A Rural Missouri Town of 1,100 Tries Something Unexpected
COLE CAMP, Mo. — In a town where the tallest structures are grain elevators and the weekend social calendar still revolves around church potlucks and high school sports, a small group of dancers is trying to make breakdancing stick.
Cole Camp, a crossroads community about 70 miles southeast of Kansas City, has never been mistaken for a cultural capital. Yet over the past two years, a handful of local b-boys and b-girls have begun gathering in borrowed spaces—parking lots after dark, the basement of the Benton County Community Center, sometimes a ranch-style living room cleared of furniture—to practice top rocks, freezes, and power moves.
Whether this loosely organized scene can grow into something sustainable is an open question. But for the young people involved, it already offers something the town hasn't had before: an outlet built on hip-hop culture, self-expression, and peer mentorship in a place where those opportunities are scarce.
From Parking Lots to a Possible Home
The movement, such as it is, started in 2022 when Derek Voss, a 26-year-old Cole Camp native, returned home after dancing in Kansas City and St. Louis. Voss began teaching free informal sessions to a half-dozen kids at the community center. By late 2023, regular attendance had grown to roughly 15 to 20 dancers, ages 8 to 22, according to Voss and two parents who spoke with us.
There is no dedicated studio. There is no formal nonprofit. There is, Voss acknowledges, no annual festival—at least not yet. A "Cole Camp Break Jam" he organized in a grocery store parking lot last September drew an estimated 40 to 50 spectators, mostly locals and family members from neighboring towns.
"I'd love to get people from Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield down here," Voss said. "Right now, we're just trying to keep kids showing up week to week."
What the Town Says
The Cole Camp Board of Aldermen has not approved funding for a dance facility. Mayor Randy Fajen said the city has discussed youth programming broadly and expressed verbal support for Voss's efforts, but no council vote has been taken, no budget allocated, and no site selected for construction.
"We're a small town with a small tax base," Fajen said. "If someone came with grant money or private funding, we'd certainly listen. But 'state-of-the-art dance facility' isn't on any official document I've seen."
For now, Voss and several parents are exploring a 2024 grant application through the Missouri Arts Council. They are also in early conversations with a Benton County economic development group about possibly converting a vacant downtown storefront into a multipurpose youth arts space—though no lease or purchase agreement exists.
Why It Matters to Local Kids
The lack of infrastructure hasn't dimmed enthusiasm among the young dancers who have found their way to the sessions.
Maya Brennaman, 14, began dancing with Voss in early 2023 after her mother saw a Facebook post about free classes. She now practices three to four nights a week and helps mentor younger beginners.
"There's not a lot to do here if you don't play ball or do 4-H," Brennaman said. "This is the first thing that's felt like mine."
Her mother, Teresa Brennaman, said she's noticed changes beyond dance: "Maya's more confident. She's talking about applying to colleges with dance programs. A year ago, she wasn't talking about college at all."
Voss said he emphasizes structure—showing up on time, supporting other dancers, completing homework—as much as technique. Three older dancers now help him lead sessions, creating what participants describe as an informal mentorship chain.
The Road Ahead
The coming year will test whether Cole Camp's breakdance scene can move from borrowed spaces and parking lot jams to something more permanent. Voss hopes to host a formal all-styles battle in late summer 2024, bringing in judges and competitors from within a two- or three-hour radius. He's budgeting for a $2,000 to $3,000 event, funded through small sponsorships and entry fees.
For now, the scene remains what it is: a grassroots effort in an unlikely place, driven by a few committed people and a growing number of kids who want something different.
"Nobody's claiming we're the next Los Angeles or New York," Voss said. "But we're here. We're putting in the work. And that's enough to start."
This article was reported in January 2024. If you have information about youth arts programming in rural Missouri, contact the editorial team.
