Alex Da Silva, well known Los Angeles Latin dancer and salsa choreographer for the Fox Television show “So You Think You Can Dance”, was arrested Saturday on accusations of sexually assaulting students in his two homes in the San Fernando Valley. Because he was accused of sexual assault in 2003, 2004 and again in 2005, the previous cases were re-opened once a fourth accuser pressed charges on March 28th, 2009. All four accounts were found to be similar, despite the fact that the women did not know one another. He is currently being held on $3.8 million bail for allegedly raping four female students over the past six years. Detectives believe there may have been more victims and hope they come forward with information. He was arrested 20 minutes before the end of a class he was teaching Saturday at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, said Det. John Eum of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Alex Da Silva, now 41 years, started salsa dancing when he was 20. Many dances in the salsa scene credit him for introducing the “LA Style” of salsa dancing. He has won numerous World Salsa Dancing Championships and is well known in the Los Angeles salsa dance scene.
[Update 4-7-09] The court date was today and no charges were filed against Alex Da Silva given that new victims have come forward and the prosecution still has to interview them.
“Los Angeles County prosecutors declined today to file criminal charges against salsa dancer and choreographer Alex Da Silva of the Fox television show “So You Think You Can Dance,” saying further investigation was needed into allegations that he sexually assaulted four of his students… [...] Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors wanted police to conduct more investigation before charges are considered. She also said more alleged victims have come forward, and they still needed to be interviewed. “
Sources:
[Read from Associated Content]
[Read from L.A. Times]
[Read from New York Times]
[Read from NBC LA]
[Updated 8-18-2009]
After a further investigation by police, Alex Da Silva, has been arrested again at his North Hollywood home by Los Angeles police. They have pressed charges which include: four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by foreign object. Bail set to $6.2 million dollars.
[Source: LA Times via BecomingSalsero]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l22rWNpBU8M
Bloch is carried here as well,...
It’s about time the truth be known about Alex Da Silva. He has had a reputation of being a rapist for years in the Salsa scene. No surprise. Only now the public is finding out. May justice finally be served and may any unknown victims please come forward. Put that Diablo into the snake pit where he belongs.
Harvey, you should excited, angered, and unsurprised at the recent news of Alex Da Silva.
You say harsh things. You make sharp statements. You sound as if you have first hand experience with Alex’s p3nis, or your ex-girlfriend has first hand experience with Alex’s p3nis.
If you knew all of these things, why didn’t you go to the police years ago?
Yes, Alex ufked women in the salsa scene. Yes, now he is being charged for some of those sexual encounters.
But, Harvey, why are you so angry? Why didn’t you go to the police years ago. Harvey, why did your parent’s name you such a ufked up name that people cannot respect?
Wow! Very sad.
Personally, I’m new to salsa and never heard of him.
LADIES ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCT! Success, power, wealth, and popularity never gives a man the right to sexually harass you!
I’ve seen some men use salsa dance to get fresh with women. Some ladies can clearly see it and some ladies cannot. That could be a new topic!
Things don’t look like they are going well for Alex. What an unfortunate situation.
I had private lessons with Alex and he was a complete gentleman. But I have to say that I was very clear in my body language & verbal language that I was there to have a private lesson. No one deserves to raped but….women have to realistic about the situation. We usually know when a guy is “testing” you…trying to feel out the situation. This dance teachers travel around the world and the move from one woman to the other. The new salseras MUST be careful because the men are going to try to be with you. New salseras want to learn, they want the attention, they want to be seen with the great dancers, which is all very normal but you must bring yourself back down from cloud 9. I have friends who came into the scene well after I did and explained to them the situation. Basically the scene is like a fishbowl…if you are going to date anyone in the scene, you must be selective. Though the majority of the men are truly there to simple dance, there are a few knuckle heads who have other motives.
I agree 100% what Marie stated!!!
It is such a shame. No one warned me, but I picked up on the typical guy thing and figured it out! Now, I take lessons with a female. I would only consider taking lessons from a man, if he’s married (hopefully happyily), gay, or his girlfriend is in the class! I prefer to social dance with men who just want to dance!
NOT everyone is out there like that BUT there are a lot of men who are!
We should not prosecute a man if the law is still not willing to do so, let alone find him guilty. If he did rape these women, the truth will present itself, but until then we must suspend judgement– we’d ask the same for ourselves if wrongly accused.
That being said, as a woman who is strictly interested in social dancing I have a good sense of who is there for *more* and who is not. I’m curious where these “private” lessons were held that such a thing could happen? Either something fishy is going on or people are extraordinarily stupid…. still, if a woman says “no” it ALWAYS means NO!!! Got it, guys?
so the man was arrested but then no charges filed!!?? o-k thats smart.
Looks like this is far from over:
http://www.becomingasalsero.com/alex-da-silva-arrested-again/
It’s about time an intelligent District Attorney was put on this case. Former lacking DAs is the reason for the case being dragged on for so long. Alex is a criminal and deserves everything that is to come – life in prison. Rapists don’t show their dark side to the public. Their own families don’t even know it! May justice be served.