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. Break the Floor would not confirm if he was one of the four that were let go in the days after Stroming sold the company. His representatives at MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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. Once a dancer himself, Stroming said he was already making improvements. For Myles Lavallee, that blurred student-teacher relationship began with BTF instructor Travis Wall. The problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and then confront Wallace directly. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Emmy winning choreographer Travis Wall has been suspended from Break the Floor dance companys traveling tours amid an investigation into an accusation of sexually inappropriate behavior made against him in a story published by the Toronto Star. Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. Lonetree said he recounted the alleged exchange to Stroming. 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. Finally, 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. 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. Carroll came out with her accusations against Trump in a book titled "What Do We Need Men For?" and in an excerpt of the tome published in New York Magazine in 2019. As for the other allegation from the then-16-year old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behaviour that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teenager. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. In summer 2018, about two years after Ellis approached Stroming about Lazzarinis conduct, 17-year-old Zeke Lindsey met Lazzarini and began taking his classes. 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.. Misha Gabriel 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. 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. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. I apologize and sincerely regret that my actions have hurt people I cherish or has broken their trust., In a later response, after being presented with an additional accusation that he sent nude photos to a teenage dancer, Lazzarini added: I have never subjected anyone to unwanted sexual advances. To order copies of 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. Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. He had been heading it uninterrupted for 22 years, presiding over its consistent growth, when a 2021 Star investigation revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour by Break the Floor coaches over their younger students. HE WAS INVITING HER TO HIS HOTEL ROOM. 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. Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. Representatives for Wall and Break the Floor did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment Saturday. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. But for many years the secret ate away at him. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. BTF has undergone training and revised its code of conduct, the company said in a statement. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. His mental health deteriorated. Stroming declined interview requests and did not respond to the specific allegations. Nico Lonetree (left) and Myles Lavallee are among eight dancers who allege they were subjected to sexual harassment or predatory behaviour from staff of the prominent dance company, Break the Floor. 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. 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 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. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. . 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. He was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. His family has an INCREDIBLE amount of money. 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 next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. The company also published a new code of conduct. In the past, Break The Floors policies and procedures did not focus on these issues as closely as they could have. He added new conventions and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Yet, I am blessed to be surrounded by the people I love and thank them for their patience and grace. New students poured into dance studios, along with a growing number of health and fitness aficionados. 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.. https://t.co/213nsiNJ73 Morgan Bocknek (@mobocks) October 21, 2021 That dancer now works for BTF as a choreographer. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Lazzarini has denied subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. 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. 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. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. One dancer alleges he was 16 when Wall gave him ecstasy and methamphetamine, and now believes Wall was grooming him for a sexual relationship. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. 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. Twitter Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. This comes after the Toronto Star published a recent news story accusing him of s*xually questionable behavior. One of those dancers was Patrick Ellis, who alleges that he told Break the Floors CEO, Gil Stroming, that Lazzarini had stuffed his hand up through a hole in Elliss pants and tried to fondle him. 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. They provide amazing opportunities. 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. Its the opposite of a zero tolerance policy, Ellis said. Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. Accusation was leveled against SYTYCD alum in Toronto Star report about widespread sexual harassment at the dance company, (Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Wall was not cut from Break the Floors tours, but suspended pending investigation.). He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Lindsey said he eventually sent nude photos back when he was 17. 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. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"Thats what Gary Schaufeld alleges happened to him. The Star reviewed the text messages. Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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.. 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. 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. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Be sure to follow Discover short videos related to breakthefloor allegations on TikTok. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n $(document).ready(function() {\n $('.SA_response-container').click(function() {\n $('.SA_hidden', this).toggle();\n });\n });\n ","wallHtmlBody":". 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 .

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