Dance Community Assault Lawsuits
If you or a loved one was assaulted while performing in the dance community, you should know your rights and consult with attorneys with a proven track record in helping survivors. We are dedicated to seeking justice for survivors of sexual assault and are actively investigating these allegations of sexual assault and gross misconduct by several prominent members of the dance community.
Justice Law Collaborative, LLC is dedicated helping survivors of assault in the dance community and their families hold abusers accountable for. Our firm is investigating multiple claims for individuals and families against coaches, teachers, instructors, choreographers, and other organizations. If you or a family member suffered abuse while in the dance community, you deserve accountability and you may have a legal claim.
Every year tens of thousands of young children put on their dance shoes for the first time. It has long been a rite of passage for young dancers to one day be on stage in a beautiful costume while others admire their strength, beauty, and grace. While it’s beautiful to watch, dance is a competitive endeavor and many dancers sacrifice their youth for a chance to make it on the convention circuit. They dream of the chance to work with a top choreographer and those who have been awarded that prestige are all to willing to take advantage of their eagerness. They realize that while these dancers are talented and ambitious, they are still young making them targets for these predators who misuse their power and take advantage of their vulnerabilities and dreams.
The heartbreaking reality is that 40-50% of athletes have experienced anything from mild harassment to severe abuse. The perpetrators of the abuse are coaches, teachers and instructors 98% of the time. It’s time to change the fact that 93% of athletes who experienced sexual harassment or unwanted contact during their time in sports did not report it.
Accounts of abuse such from aspiring young dancers are not uncommon and aren’t limited to one dance company or style. Recently, one member of the dance community took to his Instagram account to bring to light accounts of abuse from multiple dancers against forty-two different, high profile, dance teachers, choreographers, and companies. The allegations ranged from sexual assault to giving drugs to a minor.
Unfortunately, the combination of job scarcity and the conditioning of dancers to be compliant and push through pain makes the dance community an environment ripe for predators to thrive. The grooming process is slow and subtle, and the fact that there is a clear hierarchy in the dance community where so many young, ambitious dancers are looking to work their way to the top, provides an ideal opportunity for those in power to take advantage of them. Groomers need power, access, isolation, and time to groom their victims, something that high-profile members of the dance community are given in spades. Once the groomer is able to insert themselves in the young dancer’s life, they will shower them with gifts, affection, and promises of success. The groomers tactics feed on perfectionism and a desire for approval, making dancers especially vulnerable targets.
It is important that dance companies take all possible precautions to combat grooming in the community, including carefully conducted background and reference checks, knowing and adhering to state mandated reporter guidelines. Most importantly, the dance community needs to admit that grooming and sexual abuse are a real danger to young members of the dance community and openly engage in education and discussions about grooming behaviors and ensure everyone feels safe reporting red-flag behaviors. The sad reality is that while there are certain studios notorious amongst those on the convention circuit for serving as breeding grounds for predators, they are able to continue to operate because the abuse is kept secret.
The Justice Law Collaborative, a law firm dedicated to helping seek justice for survivors of sexual assault, is actively investigating these allegations of egregious misconduct in the dance community. We understand the strength it takes to come forward and speak your truth, and we take a trauma informed approach to representing and supporting everyone who contacts us. If you have information to share about dancer assault or questions about the rights of dancers, please do not hesitate to contact us at survivorsupport@justicelc.com.
There are several pros and cons with filing a lawsuit for compensation. More importantly, there are strict time limitations in which to bring your claims. Contact the lawyers at Justice Law Collaborative for a free consultation and evaluation of your potential claim. Our discussions are completely confidential and all decisions are yours to make.