It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. 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. She married Michael Meismer on April 10, 1976 in El Campo. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 9.6K. 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. But behind the bright lights and pulsing music, some dancers say they were sexually assaulted, harassed and manipulated by the companys powerful founder and famous teachers and choreographers, according to a joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Toronto Star. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. 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. She was first seen at pyramid when Abby introduced her and her daughter, "Chloe N." Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Old tap shoes rest on a chair as Gary Schaufeld describes his time as a young performer in dance competitions, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at his home in Port Jefferson, N.Y. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Mark Meismer hails from Lakewood, California, United States. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. Subscribe. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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[1] Outside the show, he has choreographed several of Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 25-Apr-2023. This story was reported as a partnership between The Associated Press and the Toronto Star, The company was launched 22 years ago by a charismatic dancer, Gil Stroming, who came to fame in the 1990s, performing in the off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon.. Back in March Elliana Walmsley, won first place with her solo "Existence pt2," choreographed by Mark Meismer at the prestigious ballet competition Youth American Grand prix (YAGP). And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Mark has choreographed for the TV shows: Scrubs, Dancing with the Stars, and The George Lopez Show. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. But the secret ate away at him. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Hudson said he was optimistic. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. But behind the bright lights and pulsing music, some dancers say they were sexually assaulted, harassed and manipulated by the companys powerful founder and famous teachers and choreographers, according to a joint investigation by The Associated Press and the Toronto Star. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news, By JULIET LINDERMAN, MARTHA MENDOZA and MORGAN BOCKNEK. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. He was born on June 19, 1973 and his birthplace is Lakewood, CA. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, the instructors and executives accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys revenue and popularity. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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.. Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. Meismer started his acting career landing roles in films, such as the Elijah Wood 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 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. The actor revealed in October 2022 that he packed up his things and moved his family out of their plush $90 million California mansion in a bid for a better life.. His biggest accomplishment and proudest achievement are being a dad to his beautiful daughter Ryan. 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. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. But the secret ate away at him. He is a married and he has a daughter and her name is Ryan. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Lisa Fernandez, 52 February 22, 1971 Mark Meismer, 49 June 19, 1973 Jon Singleton, 31 September 18, 1991 Bobby Crosby, 43 January 12, 1980 Bryce however his biggest accomplishment and proudest achievement is being a dad to his beautiful daughter Ryan. 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. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. WebMark Meismer. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. But the secret ate away at him. Billie Lourd will accept the honor on behalf of her late mother Carrie Fisher on Star Wars Day, May 4 His mental health deteriorated. 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. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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 said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. 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. He graduated from Sterling High School and Lee College in Baytown. 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. It was her first year in their junior women's category. WebShe assists her mom, Krista Miller, on KBM Talent Events, and Mark Meismer on Nuvo Dance Convention, shes also represents the creative dance venue, The Brea Space and The Space TV. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. The problems date back to the founding of Los Angeles-based Break The Floor Productions; as the company has grown into an industry powerhouse, its leaders perpetuated a culture of sex and silence, according to interviews with dozens of former and current staff and students. While not all of the complainants in this story were involved with Break the Floor at the time of the alleged incidents, the instructors and executives accused of wrongdoing have played key roles in growing the companys revenue and popularity. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 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. 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. 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. 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 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, though he said he remembered having an inappropriate attraction to Schaufeld. 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. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. One dancer said she met Stroming when she was a 16-year-old high school junior attending one of Break the Floors first events with her parents. 648K views 4 years ago. In the opening segment of the April 17 episode, the camera panned to the audience where Mark and Kelly's daughter Lola Consuelos, 21, was sitting in the front row. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. Six 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. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teen. (AP Photo/John Minchillo). (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Gary Schaufeld displays images from his time performing in youth dance competitions, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at his home in Port Jefferson, N.Y. A secret ate away at him. 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. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Three of these dancers were under 18. 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. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. By the mid-2000s, dance exploded into the mainstream with the debuts of popular television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. 17.7K subscribers. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. We've received your submission. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. After all, Meismer was already an icon. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. 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. 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 . Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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. For Three Days, You Will Experience The Best Of LA & Hollywood Including Inspiring Master Classes, Speakers, Disney Inspired Master Workshop & perform in a 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. WebMark Meismer is a famous Dancer. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the AP and the Star, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry.. WebMark Meismer. 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. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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 next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Hudson said he was optimistic. Web820K views 4 years ago. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. This story was reported as a partnership between The Associated Press and the Toronto Star, The company was launched 22 years ago by a charismatic dancer, Gil Stroming, who came to fame in the 1990s, performing in the off-Broadway show Tap Dogs, described in The New York Times as a beefcake tap-a-thon.. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. WebDiscover 9 famous people who were born in Lakewood, CA including Lisa Fernandez, Mark Meismer, Jon Singleton, Bobby Crosby, Bryce Xavier, Bryton James, Niki Withers, Greg LeMond and many more. 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. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. As for the other allegation from the then 16-year-old, Gabriel denied sending the photo, saying he would never engage in inappropriate behavior that would ever lead to sending something like this to a teen. Michael Joseph Meismer, 61 of Baytown, passed away on April 21, 2016. High school student, convention boyfriend. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. 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. 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 AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He was born Aug. 13, 1936 in Nada to Joseph and Ann Leopold Meismer. 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. 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. 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. 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 Since 1846, AP has been covering the worlds biggest news events, committed to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism. In a series of text messages between Schaufeld and Wallace, reviewed by the AP and the Star, Schaufeld laid out his accusations and Wallace said that although he couldnt remember anything, he couldnt be more sorry..
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