Alex Da Silva Accused of Sexual Assault

Choreographer Alex Da Silva is Accused of Raping Four Women

Hartley Engel
Alex Da Silva, who is a choreographer on the Fox television show "So You Think You Can Dance," was arrested Saturday on suspicion of sexual assault, reports the Associated Press. Over the last six years, Alex Da Silva allegedly raped four of his dance students at his homes in the San Fernando Valley.

"The victims allege that he lured them to his homes in North Hollywood and Van Nuys," said the police in a statement. "He then used a ruse to get them into his bedroom where he raped them."

Before his arrest, Alex Da Silva had been teaching dance at the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, and at the Mayan Club in Downtown Los Angeles. Da Silva won the World Salsa Dancing competition twice - in 2002 and 2007.

Alex Da Silva, 41, is being held on $3.8 million bail. It is suspected that Alex Da Silva may have raped even more women than the four he is currently being accused of sexually assaulting.

High-profile men being accused of sexual assault, is, sadly, not unheard of - particularly in the sports world. In 2003, Laker Kobe Bryant was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Edwards, Colorado. While Kobe Bryant admitted to having a sexual encounter outside his marriage, he vehemently denied the charges. Ultimately, the case was dropped due to the accuser being unwilling to testify. She did, however, bring a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.

In 1992, boxing legend Mike Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington, Miss Black Rhode Island, in a hotel room. He was imprisoned for three years.

Back in 2003, USA Today identified an eye-popping 164 athletes who in the previous 12 years, were accused of sexual assault. They include Anthony Mason of the Miami Heat, Marcus Moore of the Colorado Rockies, Marcus Webb of the Boston Celtics, Keith Henderson of the Minnesota Vikings, and Johnny Ruffin of the Cincinnati Reds. And the list goes on and on and on.

Meanwhile, choreographer Alex Da Silva sits in prison awaiting his fate. If convicted of the very serious charges that are being leveled against him, he will be staying in jail for quite some time.

Sources:

Celebrity choreographer Alex Da Silva arrested, The Associated Press

Cases involving athletes and sexual assault, USA Today

Published by Hartley Engel

I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada but raised in Los Angeles, California. I have a BA and MsEd degree from USC.   View profile

4 Comments

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  • anonymous 6/17/2010

    i feel really bad for alex, i know that hes innocent. really sad that someone has to go through such a rough time, especiaaly when hes innocent

  • harvey 4/6/2009

    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.

  • Lori Voth (Revezbelle) 4/5/2009

    I haven't been following this news story but it sounds a little skeptical to me. But now Im actually interested in hearing the full story so I may just look into it now, your article triggered my curiosity. =)

  • Carol Bengle Gilbert 4/5/2009

    UGH!

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