Krumping, originating out of L.A. and turf, originating from the bay area are dance styles that have caught the attention to youth who may otherwise be involved in violent gangs and illegal activities. These dancers join dance teams to work together and compete for titles or money in dance competitions. For a lot of dancers, this is the only thing they have to look forward to and something that can channel their anger and other emotional feeling and issues they are dealing with. Community centers offer their facilities for youth to come and practice their dancing after school and on the weekends so they are not spending their time getting into the trouble on the streets. Downtown San Francisco tourist and locals can find a group of turf and krump dancers showing their talent while spectators drop pocket change in a hat in appreciation to their enjoyment of the dancer’s performances.
These styles of dancing are influenced by African dancing and hip hop dancing created in the 80’s. Some of the moves done are: tutting, popping, locking, bone poppin’, gliding, isolations, ticking, and bucking just to name a few. Recently, turf dancers have been using magic tricks and illustrating stories by pantomiming to gain more attention and credit of creativity from audience members by creating illusions.
Turf teams consist of male and female at all age levels. The size of the team can consist anywhere from two members to large numbers as twenty. For some, Krump dancing came to the attention of others when the R&B singer Chris Brown incorporated it into one of his dance videos. For turf dancing, The Architeckz were featured on music videos aired on T.V. such as E-40’s, “Tell me when to go” video and Fegie’s, “Fergalicious” video. With this recognition, it opened the doors to other teams such as: The Gobotz, Turf fiends, Misfits, Animaniakz, and many more being created and developed daily.
Through the online friends network, Myspace, I was able to ask a local turf dancer, “Yng Hyphy” his take on this subject. “I dance because I want to make it to the age of twenty one. Standing on the street corners will get you killed now days. If people have a problem with me I tell them to battle it out and see who comes out on top. I have anger problems,but dancing keeps my attention and keeps me setting goals for myself, instead of living day by day off of the drug money these gangs out here make, I’d rather stick to my dancing gang, because we make money too and cannot go to jail for it either.”
Described in the second video posted below, members of Super Sicc Wit It express that being on a dance team teaches them things about being on time, being determined, dedicated, focused, hard working, to challenge themselves and other qualities needed in order to survive in the real world once these kids grow older.
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2 comments:
This is a awesome alternative for young man to stay away from gangs. It is amazing that out of all the money we try to spend and recreation centers that are built, it is the simple things that work such as "krump dancing". Rather than picking up a gun to vent their frustration, they dance. I think the nation should stand behind these kids to encourage them and not criticise.
yes, the more encouragement, support and resources available to these kids, the less violence we can hopefully expect.
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