The Origins and Main Styles of Locking

Locking is a funky dance that shares many similarities with hip-hop. It started gaining popularity in the 1970s. Its key feature is that sharp, energetic movements are suddenly frozen into stillness. You might also hear it called "Campbellocking"—the original name, derived from its founder's last name.

Don Campbell, born in 1950s America, was the creator of Locking. He always wanted to dance and took lessons from friends. Lacking experience, he often forgot moves and would pause to remember them. This habit earned him the nickname "Lock" (meaning "lock"), which might sound offensive but instead inspired him. He turned those awkward pauses into a signature style, and "locks" became one of Locking's foundational moves.

Don first performed his dance in nightclubs during battle competitions, and he started winning more often. He formed a crew called "The Lockers," where each dancer specialized in specific moves and earned corresponding nicknames. Besides locking moves, other key elements include pointing, slaps/claps/giving five, and splits.

Over time, new dancers added their own moves, which is the beauty of Locking—everyone can develop their own style. However, it's important to remember that Locking must include the basic moves; dancing only your own style (i.e., personal variations) is not enough.

Locking incorporates many acrobatic elements that require good physical fitness and training. Dancers also use a lot of jumps and complex landings.

This funny and unusual dance has won many fans. The idea behind it is to improvise rather than memorize and perfect moves. Being silly and quirky is encouraged, and many performers use original bright costumes and facial expressions. From Campbell's crew, lockers adopted white gloves, berets, big caps, striped socks, and suspenders.

A locker (someone who dances Locking) aims to connect with the audience. They greet spectators, point at them during the dance (a move Don Campbell used when the crowd was unhappy with his forgotten steps), and more. It's crucial for a locker to convey a positive vibe. The skill lies in how well they combine many moves and details into a cohesive dance. Improvisation and the ability to adapt to the music are highly valued.

Locking is danced to funk music. You can also dance it to hip-hop, but that would be fusion. For a while, Locking was almost forgotten, but it regained popularity just a few years ago. It has evolved into a distinct subculture. Today, there are world-class lockers all over the globe, each with their own original style.