Krumping, a high energy, clowning dance style, was first pioneered by Thomas Johnson, a.k.a. Tommy the Clown, at kids' birthday parties in neighborhoods around South Central Los Angeles. Dubbed "the punk rock of hip hop" by "Tight Eyez", a major figure in this burgeoning dance scene, it is a high energy, clowning dance style, with roots in hip hop, African dance, and urban violence. Though the dance itself can be aggressive and trancelike, krumping is a positive alternative to street violence for many of the dancers. A documentary film on the subject entitled Rize, directed by photographer David LaChapelle, was released June 24th, 2005.
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