Be sure to follow 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. Thursday's testimony became heated, with Trump's accuser, E. Jean Carroll raising her voice at one point, and the judge scolding a Trump lawyer for asking questions that were "argumentative . After the Stars October 2021 story published, dancers came forward with more than 15 additional accusations, about Stroming and Break The Floor faculty. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. : A Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour at Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Who's who in the break the floor investigation. Hours later, Gil Stroming told his staff and customers he had sold the company for an undisclosed amount to Los Angeles real estate investor and producer Russell Geyser and was stepping down as CEO. 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. To order copies of 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.. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. All I would need to do is say [five] words: I know what you did. . 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 company's Instagram page on Friday "Travis will not be traveling with BTF until we've had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations," going on to say "We take this very seriously and By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," Break the Floor said in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. Meismer allegedly asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. ", The day before, the company posted another statement on its Instagram account. (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). "We take this very seriously and will take further action if necessary. 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. Ellis started working for BTF in merchandising, selling clothing at events in 2015 when he was 19. 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 performances led by elite dancers and choreographers known from Broadway, film and television. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Its touring conventions will make numerous stops this year, from Miami to Vancouver and Calgary to Anchorage, Alaska. rights reserved. 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. 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 of sexual misconduct and grooming were leveled at him by a then-underaged dancer with the company. He accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. But for many years the secret ate away at him. Im not trying to bring this company down. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. One night, Schaufeld said, Wallace pushed him up against the wall and forced oral sex on him. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. 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 investigation by The Toronto Star into his alleged sexually inappropriate behavior. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Alumni and faculty have danced onstage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. The largest room is reserved for the main stage, where at many events, aspiring dancers perform showcases and compete for the title of best dancer.. 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. Gabriel, when asked about Mapless accusation, said in a written statement that he had been drinking heavily that night to control fears about serious health problems in his family. He apologized and said that he himself was a victim of abuse as a teen, and that his texts to Maples were a one time ever brief exchange that he would never consciously have sent. He said the texts have been misinterpreted and taken out of context.. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break the Floor implemented procedures to protect children, including, among other things, a hotline, background checks for new staffers and a commitment to commission independent probes into allegations. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Schaufeld had fallen in love with tap at seven years old, and this opportunity offered a chance to raise his profile and learn from one of the best. When allegations of sexual misconduct hit the world-famous dance company Break the Floor last fall, CEO Gil Stroming tried to calm the tight-knit community of dancers and their parents. In the past, Break The Floors policies and procedures did not focus on these issues as closely as they could have. So the boy was playing on the floor with these toys, like not even . ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. Thank you. Wall, an Emmy-award winner, was also removed from a BTF tour following the Stars earlier reporting. Twitter Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. Many described an overtly sexual environment. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution The AP and Star have not seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Hudson was still working with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. "Travis will not be traveling with BTF until we've had an opportunity to look into these allegations." BTF announced in a statement via Instagram. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," Break the Floor said in a statement posted to Instagram Thursday. Thousands of. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8, allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour. Of these sources, four say Stroming sometimes brought young Break the Floor participants to parties or company events, where they were introduced as his girlfriend. We were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now, he said. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. The problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. Instagram Wall is just one of several Break the Floor employees facing allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior from former staff and students. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year old running the whole show. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. 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. He vowed to make Break the Floor a safe space for the next generation of dancers the same goal, he said, that he had when he launched the dance company more than 20 years ago as a charismatic 19-year-old. Meismer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. The parents Cecilia Sheeren, Toni Carr, Vicki Oglesby, Jerry Walker and Jarneia Beacham accused studio manager Debra Green of misusing the funds they paid to send their daughters to the JUMP. 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. Per the Star, 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.. with photos from Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star New students poured into dance studios, along with a growing number of health and fitness aficionados. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"type":"cta","buttonText":"Sign Up Now","buttonLink":"/emails.html?nsrc=article-inline-longreads","description":"Take your time with the Star's biggest and best features with our Weekend Long Reads email newsletter. 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 He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. We are committed to being a serious voice in this conversation and will continue our diligent efforts to positively impact the dance industry.. All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the professional dance community. Accept. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly. A year or so later, shortly after her 18th birthday, Stroming flew the dancer out to New York, where he told her he had lined up dance auditions, she says. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that "the accusations against me are false," in response to the Star's initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floor's tour as a result of the accusation. This was in 2008, when Wall was at the height of his fame, having become a staple on television after placing second on So You Think You Can Dance. Wall has denied these allegations. 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. Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming. Republication or distribution of this content is Im not trying to bring this company down. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Myles Lavallee is one of eight former staffers and students in a . One dance instructor, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of professional consequences, said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions to be watchful and aware of the potential for abuse of power. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," the company wrote. Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." About two decades ago, when she was a 20-year-old dance teacher accompanying her students to a Break the Floor event, she said she refused Gil Stromings $500 offer to join him in his hotel room. All In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video that appears to show himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said he let four people go because of credible allegations of misconduct. But he said he felt uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, then in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Dancers accuse some of Break the Floor's famous choreographers of sexual harassment and grooming. Stroming did not respond to questions about this incident. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. Travis will not be traveling with BTF until weve had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations, Break the Floor said in a statement shared in the dance companys Instagram Stories Friday. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. 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. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the Star/AP, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Watch popular content from the following creators: (@americanpiefan), Rachel Daly(@rachelkdaly), (@americanpiefan), Break The Floor(@breakthefloor), Rachel Daly(@rachelkdaly) . He was inviting her to his hotel room. Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. 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. "In. In the. 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. Includes allegations against Break the Floor founder Gil Stroming (referenced in 1 episode by Abby), as well as choreographers Mark Meismer (had Elliana as a regular assistant over the pandemic, taught the older girls choreography at ALDC LA) and Travis Wall (danced with Maddie on SYTYCD . "The problem was not [the taking of his own life]. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 300,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely . 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. "In. A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Associated Press has found alleged sexual misconduct stretches back to the dance companys early years, and involves some of its most prominent instructors and Stroming himself. By clicking accept, you agree to this use. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. I then felt very embarrassed. 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 are committed to being a serious voice in this conversation and will continue our diligent efforts to positively impact the dance industry," the company added. "In. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, AFI Honors Rust Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins With Scholarship Fund for Women Filmmakers, 13 New Fall TV Shows Ranked by Premiere Viewers, From Grand Crew to CSI: Vegas (Photos). Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? Lindsey alleges Lazzarini sent him nude photos of himself. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. As a result of the story, Break the Floor is bringing in a third party to launch an investigation into the accusation made against So You Think You Can Dance alum Wall. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. https://t.co/213nsiNJ73 Morgan Bocknek (@mobocks) October 21, 2021 Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. The Star reviewed the text messages. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work with students in other settings. According to the Star, Wall told the outlet through his publicist that the accusations against me are false, in response to the Stars initial story, but did not comment on being cut from Break the Floors tour as a result of the accusation. Others shared specific allegations that choreographers used their positions of power to manipulate them into sexual situations. This site uses cookies for analytics, personalized content, and ads. - December 15, 2022 Break the Floor company is taking appropriate measures to investigate the allegation of inappropriate behavior made against its Emmy-winning choreographer, Travis Wall. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Schaufeld said Wallace asked him to assist him at an event in Ontario, along with another female dancer, and they were sharing a room in an Ottawa hotel. Break the Floor has a fervent following. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but his alleged assault by a dancer who went on to play a key role at the company continues to haunt him. In an interview with the Star/AP, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. But as Stroming grew the company from a dance convention into an industry powerhouse, he also allegedly perpetuated a culture of sexual misconduct and silence, where dancers were assaulted, harassed and manipulated, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff and students.