Buckworld - Experiencing a Story

What are we? Where do we come from? Who are we to each other and what is the purpose to our existence? These were some of the age-old questions that performers of Buckworld brought to attention of Redlands residents in their performance Buckworld is an interactive story using dance, spoken word and multi-media presentation that addresses these important questions. The free performance was held on Sunday, Dec. 6. and was held at the University of Redlands in the Glenn Wallach Theater. Buckworld fuses Hip-Hop theater performance with Krump dancing, spoken word and interactive video projections. The cast of the production attempt to use these varied mediums to share their unique stories and portray frustrations such as community violence, police brutality, and the challenges of the civil rights movement. The play was originally written in 2006 by playwright and University of California Riverside professor of Theater, Rickerby Hinds. The dancing style Krumping is a type of street dance characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated and energetic moments involving the body. Often the performers feeling Krump is an outlet to express their frustrations and concerns about society in a non-violent way. For some the acronym for “Krump” is Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise. This belief has allowed a for Buckworld and Krumping to grow into a practicing lifestyle. The foundation’s current goals are to continue performing as well as spread Krumping to the youth and aid in keeping them off the streets. According to staff member, Joesanna Osborne, the production has become a movement to spread to the youth. “We want to get in with the youth and bring arts back to them in an innovative way,” Osbrone said, “The experience is awesome. It covers the struggles we face and turns it into a positive one. Getting it to the youth gets them off the streets, but the movement it is keeps them off.” Buckworld features six Krump dancers from the Inland Empire including Tim Dupree, Davion Clayton, Evan Harris, Larry Combs, Kayvon Thurston and Adam Smothers. Also featured is Krystlasia Young, a local poet. After the performance the cast and crew of Buckworld concluded the event with an interactive talk back where residents who attended could ask questions or voice considerations they had from the performance. When asked about some of the difficulties the cast had encountered about spreading Krump and spreading the messages, performer Krystlasia Young commented is the commitment of the audience coming to see the show that helps its success. “It has been hard to get it out there and not everyone understands it, but that’s where you guys come in. Where you have to build the hype for it and get people talking about it. Honestly it takes more and more people like you asking questions and coming out to the shows,” Young said. Durpree ended the talkback reminding the audience of Buckworld’s meaning. “For us this is more than a production, this is really a movement. We are trying the best we can now, but our target is the youth. I believe that if we target the youth and teach them better ways to express themselves through art instead of violence, gangs, and all that other stuff, than our future will be better,” Durpree said. [END] BLACC, Multicultural Center, Race & Ethnic Studies and CDI present BUCKWORLD AT 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 2015 in Glenn Wallichs Theatre at the University of Redlands. The theatre is on University Street, just south of Colton Avenue. This event is free and open to the public BUCKWORLD tackles the age-old question of our existence and purpose. From the universal to the individual to the relationship between fathers and sons to our search for God, this production attempts to tell this expansive story through dance, spoken word, and historical video footage in a multi-media presentation. This electrifying Hip Hop Theatre performance fuses Krump dancing with spoken word and interactive video projections in telling the story of our existence in and connection to the universe as well as to each other. Krumping is a type of street dance characterized by free, expressive, exaggerated, and highly energetic movement involving the arms, head, legs, chest, and feet. According to some "Krump" is a backronym for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise. The youths who started krumping saw the dance as a way for them to escape gang life and "to release anger, aggression and frustration positively, in a non-violent way.” The BUCKWORLD performers deliver their own unique and personal stories through words and movement. The Krump dancers command the stage with the power, energy and creativity that is the hallmark of this dance style while the poets attempt to capture the intangible reality of what it means to be a human being. The fusion of these two art forms complemented by thought provoking and viscerally evocative projections merge to create this remarkable theatrical experience. "Buckworld" is known for its intense and passionate portrayals of media-minimized concerns that include community violence, police brutality, and the challenges of the civil rights movement, set to a unique cutting edge hip-hop style. The talented sets of individuals were assembled by University of California, Riverside theatre Professor Rickerby Hinds and is currently directed by Inspiring Director/Performer Tim Dupree. One appeal of the dance style is that it gives dancers – including many with a deep, personal understanding of the challenges of inner-city life – an opportunity to express their frustrations and concerns about society in a non-violent way. This unique dance form provides an outlet for youth who face harsh realities of violence and other challenges in their communities. Young people with no formal dance training gather in small, hot, cramped rooms, church fellowship halls, playgrounds, parking lots or any neutral space each week throughout Southern California to participate in “Krump Sessions” in which they battle and use dance moves instead of bullets to hash out their issues. Buckworld features six Krump dancers from the Inland Empire: Tim Dupree, Davion Clayton, Evan Harris, Larry Combs, Kayvon Thurston and Adam Smothers. Also featured is one local poet: Krystlasia Young. All of these young performers deliver their own unique and personal story through words and movement. _________________________________________ Please send RedDot-related requests to webteam@redlands.edu Jennifer M. Dobbs News & Information Editor University Communications University of Redlands 909-748-8857