I was sexually abused by a staff member at Atomic Ballroom. Please be careful if you dance in the Orange County or Los Angeles scenes.
This concerns a dancer named Natalie Bell (they/them). Natalie works at Atomic Ballroom in Irvine, CA. They also work / volunteer at Bobby McGee’s Swing Dance Party, California Balboa Classic, Camp Hollywood, Minor Swing, and Shag Summer Camp.
During my time dancing at Atomic, Natalie subjected me to constant sexual harassment. They frequently propositioned me for sex, subjected me to graphic details about their sexual experiences, and offered to show me pornography on their phone. All of this was done against my will. I never asked for this type of attention, nor did I ever reciprocate it. If I tried walking away, Natalie would follow me around the studio, continuing to harass me. When I plainly expressed my discomfort, Natalie would verbally abuse me. Occasionally, Natalie threatened to ban me from the studio for rejecting their sexual advances.
When I brought my concerns to Atomic’s teachers and staff members, they said the owners were already aware of Natalie’s inappropriate behavior. According to them, Natalie had been reported at least a dozen times for various instances of sexual and verbal harassment. The staff discouraged me from filing a formal complaint or speaking to the owners. I was warned that reporting Natalie would only make things worse, which some teachers and staff members knew from experience. Since Atomic was the center of our scene, I had to decide between leaving the community and suffering in silence. Since I was unwilling to walk away from my friends, I chose the latter.
As time went on, Natalie grew even more abusive. When Natalie saw me in the studio, they would sexually harass me in front of my friends, verbally abuse me in public, and spread false rumors that we had been sexually intimate. On one occasion, Natalie publicly humiliated me so severely, I locked myself in a bathroom stall and cried for half an hour. All of this led up to Natalie sexually assaulting me inside Atomic. I would rather not describe this specific incident, as it would be hard for me to explain the circumstances without revealing my identity. This incident was deliberate and planned for a specific time when no witnesses would be present. It left me powerless and dehumanized. After this final incident, I quietly left the scene for my own safety.
This has been incredibly difficult for me to relive and put into words. Natalie robbed me of my community and dignity. I feel a profound sense of loss. I don't want anyone else to experience my nightmare. Thank you for listening to my story. Please be safe.