If you've ever heard anything about South Central Los Angeles, you've probably heard of the Crips and the Bloods, rival gangs notorious for drive-by shootings and killing of innocent bystanders. But have you ever heard about the Clown Gangs of South Central and Englewood? I lived in Los Angeles for almost twenty years and don't think I ever heard or read anything about the 'hood that wasn't negative. That's why seeing Rize was such an amazing, enlightening experience for me.

Rize is a documentary about the Clowning and (its offshoot) Krumping phenomena started by Tommy Johnson, a former ex-con drug-dealer who started a new form of hip hop dancing as an outlet to express his rage after the riots in LA in 1992 following the 'Rodney King' verdict. (I always put that in parenthesis because Rodney King was not the one on trial. - the policemen who beat him were the ones on trial). Johnson's dance style caught on and he had many kids who copied him and wanted to learn from him. One day someone asked him to perform at a child's birthday party and asked if he would dress as a clown. And from that request a movement was born which has probably saved countless lives and given hope to countless others.

Tommy Johnson became Tommy the Clown and opened a Clown School in South Central. This became so wildly popular that Clown gangs formed. These gangs offered an alternative to the other types of gangs, the Crips and the Bloods. As one young man put it, if you were approached by a gang who asked you which gang you were with, if you answered 'a clown gang' they would leave you alone. Out of this clowning style, another style of dance called Krumping was formed. Tommy held a dance competition between the Clowns and the Krumpers.

And what a competition it was! The dancing is truly amazing. I found watching it was deeply uplifting. There is so much energy to this film. Watching it, I felt as if I was dancing myself.

Of course not everything in this film is positive. Tommy is devastated to learn that during the competition his house was trashed and all his possessions were stolen. But as his friend points out to him, it is a sign that it is time for him to move on and that it proves Tommy is doing something good because some people are so threatened by a person trying to be helpful and positive that they feel they must destroy it.

Another chilling image for me was seeing a store in the 'hood called Payless Caskets. Just the thought of a store like that and the need for it sent a chill through me.

I really recommend this film. It is so important to see positive images, especially of poor disenfranchised African-American and Asian kids from the 'hood who are almost always portrayed as thugs, drug-dealers and murderers.

Like Mad Hot Ballroom this film shows how a creative outlet can change kids' lives for the better.

Thank heavens for people like Tommy Johnson and for people like filmmaker David LaChapelle who brought his story to our attention.

Directed by David LaChapelle.

The website is http://rizemovie.com/rize.php