There exists an urgent need for relevant dance and cultural arts programming for our LA youth.

The challenges in Los Angeles’s underserved, low-income communities, particularly among historically marginalized African American, Latinx, and LGBTQI+ populations, include the persistent impacts of institutional racism, lack of job opportunities, poverty, crime, gang violence, drugs/alcohol, food deserts, teen pregnancy, obesity, and generational trauma. 

In neighborhoods such as South Central, Compton, Watts, communities have historically lacked outside investment, artists and dancers created their own arts infrastructure, cultural norms, sounds, movement, and safe spaces. An alternative to harmful activities, youth have joined crews that provide a healthy mentorship and intergenerational dynamic, building synergy through performance, battle opportunities.

After-school hours are a peak time for juvenile crime, and after-school programs are critical to youth and their families. Boomer the Clown will provide consistent and accessible spaces that get youth “hype” to learn dance while building community values.

Clown dance has shaped LA culture since 1992, pioneered by Tommy the Clown, who would jump out of his car, Clowning in South Central, Watts, Compton, other LA neighborhoods. Clowning started with party grooves and evolved into a battle and crew performance style. Over 60 Clowning crews would meet at Battle Zone, hosted by Tommy the Clown, and battle (groups, solo, youth categories) with the crowd shouting “Bam Bam” to hype dancers who were “serving it up.”

BOOMSQUAD was founded in 2014 by Boomer the Clown, mentor to the next generation of Clown dancers for over 15 years. To join Clowning crews, dancers practice hard and battle all existing crew members, requiring confidence and high energy. Once in a crew, dancers paint their faces, performing routines and freestyling Clowning at parties, shows, churches, battles. Boomer the Clown and other crew leaders provide an alternative expressive outlet for the youth (teamwork, arts career development, education support, family involvement) in areas of poverty, crime. 

Clown dance is not just popular amongst the youth in LA, dancers replicate the signature dance moves world-wide from social media, the positive energy proliferating. Clown dance culture is three decades old, however the lineage of uplifting moods and saving lives through dance and music amidst oppressive systematic issues is a long-standing tradition of African American communities of LA.