• Date:  3/29/2025
• Location:  Sparkle Motion at Dormouse Theater (belly dance event), Lansing, MI
• Dancer:  withheld
• Name of person:  David Gaprindashvili (aka David Roberts, David Connor)
• Personal details:  About 5’7″, balding with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, did not have glasses on when I’ve interacted with him but does in one FB photo, average build, white passing
• Details of Incident:  While getting ready for the showcase at Sparkle Motion, I was an audience member instead of performing this time. At one point I looked over the room and saw a familiar person who I thought was David (who was the same person from the hookah bar incident I’ve reported tonight as well). I thought I was crazy, that no person would drive four hours to see a show (even if it was going to be amazing). I tried to calm my body down and refocus, and I couldn’t bring myself to spend much time trying to look at him to confirm or deny what was real. I thought I was experiencing a sort of flashback, and that the person probably just looked like him but wasn’t. I did not stay long after the show; I was still activated, unsure what was reality or not, and in an unfamiliar city by myself. I didn’t want to risk being followed (further? unsure if he was there for me specifically, for Stygian members, or bellydancers as a whole), so I grabbed my things and made a quick exit. I was told by another Stygian member (B) he lingered at the venue and the rest of the performers paired up with each other (thankfully).

The next day when we had more workshops, another person who is also part of the Stygian Collective (A) and performed two solo pieces Saturday night, shared he was similarly inappropriate with her. She shared that he asked to take a photo with her, did so to the side, but then asked to take a “prom style photo” where he grabbed her in a similar forceful way he did me at Sultana which made her uncomfortable. I then was vocal about my experience with David a few weeks ago, thinking I was crazy the night before, and wishing I’d acted differently to help keep others safer. The performer shared he seemed to be neurodivergent to her, which I can have empathy for while also recognizing his behavior is not excusable. Another Stygian member (B) witnessed this interaction with the performer who got photos with him (A), and didn’t realize until he went behind her that she was uncomfortable and he was being inappropriate.

On my drive home yesterday evening, I was able to connect by phone with Amanda (Daewen) Garion of the Stygian Collective. I also shared with her my experience (especially being newer as a soloist, not having had this experience before and being genuinely rattled). She was at her computer, able to look him up online and found a Facebook page and Instagram handle when she cross referenced them, and he is following online several Stygian Collective members, as well as some venues in Indianapolis that INBC members frequent. That seems benign at first, but given his pattern over not even a month it’s of notice to me now.

Amanda shared within the Stygian Collective’s confidential group outside of Facebook and Instagram his name, picture and information I have shared above. I’ve also included pictures of this person in my initial email submitted March 31st 2025 including both this and my former incident report. Below are the social media handles this person has been using (identified with assistance from Daewen).

Facebook: David Roberts, David Conner

Instagram: @avenger.11 @twisted.david, name David Gaprindashvili

I called and spoke with the owner of the Sultana hookah bar on 3/31 as soon as I was home, and they have since shared his photo, name and other identifying information with their staff to enforce a ban from the establishment.

• Photo of person:

• Date:  3/21/2025
• Location:  Sultana Hookah Bar, Indianapolis, IN
• Dancer:  withheld
• Name of person:  David Gaprindashvili (aka David Roberts, David Connor)
• Personal details:  About 5’7″, balding with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, did not have glasses on when I’ve interacted with him but does in one FB photo, average build, white passing
• Details of incident:  At the end of my second set at the hookah bar, a person whose name he shared was David approached me. He asked my name, and not being practiced in giving my stage name I said Katie, then Taryn. He confirmed he heard me, “real name Katie stage name Taryn”, and shared knowledge of the Stygian Collective. He was sad to miss Daewen at the INBC Bazaar earlier in the month. He then asked to take a photo with me, which I agreed to. He then proceeded to wrap his arms around my waist and approach me for the picture from behind my body without asking. In shock, I actively lifted his hands off me, and he then took a photo with his body on my left. One hand was still on the small of my back, which I was now hyper aware of. He offered me a tip afterwards, and though I extended my hand to take it (as I’d stopped dancing at this point and the set was over), he insisted on putting it into my hip belt. I was frozen, and his face felt too close in space to my hips as he went from my right side to my left. After he was done, he then without permission took my stomach in both his hands and shook it for a few seconds. It all happened so quickly I don’t know how anyone could have intervened.

Again, shocked, I shared my intention to rejoin my friends and spouse and he then left. The owner of the hookah bar saw what happened and quickly checked on me to be sure I was okay. I shared the truth, that I was shaken, that I did not plan to engage further with this person, and I thought he was leaving. She confirmed he did. The owner also had people who were present in the audience for dancers’ safety who checked in on me later as well, which I appreciated fully.

• Photo of person: