Category talk:Street Dancers

Locking:

How It Started:

Invented accidentally in the late 1960s by Don “Campbellock” Campbell, an arts student at Los Angeles Trade‑Technical College. While attempting the popular “Funky Chicken,” Don froze—couldn’t remember the next step—and instinctively pointed at the audience, who loved it. Teased as the “Lock,” the move was embraced, named “Campbellocking,” and later simplified to “Locking”

Definition: a street dance style in which the "lock" is the foundational movement, building upon it with creative and personalized variations.

A Few Steps Developed:

The Lock: The signature move where a dancer freezes in a position, holding it briefly before continuing the movement.

The Points: A gesture where the dancer points to various directions, adding flair to the performance.

The Skeeter Rabbit: A move characterized by quick footwork and body movements.

Breakdancing:

Background:

Breakdancing, also known as breaking, began in the early 1970s amidst urban challenges such as poverty and racial segregation. Youth sought creative outlets, leading to the birth of breakdancing as a form of artistic expression.

DJ Kool Herc's Innovation: DJ Kool Herc played a pivotal role by extending instrumental breaks in funk and soul tracks at block parties, providing a rhythmic foundation for dancers.

Martial Arts and Gymnastics: Breakdancing drew inspiration from martial arts and gymnastics, incorporating spins, flips, and intricate footwork into its routines.

Key Elements of Breakdancing

Toprock: The standing portion of a breakdancing routine, involving rhythmic steps and movements, setting the tone for the performance.

Downrock (Footwork): Performed close to the ground, this involves intricate movements using hands, feet, and knees.

Power Moves: Acrobatic maneuvers such as spins, flips, and rotations.

Freezes: Dramatic poses held momentarily to emphasize the music's beat.

Popping:

Definition: a street dance style that involves quickly tensing and relaxing the muscles ("hitting") in time with the rhythm of the music.

Origins:

Popping originated among groups of teenage friends in de-industrializing urban areas, where they developed and practiced dance moves to perform at clubs and dance battles. This dance style provided an outlet for self-expression, identity, and community. The term "Popping" was coined to describe the collection of moves and techniques (stop-motions).

Moves:

Animation: Inspired by stop-motion animation, this technique involves abrupt muscle contractions to create a jerky, frame-by-frame illusion.

Boogaloo: Created by Boogaloo Sam, this style features loose, fluid motions that give the impression of a boneless body, incorporating isolated circular rolls of body parts.

The Robot / Botting: Imitating a robot or mannequin using various popping techniques to create mechanical, stiff movements.