Reality Show Dance School Failed to Pay Instructors: AG

WARWICK, RI — The jig is up for a dance school owner who failed to pay her teachers and give her students lessons, the state Attorney General's Office said. Marlaina F. Rapoza, 41, of Warwick, pleaded no contest yesterday in District Court. She was charged with two counts of failure to pay wages. Rapoza owned Triple Threat Performing Arts Center in Warwick. Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that she failed to pay wages to three dance instructors at various times between January 2014 and June 2014.

According to Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin, "under the terms of the plea, Rapoza was sentenced to one year probation on each count to run consecutive to one another. She also was ordered to pay $4,798 in total wages owed to three former employees.

"Ms. Rapoza is also subject to a civil judgment of approximately $16,000 from a lawsuit filed by the Office of Attorney General for violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act," Kilmartin indicated. "Under the conditions of the civil judgment, Ms. Rapoza is ordered to pay $200 per month to resolve complaints by 29 consumers for accepting payment for dance lessons that never took place and entry fees for dance competitions for which she did not remit."

"Rapoza and the dance studio were featured on the short-lived reality TV program 'Dance Studio Rescue,' in June 2014, in which Abby Lee Miller, the star of the reality TV show 'Dance Moms,' transformed struggling dance studios into successful businesses," Kilmartin's office said. Miller's advice didn't help Triple Threat, which closed its doors shortly after the episode aired on television.

“Despite the national television exposure and the chance to turn around her failing business, Ms. Rapoza violated the trust of her employees when she failed to pay them wages and violated the trust of her young students with failed promises of elite dance lessons and competitions,” Kilmartin said.

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