A New 'Forbidden Dance' at L.A. Schools

June 14 -- The tango, the Lambada, and now the "Crip Walk."

Crip Walking — or "C-Walking" — is the latest dance trend to achieve outlaw status, after several Los Angeles high schools banned it for its gang connotations.

"We have a talent show tonight; obviously there's no Crip Walking at our talent show," said Debora Schneider, assistant principal at Manual Arts High School, which has banned the dance on campus and at school events.

"It's all in the name of safety," she said. "The Crip Walk does have gang signs affiliated with it."

No one disputes that the dance originated with the Crips, a violent street gang that appeared in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. The C-Walk's jittery stutter-step combination of foot pivots and shuffles were on display at gang celebrations more than 20 years ago, experts say.

But in recent years, the Crip Walk has exploded in popularity, worrying school officials in gang-ridden areas.

Manual Arts High School, in South-Central Los Angeles, has long had to contend with gang problems. For years, the school has forbidden gang colors — blue for the Crips and red for the Bloods.

"If you go to a spot where the Bloods are and you do the Crip walk, you are going to get shot," said Abdul Rahman, a student at Crenshaw High School, which also banned the dance.

‘No Gang Clothes, No Gang Moves’

Officials feel it is crucial to keep the school free of gang symbols — whether on a T-shirt or on the dance floor.

"We don't allow any kind of gang stuff," said Manual Arts' principal, Ed Robillard. "In terms of dress codes at school, we don't allow red or blue shoelaces … We ban ball caps."

Several other area schools, including Crenshaw and Washington Prep, have taken similar measures.

Not everyone is convinced the Crip Walk is a serious threat.

"It is like a clown thing that they do nowadays so I don't see what's wrong with doing the C-Walk or whatever you all want to call it," said Deandre Turner, a Crenshaw student.