Former Ballerina And Husband Accused Of Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Dancers

A former Boston ballerina and her instructor husband have become embroiled in controversy after three more women came out and accused the couple of sexually abusing them.

In an updated complaint filed Thursday, the dancers have accused Dusty Button, a former ballerina of Boston Ballet, of sexual abuse. Dusty's husband, Mitchell Taylor Button, is an instructor at the same studio and was first accused of sexually assaulting dancers in July.

Five dancers, including a minor who was mentored by the Buttons, said Mitchell sexually assaulted them and at times his wife joined him.

Initially, a complaint was filed by Boston Ballet dancers Sage Humphries and Gina Menichino against Mitchell for exploiting his "position of power and influence in the dance world" to sexually abuse them. They accused him of manipulation and grooming alongside sexual assault. Mitchell denied these claims and dismissed the allegation, but a new complaint was filed, which named both him and his wife as defendants, according to CNN.

Allegations in the lawsuit include Humphries revealing that on one occasion, Dusty held her down while Mitchell proceeded to rape her.

The other complainant, Menichino, was 13 when she took dance lessons from Mitchell. In 2010, she alleged that Mitchell sexually assaulted her on two occasions while they were sharing a blanket and watching a movie with other students present in the room. She also claimed in the complaint that Mitchell would send her sexually explicit photos and videos when he traveled out of state.

Another dancer alleged that she was a minor when the Buttons sexually assaulted her in 2014, Associated Press reported. In the complaint, she alleged that the Buttons gave her alcohol, took her to "a room that had a mattress on the floor and an arsenal of guns hanging on the wall" and raped her.

The Buttons allegedly engaged in sex trafficking when they persuaded Humphries to cross state lines with them using "threats, intimidation and the pretense that they would help further her career and professional development" in exchange for sex, claims the lawsuit.

After the lawsuit was filed, the Buttons' attorney Marc John Randazza filed a motion to dismiss the case denying the allegations and citing Nevada’s statute of limitations. The motion has been denied by a judge.

In his motion, Randazza said the allegations "were written to make the press interested in this case and to inflame the anger of anyone who reads the complaint."

Meanwhile, the Boston Ballet issued a statement that read, "Boston Ballet supports Sage Humphries who is bravely coming forward, sharing her experience to protect others, and seeking accountability and justice. The Ballet will continue to do everything in its power to create and promote a safe and supportive culture for its students, dancers, staff and community."