With his documentary film Rize (starts in Austrian cinemas on January 27) producer David LaChapelle reveals a dance phenomenon that’s exploding on the streets of South Central, Los Angeles. Named Krumping and Clownig it's aggressive, visually stunning and features mind-blowing, athletic movement sped up to impossible speeds. It was the ex-prisoner Tommy Johnson called Tommy the Clown, who first created the style. Dressed like a clown he performed at children's birthday parties. But he wasn't the ditzy kind of clowns. With his sneakers, his hiphop music and his new way of dancing he was so cool that he soon became a role model to the kids. When they began to imitate him, he founded his Clown-Dance-Academy. Then the kids developed the movement of Clowning into what they now call Krumping, which is more aggressiv, quicker and wilder.

The kids use dance as an alternative to gangs and hustling: they form their own troupes and paint their faces like warriors, meeting to outperform rival gangs of dancers or just to hone their skills. For the dancers, Krumping and Clowning becomes a way of life – and, because it’s authentic expression the dance becomes a vital part of who they are.

Surrounded by drug addiction, gang activity, and impoverishment, the dancers have managed to somehow rise above. David LaChapelle's film shows an interesting portrayal of kids in South Central. And although the dancers don't want to be commercialised they set a new trend, which cannot be slowed down anymore.

Fotocredit: © David LaChapelle