When choreographer Eddy Toussaint faces a second sexual assault charge, the school and ballet company he founded distances itself and changes its name. Shows have also been taken off the poster in the wake of the charges, but management says it’s unfair to penalize the dancers.
Posted yesterday at 9:00am
Frederik Xavier Duhamel The press
Me Patricia Johnson, spokeswoman for the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP), points out that Mr Toussaint is now facing two counts of sexual assault against two different victims. These are identified only by the initials L.-PL and AG, and the allegations refer to events that took place between 2015 and 2017.
The Laval Police Service (SPL) announced earlier this month that Mr Toussaint was arrested and appeared in July in connection with one of those charges. He was released “conditionally” and is due to appear in court again in November.
The victim in this case was a man “in his twenties who aspired to a future in dance” whom Mr Toussaint had taken under his wing. “Over time, the suspect allegedly pressured the victim into having sex with him,” the SPL said in a statement, adding that it was looking for other potential victims.
On Sunday, the general manager of the school and Ballet Eddy Toussaint, Timothy Tompkins, announced that they were changing their names to Conservatoire Ballet Tompkins and Ballet Tompkins du Québec, respectively.
Mr Toussaint resigned as chairman of the organization’s board and from his role as professor in the wake of the indictment announcement, Mr Tompkins said at the inauguration of the school’s new studios.
An “unfair” situation
The city of Laval nevertheless backed away from the poster and suspended ticket sales for the show Dracula, which the troupe was due to present at the Maison des Arts in October, “to take the time to analyze any implications of the major charges against.” Mr Toussaint”.
According to management, performances of the Nutcracker show in December are also at risk. The school also lost students without being able to say how many.
“We are trying to negotiate with the city of Laval because we have already said that it is not fair that if someone is accused, no company should suffer,” lamented the general manager. It would be a “shame” to prevent dancers and students from performing, he says, especially after so many missed opportunities due to the pandemic.
“It’s unfair,” says Emeric Marchand, a dancer with the troupe. “It hurts me, it disappoints me,” he says, emphasizing all the work of the last few years.
The city of Laval wants to calm down
Asked to respond, the City of Laval said it wanted to “reassure professionals and artists in the dance community as it intends to continue its essential support for the many productions that are performed on its territory”.
“The city received the information requested by the organization on Friday and is currently conducting reviews related to the presented governance,” spokesman Alexandre Banville said. “The city morally supports any victim of sexual abuse to report these situations to the proper authorities. »
A dozen people showed up at the Sunday School studios in Laval, including singer Patsy Gallant. She described Mr Toussaint as “an exceptional man” and expressed her support. “The #metoo movement was very necessary, is still necessary, she added, but I find abuse sometimes happens. »