By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The Boom Squad, founded by Gregory Browning, also known as Boomer the Clown, is a testament to Southern California’s enduring spirit of originality.
The collective, founded by Browning in 2014, is redefining the clowning dance scene, blending energy with precision-crafted moves and education.
The organization’s mission is “To build the person behind the performer by providing industry-level training, academic accountability, and a transformative environment where youth can turn their passion for the arts into a foundation for lifelong success.”
With their high-energy performances, the Boom Squad, which operates with various school districts, has taken the clowning world by storm, competing in battles, performing at community events and hosting cultural showcases that celebrate the art form’s roots in L.A.’s diverse neighborhoods. It also hosts workshops for young people interested in learning how to “clown.”
During the workshop, which is free and open to young people as young as 2, participants learn hip-hop, freestyle jazz, Afrobeat and choreography. The workshops also offer games, basketball, football, crochet, face-painting and help with homework. While dance is the attraction, the organization also focuses on academic tutoring, skill building, and mentorship.
“I started clown dancing years ago, doing it at birthday parties,” said Browning, who prefers to go by his stage name Boomer The Clown. “I went through a rough time — losing my job, my car and began living in cars. I was homeless.
“I knew I had to do something better. On November 6, 2014, I remember it so well. That’s when I decided to put together Boom Squad. I wanted to see kids doing something different. When they join, we are really a family. I take them to Skid Row. I tell them, ‘If you don’t get your life together, you’ll be down here.’”
Boomer, 42, said he was inspired by clown dancing after watching Tommy the Clown, whose real name is Thomas Johnson. Johnson, a renowned dancer and choreographer born in Detroit and raised in South Los Angeles, is famously known as the creator of the “clowning” and “krumping” dance styles, which he originated in 1992.
With a career spanning decades, Boomer has danced with Janet Jackson, Chris Brown and Missy Elliott, and choreographed for music videos like Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” But his true passion lies in sharing his craft and “pouring into young people”.
“I don’t want them to be like me,” said Boomer, a father of one. “My role model was the street and the dope dealers. With the Boom Squad, I’m turning the negative into a positive. I want these young people to do and be better.”
By inspiring the next generation of artists, the Boom Squad, which operates as an after-school program during the week, is not only keeping clowning alive but also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in dance and community engagement.
Boomer is a recipient of the Living Cultures Grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, which supports his work in providing after-school programs and workshops to hundreds of students, preserving the cultural heritage of clowning in Los Angeles.
Under his strategic partnership and ownership of Boom Squad Entertainment, Browning partners with Ericka Davenport, who is the CEO of the nonprofit Boom Squad Academy.
Together, they operate under one roof, merging professional entertainment production with a nonprofit framework to provide holistic mentorship and performance opportunities for youth.
“I believe children should get involved with the Boom Squad because it helps to bring them the confidence they need in this world,” said Davenport, a married mother of five. “You need it for any career path. This program gives you the foundation you need to take on the world.”
Davenport said one of the success stories to come out of the Boom Squad is Storm DeBarge, a professional freestyler and choreographer, who has worked with Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar, and choreographed some of the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show.
“We have other success stories as well,” said Davenport, who is currently working on her master of science degree in nonprofit leadership at the University of San Diego. “They aren’t in the streets. We have some who have gone on to do backup dancing, and the NFL halftime shows.”
To operate at full capacity, Davenport, 37, said the organization, which is always in need of funding, needs a “solid” $250,000-$300,000 budget to cover workshops, uniforms, trips, transportation and eventually a permanent brick-and-mortar location — a “safe space” for the kids. Currently, they rent various spaces throughout the area.
Davenport, a seasoned nonprofit leader and health care professional, has always been passionate about empowering young people.
“We’re not just teaching dance — we’re building leaders,” she said. “Our students excel in the classroom and beyond, and that’s what it’s all about.”
“I want to do something other than dance, dance, dance,” Boomer said. “Within all the dancing, I want to show them why education is important.”
Boom Squad’s impact extends far beyond the dance floor. It has revealed itself as more than just a dance crew. Blending creativity, community and heart, Boom Squad is igniting a spark with the hope of inspiring a new wave of artists to find their own path and make their mark.
Davenport said the organization measures the impact of its dance and education program through various analyses.
“Some of our kids weren’t reading well, and now they are,” she said. “When it comes to dancing, Boomer doesn’t care how much talent a kid has. It’s about discipline and motivation.”
A number of the youth involved in the Boom Squad come from South Los Angeles, Compton and Watts.
“We are giving these kids a safe space,” Davenport said. “We give them confidence. A lot of them come from single-parent households that can’t afford dance classes or tutoring services. We’re trying to be that bridge.”
Davenport said Boom Squad wants to take the children’s minds off the distraction of the streets.
“We want to bring positivity,” she said. “We want the kids to know that they can have fun and be educated. I’m a big believer in education. We’re building leaders, not followers.”
The Boom Squad is open to children of all ages, races, and ethnicities.
“I want these kids to make it,” said Boomer, who got the nickname from his grandfather. “I was one of the kids who was lost. I want to teach kids that they can be anything. I want them to find out who they are and push them and stay dedicated, and have structure.”
Boomer, who recently “clowned” at the Black College Expo Tour, said he plans to take the organization outside of the Los Angeles community.
“I would love to take the kids into more atmospheres,” he said. “I want to do trips. I want the kids to network. My goal is to take this internationally. I hope everyone who participates gets out of it what I got out of it. Dance changed my life.”
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
