.. 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 . break the floor: Latest News & Videos, Photos about break the floor A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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 Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. That night, they had sex in his apartment. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. It has been humbling. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? 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. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? We and our third party vendors, like Google, use first party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to inform, optimize and serve ads based . Break The Floor Productions Pay & Benefits reviews - Indeed 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.. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say. Discover jobs. 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. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Read More. 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. Jackie Stroming Email & Phone Number - Break Th.. | ZoomInfo He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Website. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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. Break The Floor Productions | LinkedIn Break the Floor dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Who would give someone Ecstacy in their parents home? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a298e5fcfbebcbd it's worth it! - See show line-ups. 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. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party.