NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Locking (dance)

Locking (originally Campbellocking) is a style of funk dance and street dance, which is today also associated with hip hop. 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 synched with the music. Locking is quite performance oriented, often interacting with the audience by smiling or giving them a high five, and some moves are quite comical in nature. Funk dance or funk styles refer to dance styles that were originally danced to funk music. ... Street dance is an umbrella term, similar to vernacular dance, used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios at more everyday spaces such as streets, school yards and nightclubs. ... Breakdance, the original hip hop dance style, performed at MTV Street Festival, Thailand. ... Buskers perform in San Francisco A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which one group of people (the performer or performers) behave in a particular way for another group of people (the audience). ... A high five is a celebratory gesture made by two people, each raising one hand to slap the raised hand of the other - usually meant to communicate to spectators mutual self-satisfaction or to extend congratulations from one person to another. ...

Locking was originally danced to traditional funk, such as James Brown. Funk music is still commonly favored by locking dancers, and used by many competitions such as the locking division of Juste Debout. Funk is an African American musical style. ... James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933[2][3] â€“ December 25, 2006), commonly referred to as The Godfather of Soul and The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, was an American entertainer recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music. ... Juste Debout (just upright) is an annual street dance competition originated from France which focuses on upright street dance styles. ...

The name is based on the concept of locking movements, which basically means freezing from a fast movement and landing in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same speed as before. These movements create a strong contrast towards the many fast moves that are otherwise performed quite continuously, combined with mime style performance and acting towards the audience and other dancers. Locking includes quite a lot of acrobatics and physically demanding moves, such as landing on ones knees and the split. These moves often require knee protection of some sort. Look up Contrast in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Mime artist on the Ponte SantAngelo A mime artist is someone who uses mime as a theatrical medium or as a performance art. ... High wire act Acrobatics (from Greek Akros, high and bat, walking) is one of the performing arts, and is also practiced as a sport. ... Valerie Harper does a split on The Muppets A split is a gymnastic and dance move in which one makes their legs parallel to one another, but perpendicular to their body. ...

A locker is a locking dancer. Lockers commonly use a distinctive dress style, such as colorful clothing with stripes and suspenders. A man wearing classic suspenders, which hook directly into the trousers instead of using clips. ...

History

The beginning of Locking can be traced down to one particular man, Don Campbell. In the late 1960s he put together several fad dances adding moves of his own (notably the "Lock") when performing. The first original Lock was created by accident; Don Campbell couldn't do a move called the Funky Chicken and stopped in a particular moment, for wasn't able to perform it fluent. (Even the acting towards the audience is of spontaneuous nature: people started laughing at Don because of his unfamiliar moves, whereas he started pointing those ones.) The typical 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. The most notable was when Campbell formed the dance group The Lockers and set the foundation for locking dance and clothes style. Don Campbell is an African American man who invented the dance called Locking. In the late 60s Don Campbell made the dance popular in L.A.. He a dance group in the early 70s and called them The Lockers. ... Fad dances are dances which are characterized by a short burst of popularity, while Novelty dances typically have a longer-lasting popularity based on their being characteristically humourous or humour-invoking, as well as the sense of uniqueness which they have. ... The Lockers (originally named The Campbellock Dancers) was a pioneer funk dance and locking group active throughout the 1970s. ...

Later locking became part of the growing hip hop dance culture, and has influenced more recent styles such as popping, breakdancing and liquiding. Locking is still quite popular and many current artists such as Beyoncé Knowles feature moves derived from Locking steps in their videos. Breakdance, the original hip hop dance style, performed at MTV Street Festival, Thailand. ... Popping (a. ... A breakdancer performing a one-handed freeze (also known as a pike) in the streets of Paris. ... Liquiding is a form of dance born out of the rave scene. ... BeyoncÃ© Giselle Knowles (IPA pronunciation: [1]) (born September 4, 1974) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer, fashion designer, and model. ...

Moves

Locking is a dance that came from the old 70s disco dancing.It 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 is waving of arms, pointing, walking stationary and grabbing and rotating the cap or hat.Don Campbell was the originator of the original freezes In 1971 which were called locks, he incorporated his unique rhythm and added gestures such as points and handclaps, other dancers also adapted this style while adding some of the steps and moves listed below:

Alphas Created.. by Alpha Anderson.. The Skeeterrabbit.. Created By James "Skeeter Rabbit" Higgins.. Stop n Go.. Created By Greg "Campbellock Jr." Pope.. Scooby doo.. Created by Jimmy "Scooby doo" Foster.. Which a way.. Created by Leo Williamson..

The repertoire consists of a number of distinct, to a large degree fixed moves. Unlike most other street dances, altering or inventing moves is not a part of the culture.

Valerie Harper does a split on The Muppets A split is a gymnastic and dance move in which one makes their legs parallel to one another, but perpendicular to their body. ... The reins are the leather straps attached to the outer ends of a bit. ...

Contents

History

Moves

See also

References

External links