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. Location. 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. Due to the LA lockdown, it took us a little longer to organize. 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. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Check! I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. 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. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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. Break The Floor Productions LLC. 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 Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. 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. Description. The biggest problem facing the dance industry (and everything, quite frankly) is uncertainty. 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.. 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. October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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.. We have many different teams and departments who are in need of someone just like you! At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. How much do Break The Floor Productions employees make? New York,NY . Ghislaine Maxwells appeals arguments mirror earlier claims Find salaries. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Follow Break The Floor Productions on Instagram. (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). 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. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. This will be a real. 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. . 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. It has been humbling. Hudson said he was optimistic. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . 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.. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. Break the Floor offers dance workshops, contests, touring theatrical productions, picture and video production, corporate events . 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 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. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. This allows a dancer or studio to take class from home or at the studio (at the discounted virtual fee). Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Hotel lobbies, colourfully decorated, are lined with vendors selling clothes and videos. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didn't respond. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Lavallee caught the attention of Wall an Emmy winner and So You Think You Can Dance runner-up who was judging his performance at a BTF competition in the summer of 2008, Lavallee said. join our mailing list 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. 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. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. 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. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. 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. 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. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. Now 25, Uchida grew up attending BTF conventions. - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. In the next week, we will be releasing an FAQ that will deal with all other questions. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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 alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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. 24Seven 2021. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 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. 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 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.. 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. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Break The Floor (@breakthefloor) on TikTok | 2M Likes. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. That same year, Lavallee alleges a 24-year-old dancer forced himself onto a 16-year-old Lavallee at a party. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Arts Apr 20. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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. Read More. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Lets be responsible journalists, shall we? Performance & security by Cloudflare. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Dancer Nico Lonetree, of Saint Paul, Minn., alleges he was propositioned for oral sex by BTF employee Vincent Hicks via texts while they both worked at the RADIX BTF dance convention on Feb. 11, 2017, in Houston, Texas. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. 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. 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. 550 Los Angeles, CA 90038 818.432.1234 info@breakthefloor.com. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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. All rights reserved. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Break The Floor Productions. All of our in-person events will now have a virtual option. 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. A people person? His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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. Phone Number 818.432.1234. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. - And more! Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Upload your resume. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Photos: Break the Floor, Joe Corrigan/Getty Images, Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Beau Campbell, Miss Toto Rodgers, KiLeigh Williams, ngel Vasquez, Lee Gumbs, Broderick Baumann. Check! He was inviting her to his hotel room. Break the Floor Productions Jan 2015 - Aug 2019 4 years 8 months. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . Break The Floor Productions is part of the Home Improvement & Hardware Retail industry, and located in California, United States. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. Break The Floor Productions, LLC is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. 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. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. 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.. 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. 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 . www.floorproductionsllc.com. I was naive, and I was just letting it all happen, Lindsey said. Three of these dancers were under 18. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Pay & Benefits. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. 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. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. But the secret ate away at him. High school student, convention boyfriend. We could have and should have done better, he said. Break the Floor is the largest producer of dance conventions in the world with three dance conventions, JUMP, NUVO and 24 Seven Dance . Who is Floor Productions. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Break The Floor Productions 6555 Barton Ave., Ste. 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.. 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. Company reviews. Learn More About 24 Seven! I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. 5446 Satsuma Ave, N Hollywood, California, 91601, United States. Allegations and Scandal Update. A post shared by Break The Floor Productions (@breakthefloorprod). Description. Related Articles A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault My resolve is unwavering. 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. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. Sign in. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. Dancers can take workshop classes at home or the studio may organize a watch and dance party at their studio. 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. Due to the current climate, we realize the need for a clearer payment and refund policy. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. 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. 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.. 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. . The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. Employers / Post Job. Etc. 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. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Click to reveal Founded Date 1999. 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. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 24 SEVEN Dance Convention is a dance workshop and competition that tours to 27 cities in the United States each season. 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. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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 . When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves.
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