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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. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. They return in Clash of the Chloes, an episode named after her daughter Chloe, and Christi 's competing daughter also named Chloe. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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., 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Santa Monica cops who ignored warnings that staffer allegedly molested boys should be prosecuted: lawyer, Westchester legislator resigns as leader amid allegations she mishandled ex-aides sexual misconduct case, Cheer coach Monica Aldama responds to wildly inaccurate sex assault lawsuit, NYC sicko who forced 68-year-old woman to perform sex act is busted: cops. WebThe studio of focus on Dance Moms Miami was stars dance studio, this was also Bradys studio before joining ALDC. (AP Photo/John Minchillo). The AP and the Star spoke to the dancers father, who said that in the years following, she told him about these sexual interactions with Stroming, which left her deeply upset. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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 phone across the room. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 25-Apr-2023. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. But after speaking with the AP and the Star in February, Hudson went public and shared his experience in an emotional Instagram video, without naming Meismer. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Glenda was born in Baytown on Oct. 21, 1948, the daughter of James Jim and Eva Lee (Bradford) Butler. WebMark Meismer. 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. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. 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. 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.. Dancers call out culture of silence and mistrust - PressReader Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. 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. 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. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. a genuine prodigy. Back in March Elliana Walmsley, won first Hundreds of studios and schools from smaller communities bring teams of dancers to the events, branded by Stroming as JUMP, NUVO, 24seven, RADIX and DancerPalooza. Autumn Miller at The Brea Space - YouTube Mark is also an original member of Mia Michaels's dance company "RAW" based out of New York City. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Gallery To view the gallery for Liza Smith, click here. 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. His mental health deteriorated. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. An unsightly wave of trash washing up on North Carolinas Outer Banks has been linked to a U.S. Navy ship, according to the National Park Service. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. Facts. Kristyn chats with the hottest dancers and choreographers in the TV and film. Hudson said he was optimistic: This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. It was her first year in their junior women's category. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. To contact APs investigations team, please write to [email protected], Follow the journalists on Twitter @julietlinderman, @mendozamartha, and @mobocks. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. He was born on 1986 in Budapest, Hungary which 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. WebLiza Smith is the mother of Chloe, who was a former guest dancer at Candy Apple's Dance Center and was later a guest dancer at JC's Broadway Dance Academy . 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.. Gary Schaufeld wipes a tear from his eyes as he shows pictures from his youth of him performing in dance competitions, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at his home in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. 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. Mark Meismer - Rotten Tomatoes Mark All of these sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in fear of retaliation and damage to their careers in the tight-knit professional dance community. Glenda was a 1967 graduate of Barbers Hill High School. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. Mark Mester Age, Married, Girlfriend, Gay, Height, Bio, Salary, Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. His mental health deteriorated. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Gary Schaufeld holds his old tap shoes as he stands for a portrait at his home, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. Mark Wood has been a revelation for Lucknow Super Giants this season BCCI. Trash found along Outer Banks tied to Navy ship, park says The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. 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. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he 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. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. He was born on June 19, 1973 and his birthplace is Lakewood, CA. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure.