break the floor accusations

just about 10 hours ago, the owner of BTF Gil, who has also been accused of abuse has stepped down. They provide amazing opportunities. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. New students poured into dance studios, along with a growing number of health and fitness aficionados. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). Hicks said he sought therapy and a sexual treatment course in an effort to hold myself accountable and also deal with the feelings of feeling like I had wronged him in that way when that was never my intention. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Judge Dismisses Jury in Trump Rape Trial for the Day Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. "The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior," the company wrote. Since the accusations have come to light, Break the Floor has removed Travis Wall as a staff member for the time being. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. But for many years the secret ate away at him. ISLA CLARKE Ex-BTF Student NICK LAZZARINI Ex-BTF staff 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. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Instructors accused of predatory behaviour had been fired, Stroming assured. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. A former student, Myles Lavallee, told the paper that Wall started grooming him when he was 16 and Wall was 20. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said he let four people go because of credible allegations of misconduct. 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. 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 faces new sexual misconduct allegations | The Star Now is the time for continued open dialogue, soul searching, and decisive action towards making amends. Travis Wall is being accused of giving a minor crystal meth at a hotel party. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. The relationship did not progress further physically, Lavallee said. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Lonetree alleges Hicks later confronted him, took off Lonetrees headset, and told him to take a walk and come back with the answer I want. Hicks strenuously denies saying this and denies removing Lonetrees headset. With stronger policies, he and his executive team would secure the sprawling organization that hosts as many as 300,000 aspiring dancers each year. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. "In. Tw, BTF & Jump 2007? : r/dancemoms - Reddit He said that he and Lonetree flirted with one another before the text in question. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. He accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. NSFW Travis Wall Allegations For those who don't know, the competitive dance world is exploding with allegations of s*xual grooming and overall predatory behavior at Break the Floor dance conventions. That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. 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. 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. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Wallace did not respond to questions about those texts. Travis Wall Scandal After Being Suspended From Break The Floor Meismer allegedly asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with P!nk, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, and appearances in more than a dozen films including La La Land and FAME. For 17 years, he kept to himself about what happened with Meismer. ","title":"Get more stories like this one in your inbox"},{"text":"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 was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. 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. A dance instructor alleges Stroming offered her $500 to come to his hotel room. Travis Wall Dismissed From Tour After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Travis Wall taken off tour with Break the Floor dance - The Star Thousands of. One, who says he was groped, said Stroming told him that wasnt actually sexual harassment because the young dancer had recoiled before Lazzarini allegedly almost touched his genitals. 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 . Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. To my family, friends, colleagues and, most importantly, to those who bravely stepped forward to share their truth: I am truly sorry. 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. https://t.co/213nsiNJ73 Morgan Bocknek (@mobocks) October 21, 2021 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. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust. Meismer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Six dancers, including Clarke, allege Lazzarini subjected them to unwanted sexual advances. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Others did make allegations about BTF staff to owner and CEO Stroming, but their concerns were dismissed, allege two former staffers who say they were harassed on the job. Hundreds of studios and schools from smaller communities bring teams of dancers to the events, branded by Stroming as JUMP, NUVO, 24 Seven, RADIX and DancerPalooza. 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. 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. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. 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. After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. Meismer was recently removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. I wish I would have known back at the time when it happened. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. I then felt very embarrassed. It is one of the most exciting events of a young dancers life, recalled Keanu Uchida, a professional dancer from Ottawa. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. 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. One dancer alleges he was 16 when Wall gave him ecstasy and methamphetamine, and now believes Wall was grooming him for a sexual relationship. 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. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Donald Padgett October 25 2021. rights reserved. Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say Wall's publicist maintains that the accusations are entirely false. In the wake of the Stars first investigation, Stroming said the company has worked hard over the last year and a half to make Break the Floor a better and safer environment.. Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming Mapless mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photo when it appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. Break the Floor cited new training that employees have been required to take along with a new and updated code of conduct. 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. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about His representatives at MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. She says she didnt attend any auditions and returned home devastated. Male Dancer Accuses Travis Wall of Sexual Misconduct and Grooming 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. 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 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. 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.. However, Lavallee said Wall told him he had romantic feelings for him, and thought of him as his best friend. Travis Wall Cut From Break the Floor Dance Company Tour Amid - Yahoo Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 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. Hicks, meanwhile, continued to work at RADIX every season, through 2021. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. 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.

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