Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. Travis has made some great dance routines and is a great dancer. The Company encompasses dance workshops, competitions, touring theatrical and video . 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. At the New York event in 2012, Clarke said she turned down Lazzarinis request to join him in his hotel room. 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 . Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. The creative type? In 2019, according to multiple sources, Lazzarini accidentally posted to Instagram a video that appears to show himself masturbating. Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. 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. 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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.. Find salaries. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Receive a full refund within 7 business days of the event. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. 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, he said. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! The next summer, Ellis said he approached Stroming at the Dance Awards, the biggest BTF event of the season, to tell him how Lazzarini had harassed him. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Teens who win titles at BTF events are invited back to work on the convention circuit as dance assistants for choreographers on the BTF roster, known internally as faculty.. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. JUMP is proud to integrate CODA into all its competition. Gil Stroming, who recently sold the company he founded more . 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). The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? 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 . 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. Competition routines will be uploaded to our website and judged virtually. At Floor Productions we deliver best-in-class quality with the industries' best time-to-market project completion. 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.. 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. How much do Break The Floor Productions employees make? 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 he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. 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. 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.. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. A few months later, without warning, Lavallee said, Wall cut off communication with him in the middle of one weekend and didnt show up to one of their scheduled teaching sessions. 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. Email. Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims 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. Related Articles 10 Mar, 2022, 01.17 PM IST. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. My resolve is unwavering. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. Thank you. Wall did not respond to detailed questions sent by The Star, and said only the accusations against me are false, in a statement through a publicist. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust., In a later response, after being presented with an additional accusation that he sent nude photos to a teenage dancer, Lazzarini added: I have never subjected anyone to unwanted sexual advances. but trust us. Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 2.7 out of 5 stars. 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. Description. 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.. FREE Shipping. j***@breakthefloor.com. Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. 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. Stroming was allegedly involved in a series of inappropriate relationships with students of the dance program he was running, according to more than a dozen former staff and students. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. We are working on our competition entry limits for each event and will announce them soon. 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. Button taught at Radix conventions. Jackie Stroming's Phone Number and Email Last Update. Break the Floor has a fervent following. Etc. Get the latest business insights from Dun & Bradstreet. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Location. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Susan Kao illustration with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, John Lamparski/Getty Images, Broderick Baumann and ngel Vasquez, VIDEO OF BTF EVENT, OCT. 14, 2018: NICO LONETREE/@NICOGOOFS. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. 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. 15 reviews. 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. JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven will host a virtual event, specific to the event and city, and broadcast from our studios in Los Angeles. We could have and should have done better, he said. Website. 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 . This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. It was founded by Gil Stroming (Tap Dancer) in 1999, and today it is one of the most important dance companies in the world, encompassing traveling theater productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate clothing events, real estate production rental studios, software . 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. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. I believe if I had been taken seriously at the time I came forward with my experiences, this could have prevented another person from finding themselves in the same position that I was forced into, Ellis said. 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. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! Company reviews. The whole story seems fishy. Payment Terms for the 2020-2021 Season: The registration deadline will remain 30 days prior to the events, however payment will not need to be made until 14 days prior. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. But the secret ate away at him. Break The Floor Productions. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. What will the in-person events look like? Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. I just knew after that the company was bad news and I wanted out.. 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. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been suspended from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of sexually inappropriate behavior made . I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . 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. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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 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). 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. 24Seven 2021. The AP and the Star haven't seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. Stroming was allegedly involved in a series of inappropriate relationships with students of the dance program he was running, according to more than a dozen former staff and students. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. 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. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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 . Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. Headquarters. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Break The Floor Productions. Three of these dancers were under 18. Stroming did not respond to questions about Elliss allegations. This will be a real. Based on the Toronto Stars expose, 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.Myles Lavallee (one of the students) has accused Wall of starting to groom him when Lavallee was just sixteen years old and Wall was approximately twenty years old. Contact. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. The company currently specializes in the Entertainment area. . Who's who in the break the floor investigation. Sign in. To get a job at Break The Floor Productions, browse currently open positions and apply for a job near you. 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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. 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. 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. 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. 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. Founders Gil Stroming. 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. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 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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. Film Production. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Who is Floor Productions. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. Break The Floor Productions. 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. Break The Floor Productions is actively using 50 technologies for its website, according to BuiltWith. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. National News | 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. 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. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. 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. Hundreds of studios and schools from smaller communities bring teams of dancers to the events, branded by Stroming as JUMP, NUVO, 24seven, RADIX and DancerPalooza. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. 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. 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. Saying Pennsylvania is in the midst of a workforce crisis, Gov. His mental health deteriorated. 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.