Weba genuine prodigy. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. 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. 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. She said once she turned 18, Gabriel, 29 at that time in 2017, invited her to his hotel room in a text message with a shirtless photo. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Hudson said he was optimistic. We've received your submission. 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. 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. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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). But the secret ate away at him. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. But the secret ate away at him. 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. Martha focuses on justice, accountability and transparency. Kristyn chats with the hottest dancers and choreographers in the TV and film. 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. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, CONVENTION BOYFRIEND. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Gary Schaufeld shows a video of him winning a dance competition in his youth as he describes his time performing, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, at his home in Port Jefferson, N.Y. A secret ate away at him. They return in Clash of the Chloes, an episode named after her daughter Chloe, and Christi 's competing daughter also named Chloe. High school student, convention boyfriend. 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. 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. Gallery To view the gallery for Liza Smith, click here. His mental health deteriorated. 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. Meismer WebOn Dance Moms Kim can briefly be seen in Abby Strikes Back, when her daughter impresses Abby at auditions. Billie Lourd will accept the honor on behalf of her late mother Carrie Fisher on Star Wars Day, May 4 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. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. 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. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Gary Schaufeld stands for a portrait at his home, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Port Jefferson, N.Y. 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.. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. The Southern California News Group is one of them. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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. 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. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Starrevealed allegationsof widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. Mark Meismer | studio8171 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.. After He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. The recent allegations against BTF events (jump, nuvo, tda, 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 was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace, who wasnt with Break the Floor at the time, but would go on to run one of its subsidiary conventions. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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.. 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. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. Dance organizations create wide opportunities for adults to single out a child, groom them and then get them alone to sexually abuse them, she said. Mark has choreographed for the TV shows: Scrubs, Dancing with the Stars, and The George Lopez Show. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. (AP Photo/John Minchillo). Hudson said he was optimistic. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Faculty After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. Mark Meismer hails from Lakewood, California, United States. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Mark The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. He was born on 1986 in Budapest, Hungary which Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. He was the assistant choreographer to Mia on Celine Dion's show A New Day in Las Vegas and has assisted Mia on the FOX TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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). He was born Aug. 13, 1936 in Nada to Joseph and Ann Leopold Meismer. Mark Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on 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. She is also an active member of her dance studio, and her gleaming, hypnotic smile is featured in PDAs dance campaigns and promotional videos. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. 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. Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with Pink, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, and appearances in more than a dozen films including La La Land and FAME. For 17 years, he kept to himself about what happened with Meismer. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Liza Smith 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. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. Billie Lourd will accept the honor on behalf of her late mother Carrie Fisher on Star Wars Day, May 4 Autumn Miller at The Brea Space - YouTube Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Mrs. Meismer was a graduate of Hoke County High School. 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.. 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. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Mark 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". And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. He graduated from Sterling High School and Lee College in Baytown. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), Gary Schaufeld pauses as he describes his time performing in dance competitions as a young performer, 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Mark Meismer Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Subscribe. Web820K views 4 years ago. Kim Nguyen Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Trash found along Outer Banks tied to Navy ship, park says Hudson is now a famous dancer, with a resume that spans mega tours with Pink, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue, and appearances in more than a dozen films including La La Land and FAME. For 17 years, he kept to himself about what happened with Meismer. Hudson said he was optimistic. Since 1846, AP has been covering the worlds biggest news events, committed to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism. 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.. You Ruin Me - Autumn Miller - YouTube 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. 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.. 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. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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). He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Glenda was born in Baytown on Oct. 21, 1948, the daughter of James Jim and Eva Lee (Bradford) Butler. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 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. 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.

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