Emmy Award-winning choreographer Travis Wall, who first rose to fame on the American dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance and the Oxygen reality show All the Right Moves, has been cut from this year’s tour for the prominent dance company and competition host, Break the Floor (BTF), amid allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior. According to The Wrap, the investigative report into Wall’s behavior was first published in the Toronto Star earlier this week. And unfortunately, it seems that investigation into the choreographer’s alleged conduct clearly outlines the accusations being made against the former SYTYCD choreographer.
As a result of the Star’s investigative report into Wall, Break the Floor, which was started by tap dancer Gil Stroming and offers master classes and competition prep for young dancers, is bringing in a third party investigator to look at the claims made against the So You Think You Can Dance alum in the Star report. “Travis will not be traveling with BTF until we’ve had the opportunity for a third-party to look into these allegations,” BTF said in a statement posted to its Instagram stories on Friday, according to The Wrap. “We take this very seriously and will take further action if necessary,” BTF added.
Just weeks ago the dance world was shocked over allegations of grooming by artist (and former dancer) Mitchell Taylor Button and former Boston Ballet star Dusty Button, both of whom have been accused of grooming and sexually abusing several young dancers in their home(s). And now, the history of uneven power dynamics in dance is coming to light again. Through its Instagram page, BTF posted an announcement saying that, “The dance community has long dealt with issues of inappropriate power dynamics as well as overt unacceptable behavior.”
A day later, after the outlet and dance production company had time to make preliminary evaluations of the harassment claims, the company posted again on its Instagram, adding that it’s striving to do better for young dancers, and to create a safer environment for everyone. In furtherance of this mission, BTF announced that the company’s senior personnel have now received training from the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance, and that the dance organization hopes that by participating in this training, it will be able to create a better environment for young dancers in the future.
The Star story, first published on Thursday, October 21st, 2021, detailed widespread harassment and predatory behavior at BTF conventions and performances worldwide, something that is mimicked at other popular dance competitions (the likes of which casual dance fans have seen on shows like Dance Moms). Per the Star, “Eight former staff and students allege BTF employees, famous in the dance world, initiated sexual conversations, propositioned them for sex, sent them nude photos, sexually harassed them at work or engaged in sexual relationships with them.”
One of those students, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Myles Lavallee, who says he became Wall’s dance assistant in 2008, accused the SYTYCD choreographer, Wall, of grooming him when he was 16 and the choreographer was around 20. Lavallee also told the Star that during an overnight stay in Arizona, Wall made sexual advances on him while the two were teaching a dance course nearby.
Lavallee said that Wall gave him ecstasy that night in Arizona, and “we were doing hand massages, which just creeps me out now.” According to Lavallee, when he attempted to communicate to Wall that the behavior made him uncomfortable, the SYTYCD alum retaliated by cutting off communication with Lavallee, something which the Hubbard Street dancer believes happened because he avoided a sexual relationship with Wall.
According to the Star, Wall said (through his publicist) that “the accusations against me are false.” However, neither Wall not BTF have responded to requests for comment since the story first broke about the So You Think You Can Dance dancer and choreographer being cut from Break the Floor’s tour as a result of the sexual misconduct accusation. This news comes from The Star.
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