It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son. And it encourages discretion online regarding Religion, Social Justice, Discrimination, Politics, Love and Romance, Abuse, Mental Health, Bullying, and Terrorism., The new code of conduct also says educators are considered mandated reporters regarding suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities.. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. One dance instructor said she warns the children and teens she brings to conventions today 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 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). 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. Hudson said he was optimistic. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. 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. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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. Trash found along Outer Banks tied to Navy ship, park says He has over 576k followers on WebIn dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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.. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. His mental health deteriorated. 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. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 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. LOS ANGELES (AP) Every year, one of the worlds leading dance competition companies sells the dream of Hollywood fame to hundreds of thousands of ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on television, in movies and on stage. 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.. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Thanks for contacting 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Mrs. Meismer was a graduate of Hoke County High School. 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. 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. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break the Floor published a new code of conduct. Hudson said he was optimistic. Break The Floor now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as young as 5, to packed hotel ballrooms across the U.S. and Canada for weekend workshops and competitions. The televised dance shows brought fame to dancers Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall and Misha Gabriel, who became big name attractions as Break The Floor instructors. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. He was born on November 3, 1954 in El Campo. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. 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. These retailers will take them, Dodger Stadium gondola may get shut down by city of LA, Homeboy Industries, Kings eliminated from playoffs after Game 6 loss to Oilers, How the Hollywood Bowl put together the ultimate party for Willie Nelsons 90th birthday, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. But in January, as the AP and the Star were investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against him and others involved in the company, Stroming announced that he had sold Break the Floor and stepped down as CEO. 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. 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. He was a retired pipefitter. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. North Hollywood-based dance company bred culture of 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. About two decades ago, when she was a dance teacher accompanying her students to a Break the Floor event, she said she refused Stromings $500 offer to join him in his hotel room. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. 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. 9.6K. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Of these sources, four say he sometimes brought young Break the Floor participants to parties or company events, where they were introduced as his girlfriend. LOS ANGELES Every year, one of the worlds leading dance competition companies sells the dream of Hollywood fame to hundreds of thousands of ambitious young dancers hoping to launch careers on television, in movies and on stage. 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. Kristyn chats with the hottest dancers and choreographers in the TV and film. 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 now draws around 300,000 dance students, some as young as 5, to packed hotel ballrooms across the U.S. and Canada for weekend workshops and competitions. Gabriel, another famous dancer and choreographer, allegedly sent a nude photo on Snapchat to a 16-year-old dancer who says she was so horrified she threw her Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. About two decades ago, when she was a dance teacher accompanying her students to a Break the Floor event, she said she refused Stromings $500 offer to join him in his hotel room. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. 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. Mark Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. 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. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. The televised dance shows brought fame to dancers Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall and Misha Gabriel, who became big name attractions as Break the Floor instructors. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. After all, Meismer was already an icon. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. Mark Wood has been a revelation for Lucknow Super Giants this season BCCI. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. The recent allegations against BTF events (jump, nuvo, tda, transcenDANCE is the next biggest dance event in the Philippines featuring dance masters from different parts of the world. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, CONVENTION BOYFRIEND. 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.. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. WebMark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and commercial dance and was the artistic director of his own contemporary/commercial dance company called "Evolution". He was born on 1986 in Budapest, Hungary which Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. 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. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Autumn Miller at The Brea Space - YouTube The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Facts. Glenda Carol (Butler) Meismer, 63, of La Grange, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges.