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. The problem was the three-year-old boy that was in the video with this guy. Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. She says she didnt attend any auditions and returned home devastated. 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. 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. To order copies of 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. We are truly heartbroken that anyone has been subject to inappropriate behaviour by any person associated with Break The Floor, the statement read. Thank you. Wallace was already a star in the dance world and would later go on to be hired by Gil Stroming to direct Break The Floors 24 Seven. Emmy Award winner Travis Wall taken off tour with Break the Floor dance Break the Floor Productions is one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies, encompassing touring theatrical productions, dance workshops, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. Updated: This article has been updated to include a comment that Break The Floor provided after the article published. Mapless mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photo when it appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. "We are committed to being a serious voice in this conversation and will continue our diligent efforts to positively impact the dance industry," the company added. The company also published a new code of conduct. Hicks said he apologized to Lonetree and was reprimanded by Stroming. 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. Dancers say leading company bred culture of sex, silence - The Mercury News Lazzarini denies subjecting anyone to unwanted sexual advances. At BTF, this contact led to physical boundaries being blurred. rights reserved. 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. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. We remain committed to these initiatives and will continue to learn and be better.. Home - Break The Floor 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. Thousands of. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Wall cut off ties with Lavallee, which Lavallee said was due to him not accepting Wall's advances. A few months later, without warning, Lavallee said, Wall cut off communication with him in the middle of one weekend and didnt show up to one of their scheduled teaching sessions. 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. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said he let four people go because of credible allegations of misconduct. The Star has spoken to a friend of Lindseys who said they saw the texts and photos Lindsey and Lazzarini exchanged. 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.". Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. Lavallee said Walls disappearance left him feeling unmoored and now feels he was being groomed for a sexual relationship. In dance spaces, students are in frequent and close contact with their teachers, spending long hours training and rehearsing with them. Lavallee said he made it clear he was not interested in a sexual relationship. Break the Floor Sexual Abuse AP Article. The only reason I could think of was because we didnt take it further romantically. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. He said he felt punished for dodging the alleged sexual advances. 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. 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. 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. Lavallee said he did not tell Stroming or BTF staff about what he alleges happened with either Wall or the other choreographer, saying he thought his concerns would not be taken seriously. Travis Wall Removed From Dance Tour After Misconduct Allegation He said he had never done drugs of any kind before. : A Star investigation has found allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behaviour at Break the Floor, a prominent company that tours Canada, the United States, and Mexico. . 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, said Uchida, who alleges in 2015 he had a six-month consensual sexual relationship with Lazzarini when he was 19 and Lazzarini was 31. 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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.