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. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. After 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. 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.. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. 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. WebMark also added the title of Artistic Director to his resume when he started his own Dance Company: Evolution. 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. At her first company event, when she was 17, she and Stroming had oral sex, she 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. 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. 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. 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.. Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. 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. 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. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Mark grew up in Orange County, California where he trained for four years at the Orange County High School of the Arts. This is an event that you don't want to miss! Mark Meismer fathers name is under review and mother unknown at this time. Button taught at Radix conventions. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. 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. 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. 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. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. After all, One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Dancers Whisper. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Mark Mester began his professional career as an intern at NBC News in New York City at the young age of 20. Mark worked as a reporter and presenter while he was at ABC affiliate KEYT-TV. The reporter credits his improvement in the sector to the time he spent in Santa Barbara where he got an opportunity to work with veterans at KEYT-TV. 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 said he was optimistic: This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. Thank you for everyone who has supported me all these His mental health deteriorated. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. He was born Aug. 13, 1936 in Nada to Joseph and Ann Leopold Meismer. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. Meismer started his acting career landing roles in films, such as the Elijah Wood A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. 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. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. According to some wiki sources, Mark Mester celebrates his birthday on 27 December to supportive parents. For Three Days, You Will Experience The Best Of LA & Hollywood Including Inspiring Master Classes, Speakers, Disney Inspired Master Workshop & perform in a 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 AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Three of these dancers were under 18. 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. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, CONVENTION BOYFRIEND. 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.. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. Three of these dancers were under 18. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. 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. 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. Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarinni of Break the Floor accused o 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.. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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 stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. Mark Meismer grew up in Orange County, California where he trained for four years at the Orange County High School of the Arts. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Billie Lourd will accept the honor on behalf of her late mother Carrie Fisher on Star Wars Day, May 4 A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. After all, Meismer was already an icon. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. She was first seen at pyramid when Abby introduced her and her daughter, "Chloe N." To contact APs investigations team, please write to investigative@ap.org, Follow the journalists on Twitter @julietlinderman, @mendozamartha, and @mobocks. An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. 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. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. 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. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. 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.. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. 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. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Meismer allegedly asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative, serving member newspapers and broadcasters in the U.S., and other customers around the world. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. [1] Outside the show, he has choreographed several of Button taught at Radix conventions. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. In 2018, 14 years after the incident, he decided to tell his family, and confront tap dancer Danny Wallace directly. 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. 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. 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. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted.. That conclusion At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. 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. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. 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. 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. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. Mark Meismer hails from Lakewood, California, United States. The ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. WATCH: Why we feel better after dancing But at Meismers 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. Web1.9m Followers, 359 Following, 3,362 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mark Meismer (@markmeismer) 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. These retailers will take them, Dodger Stadium gondola may get shut down by city of LA, Homeboy Industries, Kings eliminated from playoffs after Game 6 loss to Oilers, How the Hollywood Bowl put together the ultimate party for Willie Nelsons 90th birthday, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. 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. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 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. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. He was born on 1986 in Budapest, Hungary which 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. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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.. Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and 25-Apr-2023. Joey has been performing, choreographing and teaching in NYC for the An Ottawa dancer working as an assistant for the company said the same choreographer groped him in public. 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. Stroming picked up Lazzarini at the height of his fame to join the convention circuit, teaching hundreds of thousands of aspiring young dancers. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Button taught at Radix conventions. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. 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. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. 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. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 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. 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 has danced in commercials for Dr. Pepper, Reebok, Pepsi, Toyota and Frito Lay. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. WebMark Meismer. 17.7K subscribers. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. 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. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings.
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