Randolph, Vermont - April 14, 2010
Members of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative put on a dance performance for students at Randolph Union High School. The dance-- with its foot stomps and dramatic arms swings-- is called krumping.
"The word krump is an acronym in itself. It stands for kingdom radically uplifting mighty praise. And it is actually a dance that we do to uplift us as a community," said Laurence Casey of the Dorchester Youth Collaborative.
Krumping first started in California several years ago as a way for kids to escape the violent gang atmosphere. It slowly spread to the East Coast, and now to students in Vermont.
"A lot of people haven't even been out of the state before," said Molly Harrness, a senior at RUHS.
Harrness is taking a hip hop class at RUHS. She says hip hop is popular among youth because it allows kids to be themselves.
"Hip hop really allows us to be us and not have to worry about being judged," she said.
The class's instructor helped bring the Boston krumpers to Vermont. Students in the class were taught how to krump and joined the experts at Wednesday's show.
"Krumping is really about improvising and it is really about self expression," said Josh Stumpff of RUHS. "It's not about taking some form of dance that is commanded down to you, it's about making your own expression."
Stumpff says he wanted students to learn the ins and outs of other dances. And the dancers say that in some ways, everyone can relate to what this form is all about.
"Everybody goes through their stressful situations, everybody goes through their aggravation, so we actually go around and try to teach a way to release some of that pressure and some of that aggravation is a positive manner," Casey said.
And it seems krumping is catching on with these kids.
Adam Sullivan - WCAX News
