In January 2024, Studio 847 became the first dance academy in the Chicago suburbs to install a full-body motion-capture suite dedicated to street dance training. The goal: give Krump dancers biomechanical feedback on their chest pops, stomps, and jabs in real time. This is not a gimmick. It is part of a broader effort to treat Krump as both an art form and an athletic discipline—right here in the northwest suburbs.
From South L.A. to the Northwest Suburbs
Krump emerged in South Los Angeles in the early 2000s as an expressive outlet and alternative to gang culture, founded by dancers Tight Eyez and Big Mija. Characterized by raw, explosive movements—chest pops, arm swings, foot stomps, and shouting—it spread through underground sessions, documentary films like Rize, and global battle circuits including Red Bull Dance Your Style and World of Dance.
Hoffman Estates entered the map in 2017, when Chicago-area battle veteran Marcus "Marz" Reynolds launched weekly labs at the Prairie Stone Community Center. Those sessions formed the nucleus of what would become Studio 847's Krump program in 2021—the first curriculum-based Krump training in the northwest suburbs.
What You Will Actually Learn Here
Studio 847's program is structured across four levels:
- Foundation (Beginner): Sessions focus on posture, breath control, and core techniques—chest pops, jabs, arm swings, and basic footwork patterns.
- Development (Intermediate): Dancers build stamina, learn to construct rounds, and practice call-and-response in controlled battle settings.
- Elite (Advanced): Emphasis shifts to freestyle strategy, musicality, and character work—the storytelling layer that separates competitors from champions.
- Pro Track: A selective cohort preparing for national and international competitions, with mentorship from active battle dancers.
Classes run six days per week, with open sessions every Friday evening and monthly showcases at the William D. Barber Theatre in nearby Schaumburg.
The Motion-Capture Difference
The studio's motion-capture partnership with Midwest Biomechanics Labs allows instructors to analyze a dancer's force distribution, joint angles, and movement efficiency. Dancers receive a post-session breakdown showing, for example, whether their stomp power is generating from the core or overloading the knees. It is the same technology used by NCAA basketball programs and physical therapy clinics—adapted here for street dance.
There are no VR headsets. There are no simulated battles. The training happens on marley floors, in front of mirrors, and across from other dancers who will test you.
Meet the Instructors
Marcus "Marz" Reynolds heads the program. A top-16 finisher at Red Bull Dance Your Style Chicago 2019, Marz has battled in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Paris. He began teaching Krump in 2015 to preserve its cultural roots as the style gained mainstream visibility.
Janelle "Riot" Okonkwo leads the youth and foundation tracks. She is a three-time winner of the Chicago Krump Championships' female solo category and holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois. Her focus is injury prevention and building sustainable training habits in younger dancers.
Darnell "Vex" Torres runs the Pro Track and battle strategy sessions. Vex placed second at the 2022 World of Dance Chicago qualifier and has choreographed for two major-label hip-hop artists.
All three instructors continue to compete. That matters in Krump, where credibility depends on staying active in the session culture.
A Community Built on Accountability
Krump is not a solitary practice. At Studio 847, the community operates through what dancers call "the session"—a structured lab where participants trade rounds, give and receive constructive criticism, and hold each other accountable to the culture's values: respect, creativity, and resilience.
The studio partners with Hoffman Estates High School's performing arts department for quarterly workshops and sponsors an annual community battle, 847 Heat, which draws dancers from Milwaukee, Indianapolis, and Detroit. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for students from under-resourced schools in Cook and Kane Counties.
Who This Is For
You do not need prior dance experience to start. You do need willingness to be uncomfortable. Krump demands emotional honesty and physical exertion in equal measure. Whether you are a teenager looking for an expressive outlet, an athlete cross-training for power and coordination, or an experienced battle dancer preparing for your next circuit, the program scales to your goals.
How to Get Started
Studio 847 offers a free foundation class every Saturday at 10 a.m. for prospective students. Registration opens two weeks in advance and typically fills within 48 hours.
To reserve a spot, visit studio847.com/krump or call (224) 555-0198. Follow @studio
