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.