They sent in the clowns and the girls went crazy.
The energetic moves of Tommy the Clown and his hip-hopping crew had hundreds of Whangarei Girls' High School students squealing and snapping photos on their mobile phones yesterday.
South-central Los Angeles native Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson is the godfather of a
worldwide dance phenomenon known as "krumping". It's freestyle dance-off, and is billed as a great way for young people to channel their energy.
Although it's spiced up with rainbow clothes, magic tricks and the odd joke, there's a serious message behind the interactive show: do well in school, and stay away from gangs and drugs.
"You've got to give them something to do right now - an incentive," Tommy said.
It's about taking your beef and your battles to the dance floor, and there was no shortage of Girls' High volunteers to challenge the clowns. Year-11 student Juanita White was one of seven who leapt on stage. "They're coolaz," said the 15-year-old. "It's active, motivating, and you don't get bored."
While the clowns ran out of time to haul teachers up, Tommy said the students gave an "awesome" performance: "Their energy is very up."
Year-13 student Rhian Hanchard said she would pay the price of a Red Hot Chili Peppers ticket - $130 - to see a full two-hour performance. "It was meanaz. Man, I want to marry them!" she said, adding a swift "Just kidding".
Bruised from gang life in Los Angeles and Detroit, Tommy - who turned his life around after spending five years in jail for dealing crack cocaine - hopes his experiences can help at-risk youth. He focuses on the positive elements of hip-hop music, taking the gloss off bling, bullets and bad-mouthing women.
It all began in 1992, when a workmate asked him to perform as a clown at her child's birthday party. His shows involved getting kids up to dance, and led to the creation of dance crew Hip Hop Clowns. Since then, thousands of teenagers have pitted their moves against other teams for the right to become a hip-hop clown in an annual "Battlezone" competition.
Waipareira Trust chief executive John Tamihere paid for Tommy and his crew's three-week school tour after seeing him in action in Auckland.
The clowns were to be at Bay of Islands and Northland Colleges today , and Hamilton, Paeroa and Tauranga next week.
"Get Krump" is at Kensington Stadium tonight at 6.30pm. Tickets at the door cost $5.