A St. Albert dance school has suspended an instructor who was charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation in a case involving one of his former students at another dance school.
Art of Dance school in the Campbell Business Park had at one time employed Oliver ‘OJ’ Damaso as a hip-hop instructor, but according to a message on the school’s answering machine the 28-year-old is no longer working at the school.
“The Art of Dance has suspended him from all of his teaching duties and substitute teachers will be instructing all of his classes,” the message said.
The allegations against Damaso stem from an incident in Sherwood Park in April 2009 that was recently reported to Strathcona County RCMP.
A 16-year-old girl told RCMP on March 6 that her male dance instructor had assaulted her while he was at her home. The girl had been a student of the instructor at an Edmonton dance studio and continued to take lessons after the alleged assault occurred.
Cpl. Darren Anderson with the Strathcona County RCMP said it is not uncommon for someone to take time before reporting an incident like this to police.
“Each person handles this type of incident differently.”
Anderson said the RCMP was pleased the young woman had come forward to police.
“The fact that she had the courage to come forward is encouraging.”
Anderson said police are not investigating any other incidents, but also obviously remain open to anyone who might want to come forward.
“We have nothing right now that makes us believe there are other cases, but now that it is out in the public we would encourage anyone who has something to report to come forward.”
Damaso is facing a single count of both sexual exploitation and sexual assault. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance on March 24, but a lawyer appeared on his behalf and set the case over to April 14.
