Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. Button taught at Radix conventions. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Hudson said he was optimistic: This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. 9.6K. Carrie Fisher Getting Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame This Star Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Star revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. He was born Aug. 13, 1936 in Nada to Joseph and Ann Leopold Meismer. Mark Meismer - Rotten Tomatoes And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. This is an event that you don't want to miss! Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. 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. 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. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. WebThe studio of focus on Dance Moms Miami was stars dance studio, this was also Bradys studio before joining ALDC. In 2018, 14 years after the incident, he decided to tell his family, and confront tap dancer Danny Wallace directly. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. 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. 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 added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. 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. But the secret ate away at him. Six In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. 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. You Ruin Me - Autumn Miller. 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. 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. 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. 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. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Glenda was born in Baytown on Oct. 21, 1948, the daughter of James Jim and Eva Lee (Bradford) Butler. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. WebMark also added the title of Artistic Director to his resume when he started his own Dance Company: Evolution. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. 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 dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. Allegations of sexual misconduct first hit the dance company in October, when the Toronto Star revealed allegations of widespread sexual harassment and predatory behavior by Break the Floor instructors. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Mark has choreographed for the TV shows: Scrubs, Dancing with the Stars, and The George Lopez Show. High school student, convention boyfriend. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. Mark Mester Age, Married, Girlfriend, Gay, Height, Bio, Salary, Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Mark Meismer Wiki, Age, Height, Career, Facts, and more - Stark Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. He was a retired pipefitter. 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. Mark Wahlberg shares update on life in Las Vegas after leaving A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Billie Lourd will accept the honor on behalf of her late mother Carrie Fisher on Star Wars Day, May 4 Mark was born in Lakewood, California, but raised in Cerritos one of 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. He has danced and worked with artists such as Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Paula Abdul, Martina McBride and toured with Reba McEntire. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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.. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 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. 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.. 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. 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. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. a genuine prodigy. Back in March Elliana Walmsley, won first But the secret ate away at him. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. Glenda Carol (Butler) Meismer, 63, of La Grange, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. 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. 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. 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. You Ruin Me - Autumn Miller - YouTube His mental health deteriorated. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. 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. [1] Outside the show, he has choreographed several of 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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.. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Gallery To view the gallery for Liza Smith, click here. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. The problems date back to the founding of the North Hollywood-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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 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. After Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. transcenDANCE is the next biggest dance event in the Philippines featuring dance masters from different parts of the world. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. WebMark Matthew Meismer is a choreographer who was responsible for Gavin's solo in the episode Blame It on the New Girl. 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. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. For Three Days, You Will Experience The Best Of LA & Hollywood Including Inspiring Master Classes, Speakers, Disney Inspired Master Workshop & perform in a At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. WebIn dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. 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. 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. Mark Meismer: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails 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. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. LOS ANGELES (AP) 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. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. Meismer 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. Mark Meismer 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. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break The Floor published a new code of conduct. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. (AP Photo/John Minchillo), 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. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Mega dance company bred culture of sex, silence, dancers say 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. 648K views 4 years ago. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Facts. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. 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. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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". 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. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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.. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. 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. 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 was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Michael Joseph Meismer, 61 of Baytown, passed away on April 21, 2016. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. To contact APs investigations team, please write to investigative@ap.org, Follow the journalists on Twitter @julietlinderman, @mendozamartha, and @mobocks. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. WebMark Meismer. Subscribe. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she said. 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. External Links Twitter page [1] Instagram account [2] 5 minute intervew of Chloe' and Liza, by JJ Snyder at the grand opening of ALDC LA. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. 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. 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. 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. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. After all, Meismer was already an icon. Richard "Dick" MeismerMETAMORA - Richard A. 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. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. 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. 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.. According to some wiki sources, Mark Mester celebrates his birthday on 27 December to supportive parents. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. Mark grew up in Orange County, California where he trained for four years at the Orange County High School of the Arts. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. His mental health deteriorated. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students.
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