Battle Night: The Krump Wars

Manzie Jones' documentary Battle Night: The Krump Wars, “overseen” by acclaimed Emmy-winning choreographer and Golden Globe-winning actress Debbie Allen and filmed at her nonprofit Los Angeles dance academy studio, features extensive footage of one krump competition, a dance style inspired by the face-painted clown dancing founded in South Central by Tommy the Clown that features high-energy improv street dancing. Interspersed between the narration-less dance segments here are interviews with choreographers, actors, and musicians, including MC Lyte, Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris), Elise Neal (Hustle & Flow), and Allen, who discuss the rise and evolution of krump in hip-hop culture. While the circle of onlookers around the various dancers—overall a pretty skilled bunch—seems pumped, the repetitive music (the same five homespun songs that were obviously not used for the actual contest), editing gaffes (Allen is abruptly cut off at one point), and erratically shot footage all work against the production. Not quite a compilation of “the hottest battles, the hottest babes and the hottest celebrities” as claimed on the jacket, this very affordable program might still inspire some to try out the dance moves. Optional. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)