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. Break The Floor Productions 5446 Satsuma Ave North Hollywood, CA 91601 jam . October 25 2021 11:10 AM EST. 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. New App with lots of helpful features. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. He worked at a convention in Minneapolis, Minn., where he alleges a 31-year-old Lazzarini groped him. Phone Number (706) 217-6462. Please know, the Break The Floor team is committed to bringing you the safest, most organized and exceptional events in the dance industry. 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. 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. 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. The Star reviewed the text messages. Related Articles 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. 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 . 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. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. His mental health deteriorated. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. To get anywhere, like here, you have to do whatever the teachers said, you know what I mean? October 25 2021 2:20 PM EST. 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.. 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 . Studio Owners, please contact us to confirm pricing, discounts, and incentives. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. 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. Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. Two of the choreographers facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour are listed as employees on the companys website. 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 . Employers / Post Job. las vegas, nv. 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. National News | . The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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 . Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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. On all orders over $100! Our goal for this coming season is clear we are going to be holding all events, no matter what, GUARANTEED. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been cut from Break the Floor dance company's traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of . - Interactive venue and exhibit hall map. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Lavallee called a friend to come over to divert where he said he felt the night was leading. The OFFICIAL TikTok for Break the Floor Productions! Arts Apr 20. San Jose firefighter claims sexual abuse, racism, swastikas drove her out One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Write a review. The Open Database Of The Corporate World. Your IP: 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.. 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. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. National News | 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. 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. Read More . Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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.. 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. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. agreed. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Lonetree now questions whether he was punished for speaking up. 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. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. On Oct. 1, BTF kicked off its fall season with an event in Toronto at an airport hotel. 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. 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. New York,NY . Upload your resume. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. If the in-person event is unable to be held, studios and dancers may choose to: Attend the event virtually (for a discounted rate). Hudson said he was optimistic. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. He said he found the work climate to be too sexualized to continue there. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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 . Location. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. 185.120.77.169 Im not trying to bring this company down. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. And everybody strives for that, obviously, because that leads to more opportunity and attention from the faculty, said Uchida. Several individuals have recently stepped forward to publicly express their feelings of hurt or betrayal based on interactions they had with me between 2012 and 2020. Its headquarters is located at New York, New York, USA. About five years later, Lavallee, who now works as a professional dancer and choreographer, told his mother, Wendy, about everything that happened between him and the two older choreographers. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Lavallee also said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Check! The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 165.8K Followers. We view this situation as an opportunity to expand our vision to bring the excitement of dance to everyone, all over the world, no matter the circumstance. Find top employees, contact details and business statistics at RocketReach. 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. Snapshot; Why Join Us . Break the Floor calls itself one of the worlds preeminent dance companies, and its programs reach more than 300,000 dancers each year. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Russell Geyser is the new CEO of 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. Break The Floor Productions, LLC uses Remarketing with Google Analytics to advertise on third party sites to you after you visited our Site. 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While for some of the dancers in this story the sexual interactions were, at the time, consensual, they now feel a power imbalance pressured them into relationships with leaders of the dance world who are many years older than them. Can a dancer do the scholarship audition through a virtual event? join our mailing list 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. But the secret ate away at him. The Break The Floor faculty can't wait to dance with you! 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.. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. 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 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. When I began teaching dance, I did so with the singular goal of helping individuals discover, develop, and express their truest selves. 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. 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. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. In the months that followed, Ellis said he began accepting Lazzarinis advances, once making out in the choreographers hotel room during a work break. Dharma Productions shared the news of filming start on the project on the banner's social media handles. 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. Learn how to leverage transparent company data at scale. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. Here is how it will work: JUMP, NUVO & 24 Seven will be planning all events, in-person, for the upcoming season. Juliet Linderman, Martha Mendoza and Morgan Bocknek. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. FREE Shipping. 324 Brickyard Rd, Dalton, Georgia, 30721, United States. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Eventually, Lazzarini began to avoid her at dance conventions, Clarke said, and this made her anxious, as she feared he was in a position to impede her career. 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. 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. 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. Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing dance conventions, touring theatrical productions, software, photo and video . Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Lavalee also charges that in an earlier incident, he attended a hotel room party in California where Wall gave him crystal meth so he could stay awake for his flight back home to Arizona. (Lavallee had never done any drugs at all prior to the alleged incident). Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Check! Average hourly pay for Break The Floor Productions Av Technician: $21. Reviews from Break The Floor Productions employees about Break The Floor Productions culture, salaries, benefits, work-life balance, management, job security, and more. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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). 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.