A dancer featured in an April 13 Times-Review story will have to find a whole new ballroom.
Julie Villanueva, owner of Gotta Dance studios, said she terminated dance instructor Larry Tyrone Stevenson, also known as Estefan, June 13.
Stevenson began working at Gotta Dance’s Cleburne and Granbury studios in January.
Several people who contacted the Times-Review after the story ran disputed several claims Stevenson made in the article and said he has a criminal record. Attempts to substantiate several of the claims proved unsuccessful. Stevenson, in a phone interview, said he did not want to discuss his personal life.
One disputed claim was Stevenson’s assertion that he placed third in the World Open Salsa Competition in 2006. Stevenson said he has a trophy, certificate and video of the event. He refused to send or fax a copy of the certificate but did offer to show the video. Stevenson said he furnished Villanueva with proof of his participation and placing in the contest.
“No, I absolutely never saw any proof of that,” Villanueva said.
Stevenson said there are 23 different salsa dance competition organizations, which function as separate entities not overseen by a central organization.
“I don’t care if there’s 600,” Villanueva said. “My problem was when was it, what were the dates and who can I contact to verify it? And he was never able to provide that information.”
Claims that Stevenson had or had not appeared as an extra in the television show “Walker, Texas Ranger” and choreographed and performed at Dallas Mavericks half-time shows also could not be verified. Stevenson said he appeared in two Mavericks shows but could not provide dates. Stevenson suggested contacting Dallas Power House of Dance, which, Stevenson said, organized events for the Mavericks. A message left on the phone of Kirsten Seiter, a woman said to be in charge Mavericks events, was not returned.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Record Service records show three Texas convictions for Stevenson between 1993 and 2004. One conviction, stemming from a 1993 Sherman Police Department arrest is for failure to identify. The second, from Collin County in 1999 is for assault causing bodily injury. The 2004 conviction, out of Dallas County, is for criminal nonsupport. Stevenson admitted to being on probation in Dallas County but refused to discuss the details.
Villanueva said she was shocked when she initially learned of the alleged discrepancies.
“He’s a very nice, well-spoken individual,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said she checked Stevenson’s background as far as employment before hiring him but did not do a criminal background check. Such checks are expensive and require the applicant to authorize them, she said, adding that she’d never had a problem in 30 years of running dance studios.
“A lot of things that are going on have not been told ... ,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson said his employment contract terms give him partial ownership of the company after one year of employment.
“Since it’s getting close to where that’s supposed to happen, and then all of this happens, it’s kind of obvious,” Stevenson said.
Villanueva confirmed Stevenson’s employment contract contained such terms but said that did not play into her decision to terminate him.
Local News
Studio sends dancer packing
Instructor terminated, background questioned
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Up-and-down Yellow Jackets split Friday’s matches at Little Elm Tourney
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Stage 2 drought plan still in place
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Indians on top of selections
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
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Indians on top of selections
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
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Indians on top of selections
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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Indians on top of selections
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Venus
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Fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s sister, Megan Davis, takes a picture of a painting of her brother on Monday during a dedication to the deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office renamed its building to the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center in honor of the deputy who lost his life during a disturbance call in April. The picture was painted by Fort Worth artist Gary Crouch. Three pictures were made and one will hang in the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center. The other two paintings were presented as gifts to Taylor’s parents and his fiancee.
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Never forgotten
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Never forgotten
