Locking is a style of funk dance

Funk dance

Funk styles refers to a group of street dance styles that originated in California in the 1970s during the funk era. These mainly include locking, popping, and electric boogaloo. Though many of these specific dance styles have today been incorporated into the hip hop culture and are often seen...

, which is today also associated with hip hop

Hip hop dance

Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...

. The name is based on the concept of locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and "locking" in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same speed as before. It relies on fast and distinct arm and hand movements combined with more relaxed hips and legs. The movements are generally large and exaggerated, and often very rhythmic and tightly synced with the music. Locking is quite performance

Performance

A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...

 oriented, often interacting with the audience by smiling or giving them a high five

High five

The high five is a celebratory hand gesture that occurs when two people simultaneously raise one hand, about head high, and push, slide or slap the flat of their palm and hand against the palm and flat hand of their partner...

, and some moves are quite comical in nature. A dancer who performs locking is called a locker. Lockers commonly use a distinctive dress style, such as colorful clothing with stripes and suspenders

Suspenders

Suspenders or braces are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers. Straps may be elasticated, either entirely or only at attachment ends and most straps are of woven cloth forming an X or Y shape at the back. Braces are typically attached to trousers with buttons...

.

Locking was originally danced to traditional funk music, such as that produced or performed by James Brown

James Brown

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

. Funk music is still commonly favored by locking dancers, and used by many competitions such as the locking division of Juste Debout

Juste Debout

Juste Debout is an international and annual dance competition founded in 2002 by Bruce Ykanji in France which focuses on street dance styles. The four main categories are hip hop new style, house, locking and popping.-History:...

. Locking movements create a strong contrast towards the many fast moves that are otherwise performed quite continuously, combined with mime

Mime artist

A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art, involving miming, or the acting out a story through body motions, without use of speech. In earlier times, in English, such a performer was referred to as a mummer...

 style performance and acting towards the audience and other dancers. Locking includes quite a lot of acrobatics

Acrobatics

Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...

 and physically demanding moves, such as landing on one's knees and the split

Split (gymnastics)

A split is a human body configuration in which the legs are parallel to each other and extended in opposite directions. Splits are performed in various athletic activities, including dance, figure skating, gymnastics, martial arts, contortionism, synchronized swimming, cheerleading and yoga...

. These moves often require knee protection of the sort.

History

The beginning of Locking can be traced to one man, Don Campbell. In the late 1960s he put together several fad dances adding moves of his own (notably the "Lock") when performing. The original lock was created by accident: Don Campbell couldn't do a move called the 'Funky Chicken' nor the 'Sling' and stopped at a particular point whilst moving his arms, creating a 'locking' effect. He wasn't able to perform it fluently, for he couldn't remember which step to take next. (Even the acting towards the audience was spontaneous: when people started laughing at Don because of his unfamiliar moves, he responded by pointing at them.) These halts soon became popular as Don added them into his performances. The resulting dance was called Campbellocking, which was later shortened to Locking. In the early 1970s this set off a movement of Locking dance groups, notably Campbell's group The Lockers

The Lockers

The Lockers were a dance group formed by Toni Basil and Don "Campbellock" Campbell in 1971. Active throughout the 1970s, they were pioneers of street dance. Don Campbell is the founder of the locking dance style and originally, Locking was called The Campbellock - a style that was based on the...

. Another locker called Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster and Greggery 'Campbellock Jr.' Pope and others set the foundation for locking dance and clothes style.

Clothes style can consist of loud striped socks, pegged pants that stopped at the knees, bright colorful satin shirts with big collars, big colorful bow ties, gigantic Apple Boy hats, and white gloves.

Later locking became part of the growing hip hop dance

Hip hop dance

Hip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...

 culture, and has influenced styles such as popping

Popping (dance)

Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...

, B-boying

B-boying

B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...

 and liquiding. Locking is still quite popular. Dancers are trying to keep it alive.

Moves

Locking may be done in solo or in unison with two or more dancers doing steps or handshakes together. A locker may smile while performing to emphasize the comical nature of the dance; other times, a serious demeanor will be maintained to place emphasis on technique. Other important stylistic features are waving of arms, pointing, walking stationary and grabbing and rotating the cap or hat. Don Campbell created the original freezes, incorporating his unique rhythm and adding gestures such as points and handclaps. Other dancers also adapted this style while creating other steps and moves.

Locking is by nature an improvisational dance, but also consists of a set of signature moves of locking pioneers, such as Hilty and Bosch, Jackson 5, GoGo Brothers, Bitterbox Sisters, e.t.c. However, many lockers alter or blend these with other moves or create their own variations. In general The Lockers

The Lockers

The Lockers were a dance group formed by Toni Basil and Don "Campbellock" Campbell in 1971. Active throughout the 1970s, they were pioneers of street dance. Don Campbell is the founder of the locking dance style and originally, Locking was called The Campbellock - a style that was based on the...

 will often put a small pause and move up on the second and fourth beats to emphasize the locking.

Alpha

Created by Alpha Anderson; One leg is kicked forward from a crouching position while the upper body is leaned backwards can be supported by both hands or no hands at all.

Break down/Rocksteady

in the squatting position

Squatting position

Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees are bent either fully or partially . In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat...

, shift the pelvis to the side, then back to center and stand up then down and shift to the other side.

Jazz split

A semi-split

Split (gymnastics)

A split is a human body configuration in which the legs are parallel to each other and extended in opposite directions. Splits are performed in various athletic activities, including dance, figure skating, gymnastics, martial arts, contortionism, synchronized swimming, cheerleading and yoga...

 done with one leg bent, which enables the dancer to get up again in one swift movement.

Whichaway

Altering twirl kicks to the sides first with either right and left legs, upper body stationary with arms in front.

Kick

A high, quick kick of one leg while standing on the other.

Knee Drop

Drop to the knees with knees pointing inwards (into a W shape leg position).

Leo Walk

A funky two step where the first is an exaggerated step in a particular direction, followed by sliding of the second foot along the floor to meet the first.

Lock/Double Lock

Bending slightly forward with arms forming a circle downward, as if lifting a heavy object.

Up Lock (Muscleman)

Bending arms upwards, like the look of a strong man, and holding for a moment or two.

Pacing

A quick punch to the side then down, with hand starting just below the shoulder. (Fist should still be open.)

Pimp Walk

You kick then put your feet in a shoulder width V shape, but hands stay beside the dancer.

Stop and Go

Created by Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster; starting with a muscle man lock, step back with one foot and punch, do a quarter turn in the direction of the back foot breakdown once, and then return reach-around to the same position.

Stomp the cockroach

Going down on one knee, with the other leg pointing out to the side, then pounding the floor.

Scoo B Doo

Created by Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster; doing a muscle man lock then doing two separate kicks while pacing with one hand in time with the kicks

Scoo B Doo walk

Created by Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster; Walking forward, lifting leg up and bending your back towards the knee

Scoobot

Created by Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster; One arm and leg out then switching to the other leg. Leg out and arms crossed then wrist twirl andclap behind

Scoobot hop

Slightly varied from scoobot with legs hopping towards the sides then the front.

Floor Sweep

Using your hand to swiftly move left to right on the floor, as if using a cloth to wipe.

The Skeeter Rabbit/Skeeter Rabbit Around the World

Created by James "Skeeter Rabbit" Higgins; a kick and shuffle hop move, either at the sides and/or front and back.

Funky Guitar

Hands positioned as if holding a guitar, and start walking backwards.

Point

A quick, extended pointing gesture coming from opposite shoulder, usually held for a few seconds for emphasis.

Wrist Twirl

Twirling wrists while moving arms up

The Seek

Doing a breakdown whilst rolling your arms in front of you and then lifting a hand up over your eyes as if you are looking/seeking for something

Hitch Hike

Arms up and then crossed in front of you, and then three hitchhiker thumbs up to the right and then the left.

External links

• LockerLegends The official website of some of the original members of The Lockers.
• Video of Locking at the Red Bull BC One
  Red Bull BC One
  Red Bull BC One is an annual international b-boy competition organized by the energy drink company Red Bull. It is an individual b-boy competition...
  
   competition in Berlin
  Berlin
  Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
  
  2005