Tommy the Clown
Encyclopedia
Thomas Johnson, also known as Tommy the Clown, is an American
dancer best known as the inventor of the "clowning" style of dance, which evolved into krumping
. Johnson invented the style in 1992 to enhance birthday party clown
acts, thereby creating the concept of "hip-hop clowns". Johnson and his followers have performed at birthday parties ranging from inner city communities to celebrities like Madonna
, Pamela Anderson
, and Cedric the Entertainer
. He achieved international acclaim as focus of David LaChapelle
's 2005 documentary RIZE.
Tommy’s performances incorporated the current music and dancing of the time and he encouraged the children to get up and dance with him and he soon developed loyal followers throughout Los Angeles. He used this opportunity to give children the chance to take an interest in dancing rather than drugs or gang activity and established a dance crew called the Hip Hop Clowns who performed with him at parties. His only rules for his crew were as follows: “No gangs, No drugs, Do well in school (grades, attendance and behavior) and be a role model by living a positive lifestyle at all times".
By the year 2002, there were over sixty clown crews in Los Angeles. To avoid a clashing of these different groups, Tommy took it upon himself he held weekly dance battles at his former Tommy the Clown Academy where an audience judged who was best. The popularity of these contests flourished and Tommy created and hosted the Battle Zone event—an official dance battle featuring community dancers and celebrity guests. Tommy’s dance phenomenon caught the attention of the acclaimed director and photographer, David LaChapelle. Feeling inclined to capture this movement on film, LaChapelle directed the 2005 Lions Gate Films documentary, RIZE.
Since then, Tommy the Clown and the Hip Hop Clowns have been traveling the globe performing and making appearances to spread the movement, as well as performing for various celebrities. Tommy has also appeared at numerous schools and colleges across the United States. He has a partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide an in-school Clowning and Krumping workshop based on the California Education Standards. He also provides a variety of youth programs in schools and the community.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dancer best known as the inventor of the "clowning" style of dance, which evolved into krumping
Krumping
Krumping, also spelled Krumpin, is a street dance popularized in the United States that is characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated, and highly energetic movement involving the arms, head, legs, chest, and feet...
. Johnson invented the style in 1992 to enhance birthday party clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
acts, thereby creating the concept of "hip-hop clowns". Johnson and his followers have performed at birthday parties ranging from inner city communities to celebrities like Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
, and Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
. He achieved international acclaim as focus of David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique, sexualized, and often humorous style.-Early life:...
's 2005 documentary RIZE.
Biography
Thomas Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in South Central Los Angeles, California. Growing up, he, as did many of his friends and neighbors in the community, often found himself falling in and out of trouble. After Johnson spent five years in jail he realized that his lifestyle needed a significant change. He acquired a job as a typist clerk until 1992 when he received his first opportunity to perform; a co-worker asked him to be a clown at her child’s birthday celebration because of his entertaining personality. He accepted the job, thus, creating his Tommy the Clown persona. After this event, Tommy the Clown lead the way in the stirring dance movement called “Clowning” and “Krumping”. He also developed this form of dance in response to the 1992 Rodney King riots. He is now internationally known as the "Father of Krumping".Tommy’s performances incorporated the current music and dancing of the time and he encouraged the children to get up and dance with him and he soon developed loyal followers throughout Los Angeles. He used this opportunity to give children the chance to take an interest in dancing rather than drugs or gang activity and established a dance crew called the Hip Hop Clowns who performed with him at parties. His only rules for his crew were as follows: “No gangs, No drugs, Do well in school (grades, attendance and behavior) and be a role model by living a positive lifestyle at all times".
By the year 2002, there were over sixty clown crews in Los Angeles. To avoid a clashing of these different groups, Tommy took it upon himself he held weekly dance battles at his former Tommy the Clown Academy where an audience judged who was best. The popularity of these contests flourished and Tommy created and hosted the Battle Zone event—an official dance battle featuring community dancers and celebrity guests. Tommy’s dance phenomenon caught the attention of the acclaimed director and photographer, David LaChapelle. Feeling inclined to capture this movement on film, LaChapelle directed the 2005 Lions Gate Films documentary, RIZE.
Since then, Tommy the Clown and the Hip Hop Clowns have been traveling the globe performing and making appearances to spread the movement, as well as performing for various celebrities. Tommy has also appeared at numerous schools and colleges across the United States. He has a partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District to provide an in-school Clowning and Krumping workshop based on the California Education Standards. He also provides a variety of youth programs in schools and the community.
External links
- Tommy the Clown at Dance Channel TV