Im not trying to bring this company down. The annual revenue of Break The Floor Productions varies between 25M and 100M. - And more! And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Break The Floor is a rapid growth company and are always looking for great new people to join our team! Button taught at Radix conventions. 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.. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . 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. 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. 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. Break The Floor Productions. Read More . 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. 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 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as . Take a look at our available positions: Break The Floors Health & Safety Protocols can be found here: https://www.breakthefloor.com/safety. On all orders over $100! Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. july 8-15. hyatt regency orlando. 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. 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. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Receive up-to-date schedules and info when attending any of the Break The Floor events: JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, The Dance Awards, DancerPalooza and Dance Teacher Summit! 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. 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.. Start of main content. 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. Will Conventions & Competitions be happening? In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 3 min read. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out California teacher who gave birth to child fathered by student hit with another sexual abuse lawsuit 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. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 16 years for rape, sexual assault 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. Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. - See show line-ups. The new owner, Russell Geyser, said the allegations have nothing to do with the current company, and that people involved with purported misconduct no longer work for Break The Floor. 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.. 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. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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! 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.. National News | Film Production. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Location. Allegations and Scandal Update. <style>.g-image--loading{display:none;}</style> I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. 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. 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. Phone Number 818.432.1234. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . Another dancer who says he reported his harassment to BTF management is Patrick Ellis, 26, from Baltimore, Md. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. 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. He also noted that he was not in a position of authority but in a first-year, entry-level position. 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. His mental health deteriorated. j***@breakthefloor.com. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. . Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. By Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza, Associated Press, Morgan Bocknek, Toronto Star . las vegas, nv. Employers / Post Job. But the secret ate away at him. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. This salary trends is based on salaries posted anonymously by Break The Floor Productions employees. Three of these dancers were under 18. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Free and open company data on California (US) company BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS LLC (company number 201329710098), 5446 SATSUMA AVE, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, 91601. 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. 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 . 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. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 100,000+ dancers annually, Break The Floor Productions is largely . It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be refunded within 7 business days of the event. A people person? 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.. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Break The Floor Productions is a private company. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. How? Russell Geyser is the new CEO of Break the Floor Productions. 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Flat-rate shipping on all physical store items anywhere in the US! 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. October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. 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. 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. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. 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. Click to reveal Specialties: Event Production Established in 2000. Lindsey, from California, said he started exchanging text messages with the 34-year-old choreographer. 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.. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. Break The Floor Productions. For more than 30 years, Russell has been CEO of numerous companies and run a portfolio of investments in theatrical film production, sports lending, film finance and lending, media buying, and . I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. It just felt like the next step was for us to be in contact and kiss one another.. 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. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. Greater Los Angeles Area Event Planner Break the Floor Productions Jan 2012 - Aug 2019 7 years 8 months. What if we plan on it and they are cancelled again? 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. 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. Once on the convention circuit, children as young as five years old and teens spend entire weekends, from early morning to sometimes past midnight in hotel ballrooms and convention centres. This will be a real. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. join our mailing list june 24-july 1. the venetian/palazzo. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Lonetree said he was soon after moved to a different convention, which he said made him feel like he had to start over and establish himself with a new team. 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. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. The lawsuit and its disturbing allegations have rocked the ballet world, one populated by young dancers most of them girls who train under exacting instructors in hopes of reaching the top . Russell is known for a high level of professionalism in the entertainment industry. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Instinct Magazine 2023 - All Rights Reserved. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! 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. 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. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 2.7. Mom Chief & Officer at Break The Floor Productions . He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. Write a review. 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. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. We could have and should have done better. Operator of dance entertainment company committed to creating a dance culture. 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. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. The new owner, Russell Geyser, said the allegations have nothing to do with the current company, and that people involved with purported misconduct no longer work for Break The Floor. Lazzarini denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances, adding that he would not respond to each and every claim in your forthcoming article that is false, taken out of context or completely exaggerated.. Your IP: A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Meismer didn't respond to repeated requests for comment. Related Articles 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 was inviting her to his hotel room. Break the Floor founder, celebrity dance instructors face sexual misconduct allegations as the prominent company's crisis deepens. Operating Status Active. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. About us. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. I totally feel like I was a headache [for Stroming], Lonetree said. 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. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the companys events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Break The Floor Productions uses 14 technology products and services including HTML5, jQuery, and Google Analytics, according to G2 Stack. Dance studios may apply their own additional administrative fees. They provide amazing opportunities. 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. Ellis said it was this moment where he realized he had to leave the company. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said.