Rize (2005)

Rize is a very interesting film about African-American roots of krumping. Krumping is defined by the Urban Dictionary as “A positive outlet for anger, a way of spiritual dancing and praise, a popular and fast growing style of hip-hop dance.” It originated in the African-American community of South Central Los Angeles, California. It is free, expressive, and highly energetic. Krumping is also known as “Clown dance” or “clowning” because the dance’s roots were originated by Thomas Johnson aka Tommy the Clown. The dance involves elaborate face painting and freestyle dance moves usually performed in competition with other crews.

 The social content of this film is very powerful. I am not African-American and I have never lived in a place like So Central Los Angeles. It is difficult for me to relate and understand the kind of struggles that the people like the ones in this film go trough. All I can do is try to understand and imagine the anger and frustration that society, poverty, drugs, gangs, injustice, brings to them. People like “Dragon”, Miss Prissy, Tommy, and Larry are just a few examples of people in a community that fight against the “norms” to be better and to better their communities.

One of the scenes that stroked me the most was the one where a large group of African-American people (kids, young, and adults) was dancing on the street next to a fence. I could see how liberating the dancing was to them. Some ended with tears in their eyes, as a sign of liberation. Great stories. Unknown heroes.