TV Choreographer Accused of Multiple Rapes

46. alex's sister was deported for drugs, alex's cars are all hacked together from stolen parts,, and alex has stolen from friends, it not hard to believe that he raped as well.

Posted at 2:38AM on Apr 6th 2009 by no hero

47. 3 prior and similar accusations over 3 years, and it takes the 4th one to finally file charges? Wanna bet that his recent SYTYCD fame was an encouraging factor? He was only a local somebody during the first accusations, but now that he's gone national all of a sudden they can make a case. :/ If he's done wrong, then by all means, throw him under the jail. But it sucks that there had to be a victim 2, 3, and 4 before law enforcement properly pursued this.

Posted at 7:35AM on Apr 6th 2009 by MSJ

48. Many of us are slaves to our body. The instant we feel hungry, we look for something to put into our bellies. The moment we feel a little warm under the collar, we turn the air conditioner on. The minute we feel thirsty, we're reaching for the soda can. We need to make our body our slaves, bringing it into subjugation to us. The gift of fortitude helps us in this task.

To quote Pope John Paul II again, he writes that "when, like Jesus in Gethsemane, we experience "the weakness of the flesh", or rather, of human nature subject to physical and psychological infirmities, we should ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of Fortitude to remain firm and decisive on the path of goodness. Then we will be able to repeat with St Paul: "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (1 Corinthians 12:10).

May the Spirit be with you.
I know Alex as well and though I dont know him personally, but as his student I think he is a good guy. People are jumping into conclusions and judging without knowing. Like someone said: Alex is no Angel, but he is human. Lets keep him in prayers and may God know whats right.

Posted at 7:19PM on Apr 5th 2009 by wwjd- J

49. well, I always say innocent until PROVEN guilty and he has a long way to go before that happens, However, with multiples vics over several years... doesn't look good buddy.

Posted at 8:00PM on Apr 5th 2009 by Ironic

50. lets see if the media is gonna blow this up like they are doing chris brown situation i highly doubt it though

Posted at 8:01PM on Apr 5th 2009 by CC

51. Dear Enough...#42. I told you you would be addressed by an educated woman , you should have done your research. Have you ever heard of an election year??????Do you know what that is???? Ever heard of corruption???? I cannot tell you were to move to, your choice, but make sure you take a look around before you do and read up on previous election years. I will not entertain your very empty comments unless you posses at least Doctorate.

Posted at 8:29PM on Apr 5th 2009 by Nicoco

52. Though I agree that he is innocent until proven guilty, his reputation doesn't lend to such a clean slate, he left the SF bay area after several people were after him for owing money and for several accusations that he stole from them. In addition every woman that I know that ever took classes from him said that he was a womanizer. I feel sorry for him that he is such a pathetic individual. I feel even worse for the people that he did harm to.

Can't say that I am surprised at all.

Posted at 9:25PM on Apr 5th 2009 by CB

53. For all of you who think this story is meaningless and that he's innocent till proven guilty...I know one of the girls who is a victim and after hearing her story, your stomach turns. It took her and the other girls a lot of pain and suffering to come forth against a mini celeb like Alex within Los Angeles, And FYI it has taken 6 years for him to finally be prosecuted because he HAD one damn good lawyer. He is a sick, evil person who is going to jail....

Posted at 9:51PM on Apr 5th 2009 by 1life1love

54. I took salsa classes from Alex Da Silva back when he lived in Oakland and then San Francisco. I didn't know him well and I have know idea if he is guilty or not. But I do believe in the concept of Innocent Until Proven Guilty. And yes it looks bad that he has 4 accusers. But powerful, well known people can end up with a lot of people feeling jealous and powerless of them. That feeling of powerlessness can make them vulnerable to rape -- but it can also lead them to feel extremely hurt and angry if they are rejected after consensual sex. Then because they may have no other way to feel powerful they might accuse someone of rape. As a woman writing on the this subject once said -- people sometimes use whatever they can to feel/be powerful.

That means men sometimes use their physical strength to rape women -- and women sometimes use their power to falsely accuse men of rape.

Posted at 10:38PM on Apr 5th 2009 by FellowDancer

55. There are four victims that are set to testify and a possible fifth victim authorities are trying to get to testify. All of them don't know each other. However, all describe the same exact tactic of how he lured each into his bedroom (always the bedroom) and sexually assaulted or raped them. That's a fact (evidence). Rumors are, there are many more women, who were assaulted that will not even report the incident out of fear. (They will have to live with it.) This is an open and shut case. No need defending him. He's not just a rapist, he's a serial rapist with an MO.

Posted at 10:21PM on Apr 5th 2009 by For the taking

56. "So You Think You Can Rape!"

Posted at 10:21PM on Apr 5th 2009 by who me

57. Some folks in here need to look up rape. Pressuring people to have sex is not rape. If they are starstruck and screw him, it's not rape. If you screw him thinking you'll get a job and it doesn't work out, it's not rape. I'm sure women in these situations would be embarrassed, but it's not rape. If it were, then there would be a lot of women rapists running around unpunished as well.
Only when the sex is not consensual is it rape and that doesn't mean regretting it afterward. However, if he actually lured them to his houses (in the SFV? how unclassy) and then forced them to have sex, he belongs in jail.

Posted at 10:58PM on Apr 5th 2009 by Linda

58. #50, something that is based on heresay is neither a fact nor evidence and even assuming it is a fact, not all facts are evidence. Further, what you've described is a very general situation, not an MO. If the purported facts are as you say they are, the case is actually fairly weak. I noticed you failed to mention whether the sex was consensual, which is in fact the only thing that needs to be proven in a rape case. The fact that he talked 300 women into going into his bedroom and sleeping with him means nothing if they consent to the sex.

Posted at 11:06PM on Apr 5th 2009 by John

59. 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.

Posted at 12:14AM on Apr 6th 2009 by 4thelaw

60. 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!

Posted at 12:23AM on Apr 6th 2009 by harvey