Dance: How Thomas Johnson Created Krump

Adwin, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 4, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

There's been some major talk about krump dance these days. You may have seen it on YouTube or maybe on America's Next Top Model. Maybe you saw it on the Tyra Banks show. Krumping is the next big thing, a cross between hip hop, pop lock and, well, a lot of freestyle. It is a free spirited form of dance where the body is allowed to move in its own natural motions with fluidity and free form. It is not necessarily a new form of dance, but it has slowly taken over the urban landscape for more than a decade. And who can we thank for this movement? Tommy the Clown, of course.

Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson, a Detroit native, is considered the father of krump dancing. But he had to take a difficult road to get there. Tommy and his family moved to Los Angeles when Tommy was in his early teens. He fell into the wrong crowd and wound up spending five years in jail. When he was released, Tommy knew he did not want to continue on that path and clean up his act. In an attempt to do just that, he took a job as a clerk typist. He continued this honest job for honest pay until 1992 when his life completely turned around in a way he never saw coming.

A co-worker asked Tommy to be a clown at her child's birthday party because he was so upbeat and fun. He agreed and he found his niche. Not only was Tommy reborn, but krumping was soon to follow. As Tommy the Clown, Tommy started a dance movement known as "clowning." He would go from party to party, entertaining kids, dancing and teaching them to dance. He soon realized that the kids would light up when they danced. It wasn't long, and Tommy was a very popular entertainer - and someone for the kids to look up to - a leader.

When Tommy realized his influence with young people he made the decision to use it to encourage kids to turn away from violence, gangs and drugs. He started a dance crew, "The Hip Hop Clowns," who would perform at parties with him. His only stipulations for those in the crew were, no drugs, no gangs, to do well in school and be a role model for others by living in a positive manner. The kids took it to heart and soon there were more kids who wanted to dance than there was room on Tommy's crew. So, Tommy began encouraging the kids to form their own crews. Of course, each crew claimed to be the best, so in 2002 Tommy began inviting crews to have battles at his (former) Tommy the Clown Academy. This is where the term "krumping" was first used.

Tommy is now considered the "King of Krumping" and the father of krumping after the style of dance that he inspired. Krumping is raw, it is natural, it is real and it is an expression of the body and spirit through the art of dance.

Published by Adwin

Adwin Ang is a ezine author, affiliate marketer and article writer for men accessories.Certified Lotus Notes Professional (CLP).A specially created automated article submission software,for AC members, can b... View profile

Krumping is the next big thing, a cross between hip hop, pop lock and, well, a lot of freestyle.
Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson, a Detroit native, is considered the father of krump dancing.
Tommy realized his influence with young people he made the decision to use it to encourage kids ...

In 2002 Tommy began inviting crews to have battles at his (former) Tommy the Clown Academy. This is where the term "krumping" was first used.

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Dance: How Thomas Johnson Created Krump

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