Dance teacher faces charge of sexual assault

A dance instructor, who investigators say has masqueraded for decades in the Houston area as the legendary dancer "Tommy Rall" who gained fame in 1950s musicals, now faces a charge of sexual assault of a child.

[Son of Tommy Rall]

I am sorry that many do not know all the facts. In-Step was contacted several times via phone, e-mail and mail about this individual. Many mothers and students in the Houston area have been the pray of a Con Artist and now Criminal. It is very sad. One might think that before employing an individual, especially hired to work with children, they would research his/her credits; especially someone claiming to be a legendary actor/performer like my father Tommy Rall. Truth and fact of the matter is that "Ric Brame" is not even a member of Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity, or any Union of Film or Stage. With that being said, any reputable Artist would know that one cannot perform on Broadway/Film etc... without being a member of these Unions. Bottom line: many have been CHEATED & TAKEN by Mr. Brame and the In-Step Dance Center, paid many dollars $$$ for someone who has no credible background in the arts, and now must wonder what it would have been like to study under the "REAL" Tommy Rall. I feel very sorry for all of you. This community should take action! Best regards and wishes are with you all.

[A Dancers Mom]

Mr. Brame has duped hundreds of parents out of money. The studios that have employed him have made money as well... I can't help but feel that the studio has to share some responsibility for endangering its students to this fake... this pedophile charleton. Afterall, you can pay for a simple background check on the internet for $9.95! The studios surely have his social security number... his driver's license. Didn't they feel any obligation to check?
As a parent of a dancer I expect for the studio to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for my child/dancer. I expect the teachers that I pay tuition and private fees to be who they say they are. I expect the studio that represents them to an entity that I can trust.
This whole situation is just shoddy... it should have never happened. Just a little care by the studio(s) would have made it impossible for him to teach and rape little girls under the guise of a "dance professional".

[Son of Tommy Rall]

AGREE 100%. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

A Dancers Mom wrote:

Mr. Brame has duped hundreds of parents out of money. The studios that have employed him have made money as well... I can't help but feel that the studio has to share some responsibility for endangering its students to this fake... this pedophile charleton. Afterall, you can pay for a simple background check on the internet for $9.95! The studios surely have his social security number... his driver's license. Didn't they feel any obligation to check?
As a parent of a dancer I expect for the studio to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for my child/dancer. I expect the teachers that I pay tuition and private fees to be who they say they are. I expect the studio that represents them to an entity that I can trust.
This whole situation is just shoddy... it should have never happened. Just a little care by the studio(s) would have made it impossible for him to teach and rape little girls under the guise of a "dance professional".

[Fan of Tommy Rall]

Terrible. Is Mr. Rall going to sue Mr. Brame and these dance studio's?

Son of Tommy Rall wrote:

I am sorry that many do not know all the facts. In-Step was contacted several times via phone, e-mail and mail about this individual. Many mothers and students in the Houston area have been the pray of a Con Artist and now Criminal. It is very sad. One might think that before employing an individual, especially hired to work with children, they would research his/her credits; especially someone claiming to be a legendary actor/performer like my father Tommy Rall. Truth and fact of the matter is that "Ric Brame" is not even a member of Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity, or any Union of Film or Stage. With that being said, any reputable Artist would know that one cannot perform on Broadway/Film etc... without being a member of these Unions. Bottom line: many have been CHEATED & TAKEN by Mr. Brame and the In-Step Dance Center, paid many dollars $$$ for someone who has no credible background in the arts, and now must wonder what it would have been like to study under the "REAL" Tommy Rall. I feel very sorry for all of you. This community should take action! Best regards and wishes are with you all.

[wow]

I totally agree that a lawsuit is the only way that the community can stop this from happening and keep studios such as In-Step from allowing this to happen to our children by hiring people such as he!

[not surprised]

my children were students at in-step when they were young. when i first heard of mr. ric's supposed resume, i told everyone it was bs! anyone with that resume would not be teaching at a b-studio on sawdust road! this man struck me as a lecher as i watched him teach my children. i did not trust him at all. i watched intently as he taught and never left my children unattended when mr. ric was around. miss dana was enamoured to have such an expert as her employee.

[not surprised - more]

in one class, i remember mr. ric sitting on the floor in front of young children in his short shorts and i swear he was trying to expose himself to the girls. i pullled my children out of this studio shortly afterward.
miss dana should be held responsible for allowing this man access to children. anyone with half a brain, let alone a true background in dance, should have known he was a fraud!

[Carole Shmurak]

Son of Tommy Rall wrote:

I am sorry that many do not know all the facts. In-Step was contacted several times via phone, e-mail and mail about this individual.... Truth and fact of the matter is that "Ric Brame" is not even a member of Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity, or any Union of Film or Stage. With that being said, any reputable Artist would know that one cannot perform on Broadway/Film etc... without being a member of these Unions. Bottom line: many have been CHEATED & TAKEN by Mr. Brame and the In-Step Dance Center, paid many dollars $$$ for someone who has no credible background in the arts, and now must wonder what it would have been like to study under the "REAL" Tommy Rall. I feel very sorry for all of you. This community should take action! Best regards and wishes are with you all.

I am glad someone from the Rall family is speaking up. I am the person who hleped expose Ric Brame. I thought Tommy Rall was too kind to him - Brame has tarnished his name. I have heard stories of drunken dancing at church Christmas pageants that people were ascribing to Rall. They are so glad to find out it was an impostor! And I did notify InStep of this farud in March.

[Son of Tommy Rall]

Carole, thanks for your help. A new story will be in the Sunday Edition of the Houston Chronicle tomorrow. I just spoke with the reporter and she stated that IN-STEP DANCE STUDIO will not comment for the record. I WONDER WHY? GUILTY?

Carole Shmurak wrote:

<quoted text>
I am glad someone from the Rall family is speaking up. I am the person who hleped expose Ric Brame. I thought Tommy Rall was too kind to him - Brame has tarnished his name. I have heard stories of drunken dancing at church Christmas pageants that people were ascribing to Rall. They are so glad to find out it was an impostor! And I did notify InStep of this farud in March.

[Carole Shmurak]

She had told me that it would be Saturday - now I can stop checking their website! Thanks.

[If "son of TR" would like to contact me privately, I can be reached via my website www.MattyTrescott.com ]

[Dancers Aunt]

Can anyone tell me exactly when Instep found out about Mr. Brame? How long did she let this go on?

[Carole Shmurak]

I notified InStep about the fraud in February. I heard back briefly from someone named Mike.
Omni Dance had an apology on their website earlier this spring, but theri website is now down.

[Son of Tommy Rall]

I received correspondence from Mike Sparks of "In-Step" stating that his business did not want to be involved with all of this and to cease all communication with his studio. Reporters state that "In-Step" is ducking them too. Boy, little does he know he is quite involved. I wonder what will happen next? In-Step has been aware of this for quite some time! They were mailed a letter from my father, e-mailed, and faxed all information about pertaining to misrepresentation as "Tommy Rall" It appears as if this business supported Mr. Brame.

Dancers Aunt wrote:

Can anyone tell me exactly when Instep found out about Mr. Brame? How long did she let this go on?

[wow]

I know that all of this is such a shock to many but...did anyone really beleive all that he was cracked up to be? Anyone with any kind of knowledge should have known that this man was a fraud. Background checks are very inexpensive and should be done on all employees. If, and I say if because I do not know all of the facts but; if In-Step was notified (which it seems as though they were from all of the information that I have read) someone needs to speak up and come clean about this! I am concerned that if a studio owner will allow someone to lie about who they are and knowingly push it under the table when they have been told of the falsifications, what else are they hiding? It is also concerning that a studio who is supposedly teaching children will not make any kind of statement...even something as simple as...we are also shocked and we will do what we can to make this right or something along those lines. Whether or not this incident happened on their property is pointless; they should have some kind of responsibility to the community for allowing someone like this man to continue working in their establishment knowing that the resume he has created is false. Unfortunately I feel as though they will hide and play victim themselves...if my child was a student at their studio I would be gone!

[wow]

I am assuming that you have a niece or nephew at the studio...if so, may advice would be to ask them directly to see what they come up with. This all sounds kind of fishy to me...especially fromt he information that I have read coming from TR's family!

Dancers Aunt wrote:

Can anyone tell me exactly when Instep found out about Mr. Brame? How long did she let this go on?

[Shame of Brame]

Mike Sparks is Dana's husband. Like everyone else, Dana believed. Ric Brame produced results, which is why I can't leave this story alone. Part of me is furious and ashamed. Another part of me feels sad for Ric. To many of us, he was a decent person - he just exaggerated too much (understatement of the year, I know). But no matter which way you twist the picture, he signed a confession. Ric Brame confessed to everything. A judge and jury of his peers will take it from here. When's the hearing?

[big news]

So many people have believed and are now hurt over the situation!

[Son of Tommy Rall]

WOW -
What do you find fishy?

wow wrote:

I am assuming that you have a niece or nephew at the studio...if so, may advice would be to ask them directly to see what they come up with. This all sounds kind of fishy to me...especially fromt he information that I have read coming from TR's family!
<quoted text>

[Shame of Brame]

Despite the horror, In-Step is still open for business. The classes continue. People are continuing to go. What does that tell you? I'll tell you. Like Ric Brame, In-Step produces results too. It wouldn't be me, but a lot of folks are standing by their studio.

[More information]

Please tell me how you know he confessed? I have seen nothing about this in the reports. Also, I didn't see anything in The Chronicle this AM. Is there an article?