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. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. Mark Mark Meismer | Dance Moms Wiki | Fandom He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. 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. 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. 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.. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Influential dance company bred culture of sex, silence, In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. WebHe has a daughter named Ryan. That night, they had sex in his apartment. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. WebMark Meismer. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, CONVENTION BOYFRIEND. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. 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. 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. Carrie Fisher Getting Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame This Star Web820K views 4 years ago. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Faculty Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. A Toronto-born teen alleged a famous choreographer propositioned her for sex just hours after judging her at a 2012 Break the Floor convention. He was a retired pipefitter. 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 didnt know how inappropriate that was.. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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. Still, he accepted a sought-after opportunity to assist Meismer as they toured various studios and conventions together. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Professional dancers suffer a wide swath of sexual predation from irritating flirtation to full-out devastating attacks. 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. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he said. 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. Mark is also an original member of Mia Michaels's dance company "RAW" based out of New York City. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. Reality TV chef and Playboy model doubles income cooking i Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Georgia player under fire after racist remark during 2023 NFL Draft on livestream, Megyn Kelly sports red MAGA-style hat in poolside pic, Inside Nick Cannons extravagant Six Flags celebration for twins 12th birthday, Prince Harrys coronation role still a mystery as Williams is revealed, Matthew Lawrence claims he lost Marvel role after refusing to strip for director, NY Post Sports Reporter Zach Braziller breaks down the Knicks game 1 loss to the Heat, Padma Lakshmi claps back at trolls: 'I have boobs, I have nipples'. I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. Seven sources say they saw Stroming interact with students in ways that appeared intimate and inappropriate. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. His mental health deteriorated. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. 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. Meismer Stroming declined repeated interview requests. 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. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Mark Meismer (@markmeismer) Instagram photos and He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. WebThe studio of focus on Dance Moms Miami was stars dance studio, this was also Bradys studio before joining ALDC. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. Glenda was born in Baytown on Oct. 21, 1948, the daughter of James Jim and Eva Lee (Bradford) Butler. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). His mental health deteriorated. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Mark Web1.9m Followers, 359 Following, 3,362 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mark Meismer (@markmeismer) This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. 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. Mark Meismer hails from Lakewood, California, United States. 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.. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. Mega dance company bred culture of sex and silence, Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. 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. Is Luca Brecel the silver bullet to slay the monster Mark Selby? Three of these dancers were under 18. Jocelyn Dowling. 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 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". Learn more about policies and standards in APs Statement of News Values and Principles. 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. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. We've received your submission. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. He graduated from Sterling High School and Lee College in Baytown. 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. 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. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Meismer Mega dance competition company bred culture of sex, silence, I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. He has over 576k followers on He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. Lilli Maples had taken classes with Gabriel since she was 10 years old. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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). But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Mark has choreographed for the TV shows: Scrubs, Dancing with the Stars, and The George Lopez Show. 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. Earlier this year, after Geyser took the helm as CEO, Break the Floor published a new code of conduct. 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. 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.. Dancers Whisper. Mark Meismer was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. 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 But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. Since 1846, AP has been covering the worlds biggest news events, committed to the highest standards of objective, accurate journalism. 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. 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. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Weba genuine prodigy. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Mark Meismer He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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.. 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. WATCH: Why we feel better after dancing But at Meismers Autumn Miller at The Brea Space - YouTube His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. 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.. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. 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. I took the word of this choreographer, and thought he was helping me build a dance career. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is an event that you don't want to miss! One staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Kristyn chats with the hottest dancers and choreographers in the TV and film. 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. 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.. 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. Meismer shushed him, he remembers, warning that someone was asleep in a nearby room. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. 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. 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 has a daughter named Ryan. 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 After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. 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. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. Mark Meismer grew up in Orange County, California where he trained for four years at the Orange County High School of the Arts. The AP and the Star havent seen these messages because Maples said theyd been deleted. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. 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. Mark Meismer | West Coast Elite Dance, Inc. The Southern California News Group is one of them. Former Break The Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. 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. 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 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. 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.

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