From South Central to Southwest Virginia
Born from South Central Los Angeles street culture in the early 2000s, Krump emerged as raw, spiritual release—an alternative to violence, a battle through movement rather than force. What began in the African American community, branching from Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson's clowning movement into something harder and more confrontational, has traveled two decades to reach unexpected corners of the country.
Tazewell now holds space for this intensity. At Dance Sanctuaries, located in the historic downtown district near the Clinch River, the form's original urgency meets Appalachian grit. The studio's exposed brick walls and sprung hardwood floors have hosted sessions where bankers' sons battle alongside former cheerleaders, where the only hierarchy is who brings the most authentic energy to the circle.
What Krump Actually Demands
This is not fitness-class dance. Krump operates through specific vocabularies: chest pops that snap from the core, jabs thrown with theatrical aggression, arm swings that trace aggressive geometry, stomps that reclaim ground. The "buck"—that explosive, almost involuntary release of tension—marks the moment where technique surrenders to something involuntary and true.
The culture surrounding Krump matters as much as the moves. Sessions function as structured battles, not competitions with winners and losers but exchanges where dancers challenge each other to dig deeper. "Warriors" in Krump terminology earn their status not through dominance but through vulnerability—the willingness to strip performance bare and show something unguarded.
Classes: Three Entry Points
Foundation Tuesdays | 6:00 PM
Thirty minutes of conditioning first—expect to sweat heavily—then breakdown of chest pops, jabs, and basic footwork patterns. Instructor Marcus Chen, who trained under Los Angeles-based Krump pioneers before relocating to Virginia, emphasizes the form's physical demands without softening its edges. "We don't apologize for the difficulty," Chen notes. "The struggle is where the release lives."
Session Saturdays | 10:00 AM
Intermediate work focused on freestyle development and circle etiquette. Dancers learn to read a session's energy, to enter and exit the circle with intention, to build sequences that escalate rather than plateau. Chen introduces the concept of "get-offs"—those moments of abandon where planned movement dissolves into pure response.
The Lab | Thursdays, 7:30 PM
Advanced dancers and invited guests workshop choreography for regional exhibition while maintaining Krump's improvisational core. Recent Lab participants have performed at the Bluefield Heritage Festival and Virginia State Dance Alliance showcases, adapting session culture for proscenium spaces without diluting its confrontational spirit.
The Instructors
Marcus Chen directs programming with twelve years of Krump practice, including documentation in the 2013 Rize follow-up project and regular return trips to Los Angeles for session maintenance. His teaching emphasizes historical continuity—every beginner learns the names of foundational figures: Tight Eyez, Big Mijo, Miss Prissy.
Janelle Okonkwo leads conditioning components and injury prevention, bringing physical therapy training to a form that punishes untrained bodies. She joined Dance Sanctuaries after encountering Krump through Chen's community outreach at Tazewell High School.
Who Shows Up
Current membership spans ages fourteen to forty-seven, with roughly equal gender distribution. The studio maintains sliding-scale pricing: $15 drop-in, $100 monthly unlimited, with work-trade options for committed students facing financial constraints. No prior dance experience required for Foundation Tuesdays; physical willingness matters more than movement background.
Recent participant Teresa Vance, 34, describes her trajectory: "I started for exercise. I stayed because I cried in my first session—actual tears—something about being seen that intensely, being challenged to show more than I planned to give."
How to Enter
Dance Sanctuaries occupies 217 East Main Street, Tazewell. First-time visitors can observe any session without charge; participation requires advance registration through the studio's online portal. Monthly "open sessions" on final Fridays welcome dancers from surrounding counties to test the circle.
The studio opens thirty minutes before each listed class for warm-up space. Bring water, knee pads recommended, and expectations that will be disrupted.
Contact: 276-555-0147 | [email protected]
