Dawn Noel, a back-up dancer for pop icon Britney Spears, has filed a lawsuit against the singer. Noel claims the singer broke her nose during rehearsal for the music video "Work Bitch."
The alleged incident took place on Aug. 19, 2013, in Woodland Hills, Calif. The suit was filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court on accounts of battery and negligence.
According to E! News, Spears was two and a half hours late to rehearsal, arriving in a "disheveled and confused" state.
"Although the dance moves were 'fairly basic,' Spears had "difficulty learning the moves and following simple directions," the report reads.
Noel was standing next to Spears when she "twirled in an unbalanced and reckless manner, arms extended out to her sides and forcefully backhanded" her across the face.
Though Spears apologized, she continued with rehearsing while the dancer sought medical attention. Noel says she heard a "cracking sound" and a half hour later determined she had a nasal fracture and needed surgery.
Noel also claims that she, as well as the other dancers, had no problem perfecting the routine.
The "Criminal" songstress' reps and Reign Deer Entertainment originally said they would cover the damages, yet Noel did not receive compensation. She is now suing for physical and emotional damages, for disfigurement in her nose and anxiety which stems from the incident.
According to Philly.com, Noel studied at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and the University of the Arts, before getting her start at Philly's Koresh Dance Company. In the past she has toured with Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, and appeared on hit shows "Glee" and "All My Children."
Her attorney Sark Ohanian told the site, "It has affected her career. She did an episode of 'NCIS,' and the makeup artist noticed, so it causes her concern. She also has issues with breathing and sinuses, which, obviously, if you're dancing there's great concern. There's no union for dancers, like there is with actors, writers or directors, so they don't have the same type of insurance. She isn't looking to get rich off this."
The dancer demands a jury trial to obtain the compensation she was promised.
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