Vancouver ballet teacher allegedly had sex with underage student

The Vancouver Police Sex Crimes Unit is investigating a ballet teacher after allegations emerged that he engaged in a sexual relationship with an under-age student.

The instructor has been identified by police as 49-year-old Alejandro Vargas Gomez who worked at the Goh Ballet Academy beginning in the fall of 2013. He began the sexual relationship with a student, described as between the ages of 16 and 18 at the time of the offence, soon after taking the instructor position in January 2014.

Police have charged Alejandro Vargas Gomez with two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of luring. He is currently in police custody pending further investigation.

While the age of consent in Canada is 16, in situations where there is a relationship of trust or authority the age of consent remains at 18.

Vancouver’s Goh Ballet Academy was founded in 1978. It has a long local history of introducing classical ballet to students as young as age four and teaching advance students ages 12 and up. Police have indicated that the Goh Balley is fully cooperating with the investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vancouver Police Sex Crimes Unit tip line at (604) 717-0600 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

As the matter is currently before the courts, no further information will be released by police at this time.

Feature Image: Ballet dancer via Shutterstock