LOCKING

ANSAY | CASABUENA | DENOSTA | SORIANO | TYCHINGCO

STEM 12 – 1
HIP-HOP DANCE
 WHAT IS LOCKING?
Locking (originally
Campbellocking) is a style of
funk dance, which is today
also associated with hip hop.
The name is based on the
concept of locking
movements, which basically
means freezing from a fast
movement and "locking" in a
HISTORY OF LOCKING
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 (known as the "Lock") when
performing.
HISTORY OF LOCKING
The original lock was created by accident:
Campbell couldn't do a move called the 'Funky
Chicken' 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.)
HISTORY OF LOCKING
 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.
 Other lockers Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster, Greggory
"Campbellock Jr." Pope, Tony "GoGo" Lewis, Fred
"Mr Penguin" Berry (a.k.a. Rerun), Leo "Fluky Luke"
Williamson, Damita Jo Freeman and others also
helped set the foundation for the locking dance and
clothes style.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOCKING
•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.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOCKING
Also, important stylistic features are
waving of arms, pointing, walking
stationary and grabbing and rotating the
cap or hat.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOCKING
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.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
LOCKING
However, many lockers alter or blend these
with other moves or create their own
variations.
In general, Lockers will often put a small
pause and move up on the second and fourth
beats to emphasize the locking.
INFLUENCES
Charles 'Robot' Washington
 Back in the late 1960s in South Central LA, Charles
'Robot' Washington tested a dance move he and his
brothers created.
 By blending robot moves at the club to soul and funk
music, he sparked a phenomenon so huge that it not
only landed him a spot on the Soul Train TV show and
the crown of 'Godfather of party dances', but it also
ignited a whole new dance style.
 It inspired a young dancer named Don Campbell to
make his Robot Shuffle, a key move in a fresh new
genre about to break called locking.
INFLUENCES
Don 'Campellock' Campbell
 Don ‘Campbellock’ Campbell created locking by
mistake after watching fellow students dance the
Funky Chicken, The Sling and The Slide in his school
lunch room.
 Campbell put his own signature sharpness to the
popular moves, shocking friends who cheered across
the packed cafeteria while shouting, “Do that lock,
Campbell, do that lock!"
 The street dance style became known as
Campbellocking and later locking.
INFLUENCES
Damita Jo Freeman
 The first lady of locking and the original Soul Train
gang member, Damita Jo Freeman hit the scene as
Don Campbell’s first ever dance partner on the
show.
 Damita said the lockers of the ’70s were to Soul
Train what the Harlem Globe Trotters were to
basketball.
 And while her other girlfriends moved to the back
of the dance floor to make way for the newly
famous boys of locking, Damita stepped forward.
INFLUENCES
The Toota Woota Sisters and co
 Damita Jo might have been the first lady of locking, but
she wasn’t the only influential one.
 Arnetta 'Netta Bug' Johnson prompted the formation of
Creative Generation, which was the first ever unisex
locking group led by Don 'Campbellock' Campbell before
cutting out her own moves in the first ever all-female
locking group, the Toota Woota Sisters.
 And you can’t talk about the ladies of locking without
mentioning Compton dancer, Freddie Maxie, and the
prolific goddess that is Pat 'The Butterfly' Davis.
 They were two of the earliest dancers and biggest stars
of Soul Train.
INFLUENCES
Toni 'Mickey' Basil
 The only female in The Lockers and an accomplished
ballerina and choreographer, Toni 'Mickey' Basil is most
noted for incorporating her ballet into locking and her
continuous spins.
 Her dance career spans more than 50 years: she started
out doing choreography for TV and movies in the 1960s
before working with dozens of stars such as Tina Turner
and David Bowie and then singing the 1982 hit, Hey
Mickey.
 Also, a video of her dancing went viral last year showing
her locking like a boss at the age of 73! Without Toni’s
contribution as a manager to The Lockers and her show
business experience and connections, locking as a dance
form may never have reached the commercial level it did.
INFLUENCES
Tony 'Go Go’ Lewis
 Tony 'Go Go' Lewis co-founded the first ever
synchronized locking group in the early 1970s called
the GoGo Brothers.
 He was an original member of The Lockers, but his
greatest accolade comes from his monumental impact
in bringing locking to Japan in the 1980s.
 Teaching the original art of locking, Tony developed
and created Japan’s style as well as pioneered the lock
fusion sub-genre and is still active on the scene with
the new GoGo Brothers today.
INFLUENCES
Jimmy ‘Scoo B Doo’ Foster
 Last but certainly not least, day one locker Jimmy
'Scoo B Doo' Foster danced, toured and performed
with pretty much every locking group going.
 An original member of The Lockers, the Soul Train
Gang, Creative Generation and the Something
Special locking crew, he was integral to introducing
locking to Japan and created numerous locking
handshakes, steps and routines with fellow locking
legend Greg Pope 'Cambellock Jr' with his own
step known as the Scooby-Doo.
LET’S DANCE!!!
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Up Lock (Muscle man)
A macho man pose,
where the arms are drawn
above the shoulder. The
pose is generally held for
a moment or two.
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Lock/Double Lock
Bending slightly forward
with arms forming a circle
downward, as if lifting a
heavy object.
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Wrist Twirl
Twirling wrists while
moving arms up
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Pacing
A quick jab to the side.
The wrist should be loose
while the arm is tight. The
arm is lowered in between
jabs.
BASIC MOVEMENTS
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
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Funky Guitar
Hands positioned as
if holding a guitar,
and start walking
backwards.
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Point
A quick, extended
pointing gesture coming
from opposite shoulder,
usually held for a few
seconds for emphasis.
BASIC MOVEMENTS
Clap
A simple step described
by sliding hands against
each other.