A local dance teacher who has performed with Cyndi Lauper and taught in the region for 14 years is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a now 16-year-old former student at a Conshohocken studio.
The female victim contacted the Limerick Township Police to report a sexual relationship she said she had with 28-year-old Francis Laurenzi from August 2012 until March 2014, according to police records.
The victim told police the encounters occurred at the Urban Elegance Dance Club at 110 Fayette St., Conshohocken -- one of the two dance studios where Laurenzi taught, according to the police affidavit.
Official documents also show she emailed the suspect at least 25 nude photos of herself and the pair exchanged text messages.
One text Laurenzi sent the teen reads: "I felt an attraction between us...Are we going to do anything about it?"
Laurenzi faces multiple charges including statutory rape, possession of child pornography and manufacturing of child pornography.
The suspect also taught at the LeRoux School of Dance at 301 N. Lewis Rd., Limerick Township, according to police. Both schools offer classes to adults and children, some as young as 18 months old.
Laurenzi stopped working at LeRoux about a year ago and expressing their concern for those involved, according to a statement from the studio's owner.
"While Mr. Laurenzi was a teacher at LeRoux School of Dance in the past, he taught group classes and did not have one on one lessons through our school," said Kelly Stento, owner and director, in a statement. "There was never anything in Mr. Laurenzi's background that would indicate a predilection to the type of alleged behavior. Again, we are deeply saddened and distressed by the reports received but the actions alleged were not related to this school."
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Leaders with Urban Elegance did not return calls requesting comment.
Unable to post $10,000 bail, Laurenzi remains behind bars at Montgomery County Prison, according to court records. An attorney for Laurenzi was not listed.
Police ask anyone with information about other incidents involving Laurenzi to contact the Conshohocken Police Department at 610-8258-4032 or the Limerick Township Police Department at 610-495-7909.
Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.
