Birthdays of Famous People Mark Meismer fathers name is under review and mother unknown at this time. Mark Meismer Net Worth, Age, Bio, Birthday, Height, Facts I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. At 16, Hudson looked forward to the festive weekend gatherings. 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. Gallery To view the gallery for Liza Smith, click here. High school student, convention boyfriend. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. But at Meismers house, they didnt discuss work. 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. And so Schaufeld stayed quiet. At least four people removed from Break the Floor for alleged misconduct have continued to work around kids in other settings. I didnt know how inappropriate that was.. After all, Meismer was already an icon; he had toured with Britney Spears, Madonna and Paula Abdul. In 2019, Stroming quietly fired him after he posted, then quickly removed, a video of himself masturbating on Instagram, as the Star previously reported. And five dancers are suing former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button and her husband, alleging sexual abuse and assault. On planes, Meismer would grope him in his seat, Hudson alleges. She says she didnt attend any auditions, and returned home devastated. Stroming was three years older, she said, a magnetic 19-year-old running the whole show. 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.. 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I took the word of this choreographer and thought he was helping me build a dance career. 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. 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. 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 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 the secret ate away at him. Alumni and faculty have danced on stage with Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, at the Oscars and the Super Bowl. He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. It was my church, he said, but now the whole dance scene feels dirty and tainted. (AP Photo/John Minchillo). Liza Smith He added new conventions, and new locations, branching into Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. His picture and profile disappeared from the website, though there was no formal announcement of his departure. 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. He is no longer with the company, according to Break The Floor. We've received your submission. 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. WebMark Meismer. This might just be his lucky break into professional dance. Thats what Gary Schaufeld says happened to him. Mega dance competition company bred culture of sex, silence, He was a teen in 2004, assisting a successful tap dancer named Danny Wallace. 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. Break the Floor helped launch his career, but an alleged assault by one of its star dancers continues to haunt him. 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.. [1] Outside the show, he has choreographed several of Which in fact, he wasnt, Hudson said in his video, viewed over 6,300 times. He called me his convention boyfriend, recalled Hudson. I just didnt know myself enough to understand how harmful it was, Hudson said. He said he must have passed out and has no recollection of sending the text. Mark Meismer (@markmeismer) Instagram photos and I was frozen in my own skin, I didnt know what to do, Schaufeld said. Break the Floors reach extends across the entertainment industry to some of the biggest names in music, television and social media. Carrie Fisher Getting Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame This Star Hudson said he was optimistic. 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.. (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. A third said he and Lazzarini exchanged nude photos when he was 17. 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. Schaufeld stopped dancing years ago and has no plans to return to the studio. 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. In 2018, 14 years after the incident, he decided to tell his family, and confront tap dancer Danny Wallace directly. 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. And whats egregious about seeing it in the context of conventions is that it happens to kids. 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. A year later, Hudson stayed with Meismer when he joined Break The Floors fledgling NUVO convention as part of its original lineup of instructors. 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. 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. After 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. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. His representatives at the MSA Agency also said they had no comment on his behalf. Mark Meismer | studio8171 Hamilton also said perpetrators in many youth-focused organizations use hotel rooms away from home to exploit the power imbalance between teachers and students. Schaufeld had fallen in love with tap at 7 years old, and assisting Wallace offered a chance to raise his profile and learn from one of the best. The 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. 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.