Shiamak Davar sued for alleged sexual abuse by two ex-students

A lawsuit has been filed against choreographer Shiamak Davar for allegedly sexually abusing two men from North Vancouver, Percy Shroff and Jimmy Mistry. Reportedly, Davar has denied the charges and said, “I will not be intimidated into silence and will defend myself vigorously in court.” According to a report in The Province, both Shroff and Mistry started learning dance at Shiamak Davar Institute of Performing Arts in India when they were teenagers. Mistry claims that after a year he was shortlisted for Davar’s core dance group and his interaction with Davar increased. [caption id=“attachment_2234506” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Courtesy: Facebook, Shiamak Davar page.[/caption] Mistry says that Davar’s core dance group consisted mostly of male dancers and the choreographer would often flirt with them and take them out for treats after the lessons. After becoming part of the core group, Mistry contends that they were also initiated into VRRP Spiritual Learning group, a religious group, which is headed by Davar. Mistry claims in his lawsuit that, “He (Davar) would lie on the bed in his underwear and take someone’s hand, including the plaintiff’s (Mistry’s), and put it on his underwear over his penis … ,”. In Shroff’s suit he mentions that Davar often kissed and touched him. Shroff says that once Davar called him and said “I know your secret”. At that point, Shroff was just a teenager and wasn’t aware his sexual preference and the fact that he is gay and Davar said that he would help Shroff deal with him. Shroff claims that he was made to shower with Davar once and other sexual advances were also made. Shroff and Mistry both claim that Davar continued to govern their lives for a really long time. Shroff told CBC News that Davar publically humiliated him if he did not reciprocate the sexual advances and claims that it was Davar who told him when to get married and have a child. Davar however denies all such claims and says that he ‘has never had inappropriate sexual relations’ with Shroff and Mistry. “I have total faith in the justice system of British Columbia that my name shall be cleared on all accounts.” said Davar.