And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. Meismer didnt respond to repeated requests for comment. 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 born on November 3, 1954 in El Campo. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he says. (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. To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. According to some wiki sources, Mark Mester celebrates his birthday on 27 December to supportive parents. He was born on June 19, 1973 and his birthplace is Lakewood, CA. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. He graduated from Sterling High School and Lee College in Baytown. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. The next day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. 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. Thanks for contacting us. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Button taught at Radix conventions. After all, Meismer was already an icon. 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.. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. [1] Outside the show, he has choreographed several of But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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. 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 Southern California News Group is one of them. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. (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. His mental health deteriorated. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. All rights reserved (About Us). He is no longer with the company, according to Break the Floor. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. 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 day Meismer was removed from NUVOs website and abruptly left the tour. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. He stopped eating and sleeping, and suffered from panic attacks, he 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. 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. 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. 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.. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. Hudson said he was optimistic. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. 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. 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. That night, they had sex in his apartment. In the years that followed, Hudson said Meismer continued to pursue him for sex. Gabriel who has performed with Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Beyonc and more was recently removed from the JUMP faculty. Former Break the Floor instructors have been accused of abusing young dancers in other settings. His biggest accomplishment and proudest achievement are being a dad to his beautiful daughter Ryan. The next morning, Stroming left abruptly for Las Vegas and handed her $40 for a cab ride back to the airport. 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. 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. He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Nowhere in the world of education should students feel they are underneath the predators, he said. WebMark Meismer. 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. Maples mother, however, told the news organizations that she saw the photos when they appeared on shared photo albums on their familys home computer. 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. 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 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. 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. AP journalists in more than 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting to visual storytelling. WebMark Meismer is a famous Dancer. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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 said. Mark Meismer was an actor who had a successful Hollywood career. WebMark 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". You Ruin Me - Autumn Miller. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront Wallace directly. Web1.9m Followers, 359 Following, 3,362 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mark Meismer (@markmeismer) To surprise him, Hudson said Meismer would buy them matching outfits. Lawyers for Saradpon and the Buttons didnt respond to requests for comment. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. He has over 576k followers on 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. 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 ultimate goal is winning first place under the spotlight at the annual Dance Awards. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. Afterwards, Schaufeld said Wallace told him never to say anything; it would be bad for both of their careers. Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. 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. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. Mrs. Meismer was a graduate of Hoke County High School. Another said Lazzarini texted her a nude selfie when she was 16. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. This story was reported in partnership with the Toronto Star. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. Meismer asked the young dancer, then 17, to come to his home. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Jocelyn Dowling. She married Michael Meismer on April 10, 1976 in El Campo. 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. 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. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. 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. (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. 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. At least four people removed from Break The Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. 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. The Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break The Floor events. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. But he was uncomfortable when a dance teacher, Mark Meismer, in his early 30s, repeatedly told him how attractive he was. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. Carrie Fisher to Receive Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame: 'Long Overdue,' Says Mark Hamill. 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. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. Hudson alleges Meismer pushed him against a wall and performed oral sex on him. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. Button taught at Radix conventions. It was her first year in their junior women's category. 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. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. Mark was born in Lakewood, California, but raised in Cerritos one of three siblings. He referred reporters to his lawyer, who didnt respond. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. 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. 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. 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. I took the word of this choreographer and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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.. 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. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. : r/dancemoms 3 yr. ago by wistfullystressedout a genuine prodigy. 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. 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 staff member said Stroming showed him a nude photo of one of the students. Each of them has since left the company amid allegations of sexual misconduct. 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. In his first 10 days as CEO, he said four people were let go.. Hed toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. But during a 2020 in-house training, a recording of which was reviewed by the AP and Star, Stroming addressed his own past misconduct. 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). His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Glenda Carol (Butler) Meismer, 63, of La Grange, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. In 2018, 14 years later, he decided to tell his family, and confront 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. Mark has had a very diverse career in concert dance and The dance world, its not like its different than any other world, its just that theyve been able to keep their secrets longer.. 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. 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. 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. Three of these dancers were under 18. His mental health deteriorated. 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 . I was definitely inappropriate myself in a lot of ways, he told his staff. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. Sexual abuse pervades the dance world, according to child advocates and industry leaders. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. But the secret ate away at him. One said Lazzarini groped him through a hole in his pants. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. But the secret ate away at him. 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. This is an event that you don't want to miss! 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. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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). He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. In dance studios, Hudson says Meismer would guide him into bathroom stalls for oral sex. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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 Stars prior investigation uncovered allegations that Lazzarini had subjected at least six dancers to unwanted sexual advances at Break the Floor events. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. He is a married and he has a daughter and her name is Ryan. Stroming declined repeated interview requests. I didnt know how inappropriate that 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..