CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
An Aurora dance studio is doing damage control after one of its own instructors went to what some parents "outrageous lengths" to stop a student from talking.
"In one of our jazz classes, one of our instructors disciplined a child by putting duct tape over her mouth," Steps Dance Center's Artistic Director Rebecca Rosenberg said. "That is not something that has ever been done at our studio."
Steps Dance Center employees said a parent watched newly hired jazz teacher Cassandra Porter tape an 8-year-old girl's mouth shut and continue instruction.
Parents FOX Chicago News spoke with were shocked.
"I'm surprised, I'm really surprised that she's new," Makia Chandler said. "Probably someone I haven't met or haven't seen."
The incident happened Wednesday night.
"She has this love for dancing," Rosenberg said of the 8-year-old victim. "I would hate for anything to disrupt that."
Porter was fired on the spot, and parents were called notifying them of an incident that should have never happened.
At an address listed for Porter, her father said she was teaching a dance class nearby, and was unaware of the duct tape debacle.
FOX Chicago went to Stephanie's Academy of Dance, where Porter is currently teaching.
"She's teaching and she doesn't feel comfortable coming out," the dance academy receptionist said.
The receptionist was made aware of the duct tape incident, and relayed the message that the media wanted to speak with Porter twice. She ultimately said Porter had no comment.
The jazz standout was reportedly hired full time at Steps two weeks ago. FOX Chicago learned she came highly referred and that she passed a routine background check.
"She said that was something that she would ever do again," Rosenberg said. "But obviously we can't take back that it already happened."
