What’s clowning dance?
Clowning dance (also called clown dancing) is a novel and entertaining type of dance expression within the early 1990’s. It was developed by Thomas Johnson, in any other case often called Tommy the Clown. He mixed hip-hop dance components with clown performances to create a brand new style often called “hip-hop clowns.”
On this article we’ll discover its traits, how clowning dance took place, cultural affect, notably on the event of krump. Then we take a look at clowning dance vs krumping to tell apart what actually units every aside. Lets get on with it.
How Clowning Dance took place
The historical past of clowning dance begins again to the early Nineteen Nineties, when Thomas Johnson, also called Tommy the Clown, created this so as to add his personal spin on children party clown acts. This gave beginning to the brand new type of “hip-hop clowns.”
In bringing collectively the unlikely bed-fellows of hip hop and clown acts, Tommy created a brand new dance kind. This ultimately grew to shock him, in what an enormous motion it turned.
In these early years of clowning dance, because the years handed, it matured as a mode and because of this, others started to undertake it.
The expansion of clown dance laid the inspiration for a associated dance type often called krump or krumping, closely influenced by “Tight Eyez” “Huge Mijo”. The 2 dance kinds might share their roots however there are essential variations, which we are going to discover later on this article.
As they took off clowning and krumping started getting media protection. In 2005, a documentary named ‘Rize’ directed by David LaChapelle, captured the expansion of this dance. Tommy the Clown’s affect was central to this.
For years, Clowning dance continued to unfold all through Los Angeles. Clowning dance served as a substitute for folks attempting to keep away from gang involvement, giving them a artistic solution to specific uncooked feelings in a non-violent, however highly effective approach. Bringing folks collectively and fostering a way of neighborhood. There may be are even organized ‘battles’ and clowning dance colleges, together with lessons by Tommy devoted to the type.
Clowning dance might not have been round lengthy in comparison with many dance kinds, however this has not stopped it having an actual affect on each American popular culture and the world of dance. Our perspective is that its good to see dance is regularly evolving and adapting to resonate with the wants of various communities and cultures.
Traits of Clowning Dance
Theatrical:
What units this dance other than most different road dances is:
· Humour: Because of its roots, clown dancing is all about humor and getting amusing
· Props: Clowning performers usually use varied props and comedy skits
· Mime-like: face portray and sometimes colourful costumes takecentre stage. On this video Minnie Mouse is even introduced out on the finish for a kid’s occasion, who appeared to adore it.
Power & Motion:
Clowning dance, as a road dance, emphasizes freedom and power in dance. Attribute actions in clowning dance embrace:
· arm swings
· chest pops
· stomps
· exaggerated gestures.
Collectively these actions create a dynamic expertise for each dancers and the viewers. It a lot of the movies, there’s a crowd of neighborhood, they’re a part of the expertise and sometimes becoming a member of in with components.
Expression
Clowning dance is an actual efficiency, with dancers expressing themselves by way of their physique actions and exaggerated actions.
Krumping vs clown dancing
As clowning dance gained reputation, it additionally impressed the event of a extra intense and emotionally charged various known as krumping. Whereas krumping shares some stylistic similarities with clowning however has extra high-energy, aggressive actions, and it’s usually used as an outlet for self-expression and social commentary, as we’ll describe under. Clowning is nevertheless extra theatrical, lighthearted dance type that includes humor and leisure. It entails exaggerated actions and sometimes contains components of mime and comedy.
Similarities between krump and clown dance
Clowning dance and krumping each turned in style as a consequence of their robust roots in religion and neighborhood. Miss Prissy notes in a research by Brenda Dixon Gottschild “people who’re impressed by and enthralled within the Holy Spirit merely stand up and dance because the spirit strikes them”.
Starting as a method of expression in underprivileged communities and a constructive outlet for emotion and creativity. As ‘Dragon’, one of many unique Krump dancers places it “that is our ghetto ballet” the place different decisions can also haven’t been obtainable.
“Within the Starting was Physique Language” by Sarah S. Ohmer CUNY, Lehman Faculty, is an in depth social research, the place she argues there are lots of extra layers to this traditionally and culturally. In communities which have been historically discriminated towards and marginalised, dance gives a a lot wanted type of expression.
“Krump and Clowning have helped people work by way of and witness private and communal trauma, enact neighborhood constructing and non secular resistance. Krump and Clowning exemplify hip hop dance that works towards discrimination and selective amnesia sure to questions of race, socio-economic marginalization, and gender”
Variations between krump and clown dance
Not like krumping, clowning dance is thought for its sexual innuendo, whereas additionally mixing with different dance kinds resembling C-walking. It’s designed to be a free-spirited expression of 1’s physique, permitting dancers to get pleasure from themselves and share that pleasure with their viewers.
Krumping is nevertheless characterised by intense, aggressive actions and emotional expression, Clowning is thought for its theatrical, lighthearted strategy, incorporating humor and leisure.
Extra actually, a transition from one to the opposite may even be seen within the face paint utilized by the dancers, which shifts from the standard enjoyable circus clown picture to indigenous and tribal battle or dance paint.
This video exhibits Tommy clarify a number of the variations in his class:
Last phrases
Clowning dance is a vibrant and fascinating type that captures the fun-loving spirit of its roots within the LA neighborhood. With its distinctive face portray, humorous strikes, and fascinating efficiency, it continues to entertain and encourage audiences worldwide – of all ages.
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Skilled Dancer, Dance coach. Favourite dance type – Pole Dance. Favourite Transfer – Sword Simakhina. A graduate of Saint Marys. Former Chief Editor and Proprietor of DanceBibles.com
