I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. For aspiring young dancers like Clarke, the company's events are an almost mandatory stop if they want to pursue dancing professionally. He vowed to make Break the Floor a safe space for the next generation of dancers the same goal, he said, that he had when he launched the dance company more than 20 years ago as a charismatic 19-year-old. 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. Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Ellis said Stroming peppered him with questions. Two dancers said they complained about sexual harassment on the job to Stroming directly. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. Inside a Manhattan hotel, one of those choreographers Clarke idolized was now propositioning her for sex, she alleges. 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.). After he turned 18, he engaged in a consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini. BTFs website shows the company still employs Wall, who is currently scheduled to be part of a BTF-affiliated dance conventions 2021-2022 faculty. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. A dance instructor alleges Stroming offered her $500 to come to his hotel room. But the sexual climate behind closed doors is deplorable to me. Break the Floor is investigating an allegation of sexually inappropriate behaviour raised in a Toronto Star investigation. Three of them say these alleged advances happened when they were under 18. Six of them have agreed to go public with their allegations. 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. 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. ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"In an interview with the Star/AP, Wallace denied Schaufelds allegations and said nothing physical ever transpired between them, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. The Star/AP spoke to the dancers father, who said that in the years following, she told him about what happened with Stroming. Check out the all NEW Advocate Channel! Following his bosss instruction, Ellis went back to his tasks at BTF. It banned inviting students to hotel rooms and said instructors shouldnt call students their daughter or son., The code of conduct also requires educators to report any suspected child abuse: If you witness anything concerning, it is your duty to report it to the appropriate authorities., Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. The problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. ISLA CLARKE Ex-BTF Student NICK LAZZARINI Ex-BTF staff ","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"text":"It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.","type":"text","isParagraph":true,"isHeading":false},{"captionPosition":"overlay","origImageSize":"960x1200","fullWindowGenericImage":false,"lastmodified":1650411169104,"forceoriginal":false,"caption":"Gary Schaufeld was a teenager in 2004 when he alleges a dance instructor pushed him up against a wall in an Ottawa, Ont., hotel room and forced oral sex on him. In light of this, over the last 18 months, we have made substantial strides to ensure BTR is a better and safer environment for everyone. Since the accusations have come to light, Break the Floor has removed Travis Wall as a staff member for the time being. So the boy was playing on the floor with these toys, like not even . Keanu Uchida, photographed in Montreal, said many student dancers at Break the Floor endured inappropriate sexual advances from their instructors. 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 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. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Schaufeld said Wallace asked him to assist him at an event in Ontario, along with another female dancer, and they were sharing a room in an Ottawa hotel. Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. TikTokWant more news, top stories, and videos? Looking back, Lindsey feels he had been groomed. 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. 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. 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. I felt very invalidated, Ellis said. This comes after the Toronto Star published a recent news story accusing him of s*xually questionable behavior. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. I cant tell you how many times I thought about writing to Travis (Wall). 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. 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. "The problem was not [the taking of his own life]. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. He said the fact that the sale occurred at the time of mounting allegations was a coincidence. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As lawmakers filed into the House chamber after a lunch break on Thursday, the desk of former state Rep. Scotty Campbell sat empty, the characteristic lawmaker name plate . At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. The profile of Gabriel whos performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more has disappeared from the companys website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. The Star's investigation found that eight former staff and students at Break the Floor alleged that company staff "initiated sexual conversations, propositioned them for sex, sent them nude photos, sexually harassed them at work or engaged in sexual relationships with them.". 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. Lavallee said they exchanged numbers, and over a few texts and calls, he agreed to become Walls dance assistant. 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. The response from Trump who. So did his brother Jeff the companys chief production officer and mother Jackie, known within the company as the Chief Mom Officer.. I didnt really understand why communication was cut off. 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 . just about 10 hours ago, the owner of BTF Gil, who has also been accused of abuse has stepped down. 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. 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. Travis Wall is being accused of giving a minor crystal meth at a hotel party. He was a teenager in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who was not with Break the Floor at the time. I would not have stayed silent, said Wendy in a phone interview with the Star. His mental health deteriorated. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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. In addition to competitions with cash prizes, Break The Floors conventions which cost between $200 to $350 USD per student offer dozens of workshops, under strobing lights and thumping music. If an event changes from in-person to virtual, the difference in fees will be . Stroming declined interview requests and did not respond to the specific allegations. HE WAS INVITING HER TO HIS HOTEL ROOM. Due to the investigation, the dance company said it will be looking into the accusations. Break the Floor, which tap dancer Gil Stroming founded, provides master classes for younger dancers. He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. - December 15, 2022 Break the Floor company is taking appropriate measures to investigate the allegation of inappropriate behavior made against its Emmy-winning choreographer, Travis Wall. Lazzarini noticed a tear in Elliss pants and he just shoved his hand up my pants, to which I quickly reacted because I was already embarrassed and didnt need a hand grabbing my genitalia, alleged Ellis. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Wall has previously said "accusations against me are false." 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. Lavallee, who says he became Walls dance assistant in 2008, says Wall made sexual advances on him when the two were staying overnight at Lavallees parents house in Arizona while teaching a dance course nearby. Uchida is now volunteering with BTF to help further revise the dance companys code of conduct. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. Twitter Former DancerPalooza instructor, Eric Saradpon, has been charged by the Riverside County. I could feel the relationship change because I basically rejected the offer. Lavallee said Wall flew him around the United States to help him teach choreography to youth in a dance studio and other conventions. 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Dancers say they were sexually harassed or groomed by famous choreographers and the dance company failed to protect them, Choreographer Nick Lazzarini pulled from dance company tour following Star investigation, The CEO of Break the Floor where famous dance coaches were accused of sexual misconduct says he is selling the company, This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only.

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