Women street dancers take centre stage this winter at the AGO with BOSSY, a Toronto-based community organization founded by Glo Romy. Born from the need for more space and visibility for women in street dance, BOSSY brings dancers together through programs and events that build community and culture.  

BOSSY is for women, by women. For the launch of the collective, they created an energetic short film that paid homage to the women in Toronto’s street dance community. Led by an all-women cast and crew, the project brought together dancers from across generations, spotlighting pioneers who helped shape the scene alongside those just stepping into it. 

This winter, BOSSY brings this spirit to the AGO. Beginning Wednesday, February 11 at 4 pm, and running for five weeks, the AGO partners with BOSSY to present BOSSY BOOTCAMP: Krump Edition, a free drop-in dance program for youth ages 14 to 25. Originating in South Central Los Angeles, Krump is a high-energy street dance style rooted in resilience, expression, and community. The program will be led by Monica “Knives” Fern, a respected leader in the Krump community who has been championing for women in dance for over a decade. 

Before workshops, Foyer spoke with Glo Romy — also known as BIG GLO—about women in street dance, the creation of BOSSY, and what this partnership with the AGO means for the next generation of dancers. 

Foyer: What inspired you to create BOSSY?  

Romy: BOSSY was born out of my own experiences and observations of the lack of dedicated community spaces for women within Toronto’s street dance scene.  

It all started as a self-directed short film, set to “Bossy” by Kelis—a song that perfectly captures empowerment, freedom, and unapologetic confidence. The film was meant to be a love letter to women in the street dance community, an anthem that celebrated our presence, our voices, and our power. 

Bringing the project to life meant gathering 70 women from the community and highlighting street dance styles such as Hip-Hop, Popping, Locking, Breaking, and Krump. When the film was released in March 2024, the response was overwhelming. The support made it clear that this wasn’t just a one-off moment — it was the beginning of something much bigger. From there, BOSSY has naturally grown into a long-term project and platform dedicated to creating space, visibility, and connection for women in street dance. 

What is it like navigating the street dance scene as a woman? How have perceptions evolved throughout the past 10 years?  

It really depends on where you are. Thankfully, Toronto’s street dance scene is a bit more developed, and I’ve been lucky to be inspired by some incredible female street dancers along my journey. That said, even in more evolved spaces, there are still moments when environments that are meant to be inclusive can feel overwhelmingly male-dominated. Learning styles like Breaking or Popping — traditionally seen as more masculine — can be especially challenging when there aren’t many women to look to for representation or mentorship. Over the past 10 years, we’ve had some initiatives centred around women in street dance, like Expand the Cypher (a breaking program for women, trans, and non-binary breakers) which is really helpful. Initiatives like that make it easier to continue to do what we do. 

Tell us more about Krump - where did it originate from and what are its foundational elements?  

Krump is such a powerful street dance style with deep roots. It emerged in South Central Los Angeles in the late ’90s and early 2000s, evolving from clowning — a party dance created by Tommy the Clown. Over time, Krump transformed into something much more expressive, offering a positive outlet for anger, frustration, and lived experiences, especially for youth navigating gang-heavy environments. Pioneers like Tight Eyez, Big Mijo, and Miss Prissy helped shape the style into what it is today. 

The word KRUMP stands for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise, reflecting how these raw, high-energy movements became a non-violent form of emotional release. The style blends African tribal dance, street dance, and spiritual elements, often drawing inspiration from church praise dances. Since its beginnings, Krump has grown into a global movement, with communities all over the world, including right here in Toronto. 

While I’m not a Krumper myself, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Toronto’s Krump community evolve over the years. I’ve attended sessions hosted by some of the city’s OGs, including Knives — who will also be teaching this program. Those experiences have influenced my own movement, and I continue to weave Krump foundations into my Hip-Hop style. I’m really excited to see how Toronto’s Krump community continues to grow and expand. 

What can participants expect in the upcoming BOSSY BOOTCAMP dance workshops at the AGO?  

Participants can definitely expect to get buck — but on a deeper level, this program is really about expression and release. Krump is an incredibly powerful and emotional dance style, and the goal of this five-week program is to create a space where participants feel supported in letting that energy out freely and authentically. 

Over the course of the program, participants will learn Krump foundations, along with battle concepts and freestyle techniques, giving them the tools to explore the style in their own way. We encourage everyone to come in with an open mind and a willingness to push beyond their comfort zone and tap into new forms of self-expression. 

This program is open to all experience levels, so whether you’re brand new or already familiar with Krump, come through, show up as you are—and let’s get buck. 

 

 

 

 

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Hit the dance floor at the AGO’s Dr. Anne Tanenbaum Gallery School on the Concourse Level with BOSSY’s free Krump workshops every Wednesday from February 11 to March 11. Free for youth ages 14 to 25. All dance levels are welcome. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/bossy-bootcamp-krump-edition