How to Tell Clowning from Krumping

Dance crazes have been a staple of American culture for years. Some of the crazes take the country by storm and others fizzle quickly. Still others create offshoots of each other. Two such closely related forms of dance expression are clowning and krumping. They often are confused for each other or are considered the same. That is simply not true.

Instructions

1. Understand that there are similarities between krumping and clowning. The dance movements and dance speeds are similar. However, if a person views the two dancers performing the dances side by side, the differences are noticeable.

2. Notice that krumping does not involved sexually suggestive gyrations, particularly by male dancers, while clowning does involve sexual suggestive gyrations called pooping cakes.

3. Observe that krumping is more centered on violent and aggressive dance moves that are an expression of pent up anger and rage. On the other hand, clowning dance movements are more smooth and much less malevolent.

4. Recognize that krumping does not involve face painting. Clowning usually involves face painting, but not always. In addition, the face painting in clowning has evolved from a clown style motif to a more tribal and war like motif.

5. Know that in the early years of krumping some of the current practices of clowning were adopted, such as the face painting. This may be why the two are often confused.