Vancouver ballet teacher charged with sexual exploitation gets bail

WATCH: A former ballet instructor in Vancouver has been accused of having a sexual relationship outside of the academy with an underage student between the ages of 16 and 18. Jeremy Hunka has the details.

A Vancouver ballet teacher who is facing sexual exploitation charges after allegedly having a sexual relationship with an underage student is now out on bail.

According to Vancouver police, 49-year-old Alejandro Vargas Gomez  worked as an instructor at the Goh Ballet Academy and in January 2014 allegedly began a sexual relationship with a student who was between 16 and 18 years of age at the time.

Director of Goh Ballet, Chan Hon Goh told Global News that Vargas is no longer employed at the academy and she is in “complete shock” over the news.

“I only got the news less than three hours ago,” Goh said. “I really don’t know. None of us knew. What? How? I don’t really have the words for it but what’s paramount is the safety and well-being of all of our students here.”

Vargus started working at the academy in 2011 and was their senior instructor and choreographer. He only taught the advanced and senior dancers, which included students 13 years old and up. Prior to working at Goh Ballet, which was established in Vancouver in 1978, Vargas was a ballet master, choreographer and member of the artistic council of the National Dance Company in Mexico.

Gomez has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of luring. He is currently in police custody while the investigation continues.

Gomez has made a brief court appearance on Thursday. He was released after posting $10,000 bail. The court also ordered that he has no contact with the alleged victim or witnesses.

The Goh Ballet Academy is cooperating with the police investigation.

VPD is asking anyone with concerns or information about this incident to call the Sex Crimes Unit at (604) 717-0600.