Grenzenlos - Your Dance Podcast · Lisa Nevara

DE Sanguis, Sweat & Tears - Austrian Krump / with Armin Kashi Zadeh aka Sanguis

·51 min·4 clips

After being attacked by a group, Armin channeled his rage into his first spontaneous Krump session at home.

This episode of Grenzenlos features host Alicia interviewing Armin Kashi Zadeh, who dances under the name Sanguis, about the dance style Krump and his journey within Austria's small Krump community. Armin is a student, event moderator, and a dedicated Krumper since 2015 who aims to make Krump more known in Austria. Armin began dancing in 2009 after being inspired by the film *Step Up 3D*, initially exploring styles like breaking, popping, locking, house, and even ballet. He discovered Krump around 2012 after meeting dancers Sia and Sora from Salzburg through an old online forum, which led to forming the short-lived Pure Desire Crew. His Krump journey solidified in 2015 after attending the Beast Mode battle in the Czech Republic and receiving encouragement from German OG Rowdy. The core Austrian Krump group, The Ancients, consists of Armin (Sanguis), Sora (Nihilus), and Maxi (Animus), with their crew names inspired by *Assassin's Creed* and *Star Wars*. Armin explains that Krump is an expressive dance from LA that looks aggressive but is not, serving as an honest, spiritual outlet for processing emotions like grief. The style incorporates stomps, arm movements inspired by boxing, intense body control, and crucial facial expressions. It originated in the early 2000s when five dancers—Little C, Tide Eyes, Miho, Miss Prissy, and Slayer—broke away from Tommy the Clown's Clowning to create a more self-focused form, a history documented in the film *Rize*. The Austrian scene has grown slowly to about nine active participants, including key members Bernardo (Boy Sanguis) and Eldina (Girl Nihilist), whom Armin mentors. A fascinating structure within Krump is the FAM system, where a "big homie" mentors "little homies" who adopt their name, with ranks like Micro, Boy, and Twin denoting progression. Initiation can involve a "cage," where a dancer battles multiple members simultaneously to break down emotional facades. Armin received his name Sanguis, meaning "blood," from his crewmates who linked it to the sanguine temperament, describing him as a "drama queen" who calms quickly. He sees his communication studies as a tool to promote Krump, which he calls his "life mission" and a form of therapy before he sought professional help. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal storytelling with detailed explanations of Krump's culture and history. Listeners interested in underground dance cultures, personal artistic journeys, or the social structures within niche communities would love this episode. Those seeking technical dance tutorials or discussions of mainstream styles might find it less directly applicable.

As heard by us

Krump comes through as grief work, release, and a way of showing a deeper self.

This episode treats Krump less like a dance form and more like a way to work through grief and get what is stuck inside moving. The speaker links that idea to the death of a grandmother, which gives the conversation some weight.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play if you want Krump framed as a personal release, not just a performance.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Grenzenlos - Your Dance Podcast