Article: One serious clown: Tommy the clown uses dancing to keep teens away from violence.(Feature Story)(Thomas Johnson)

OVERVIEW

Thomas "Tommy the Clown" Johnson was once a drug dealer who spent time in prison, but when he got out, he wanted to turn his life around. Johnson became a birthday clown and pioneered a style of dancing called krumping. The dance has grown so much in popularity that Johnson now holds a series of events called Battle Zone, in which teens compete and showcase their dancing skills. Johnson considers these activities to be a positive influence on teens--a way for young people to express themselves creatively, instead of being out on the streets.

BEFORE READING

Introduce Vocabulary: professional, challenging, aggressive, influence

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