As the founder of Youth Protection Advocates in Dance and the only organization we know of globally that has a department that specifically is dedicated to raising awareness and creating activism regarding sex abuse in dance, it’s posts like this that make me feel very burdened and wish YPAD didn’t exist. YPAD was informed of this indictment some time ago but at the request of the victim and her family we were asked to refrain from posting until the family gave the green light. Charles L. Young of Dance Rogue has been indicted and now arrested on criminal sexual abuse charges of a minor. Please read the public documents below for more details. Many of you know him as Charles Lawrence. This hits home for me in many ways. Charles Lawrence recently relocated to my dance community in LA and is in jail 30 minutes away from where I live. He currently has no bail and is not allowed visitors even though the initial article said bail was $50,000. At the request of YPAD and the family we ask first, please keep any comments on this thread sensitive to not only the victim and her family but to remember the devastation this causes to the family of those arrested on charges of sex abuse. Families on both sides are suffering. I hope you all know I am not saying you won’t keep this thread thoughtful but I am saying this from a place that knows compassion is needed for all involved and YPAD wants to do our best to uphold a high standard of care when we communicate about sex abuse on public threads and in general. Second, from a legal standpoint this thread is not a place to discuss rumors, report other victims, speculation, etc. It is within my legal rights to share with you what is already public information. Third, and SO important, if any of you have ANY information regarding the possibility of other victims please immediately contact State Attorney Bryan Kibler at the Effingham County Government Center at tel:(217) 347-7741 and/or email the Victim-Witness Coordinator, Susan Majors, at email: [email protected]. I have been in touch with their office and they are responsive and helpful. I want to thank all of you who continue to support the multiple missions of YPAD to build empowered dance communities and stop all forms of exploitation in dance. I want to thank Kaelyn Grey for dedicating countless hours to this with me and others who will remain anonymous but have been actively working behind the scenes to keep our work going. If I can be of service to any of you in a more private format please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected]. We have a team of incredible specialists on our Advisory Panel (which is listed on the website) and if you need help in any aspect of the multiple areas we serve, we are Honored to assist you if we are able. Thank you.
-Leslie Scott