11.2 Breaking, Popping, and Locking

Breaking, popping, and locking are the building blocks of hip-hop dance. These styles emerged in the 1960s and 70s, each with unique moves and cultural roots. They reflect the creativity and resilience of African American and Latino communities during challenging times.

These dances blend acrobatics, rhythm, and personal flair. Breaking features dynamic floor moves, popping creates robotic illusions, and locking uses exaggerated pauses. Pioneering dancers and crews helped spread these styles, shaping hip-hop culture worldwide.

Breaking, Popping, and Locking: Foundational Styles of Hip-Hop Dance

Foundational hip-hop dance styles

Top images from around the web for Foundational hip-hop dance styles

• 

  File:Popping.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip-hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Popping.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip-hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Foundational hip-hop dance styles

• 

  File:Popping.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip-hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Popping.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Hip-hop dance - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Breaking (B-boying/B-girling)
  • Originated in the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s
  • Characterized by dynamic floor-based movements, acrobatic power moves, and stylized freezes
  • Heavily emphasizes improvisation and competitive battling between dancers
• Popping
  • Developed in Fresno, California, in the late 1960s and early 1970s
  • Focused on isolated, jerky, and contracting movements that create a popping effect
  • Incorporates various sub-styles such as robotting (mimicking robot movements), waving (creating illusions of waves passing through the body), and tutting (angular arm and hand movements inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics)
• Locking
  • Created by Don Campbell in Los Angeles, California, in the late 1960s
  • Features precise, fast, and exaggerated movements punctuated with sudden pauses or "locks"
  • Often performed to funk music with a strong emphasis on musicality, showmanship, and comedic elements

Key movements and techniques

• Breaking
  • Toprock: Upright dance steps performed to the rhythm of the music before transitioning to the floor
  • Downrock: Intricate floor-based footwork patterns and sequences
  • Power moves: Acrobatic and physically demanding moves that showcase strength, momentum, and control (windmills, flares, head spins)
  • Freezes: Stylized poses that demonstrate balance, flexibility, and body control, often used to punctuate routines
• Popping
  • Popping: Quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to create a snapping or jerking effect throughout the body
  • Waving: Fluid, sequential movements that create the illusion of a wave traveling through the dancer's body
  • Tutting: Precise, angular arm and hand movements inspired by the geometric shapes found in Egyptian hieroglyphics
  • Robotting: Isolating body parts to mimic the stiff, mechanical movements of a robot
• Locking
  • Locking points: Signature moves that emphasize the abrupt "locking" or freezing of positions before continuing the dance
  • Wrist rolls: Circular, fluid motions of the wrists often used as transitions between locking points
  • Pointing: Extending the arms and fingers in specific directions to accent and punctuate movements
  • The Lock: The foundational move where the dancer suddenly stops and holds a distinct pose before smoothly continuing the routine

Cultural context of hip-hop styles

• Breaking
  • Emerged in the African American and Latino communities of the Bronx during the early days of hip-hop culture
  • Influenced by a fusion of dance styles including African and Latin American dances, martial arts, and gymnastics
  • Served as a powerful form of self-expression, community building, and nonviolent competition for youth in the face of socioeconomic challenges
• Popping
  • Developed within the African American community of Fresno, California, against the backdrop of the funk music scene and the Black Power movement
  • Reflected the social and political climate of the time by emphasizing individuality, creativity, and pride in one's cultural identity
  • Evolved alongside other funk-inspired dance styles and became a cornerstone of the emerging West Coast hip-hop dance scene
• Locking
  • Created by African American dancer Don Campbell in Los Angeles during the vibrant funk music and dance era of the late 1960s and early 1970s
  • Gained widespread popularity through appearances on the influential television show "Soul Train" and performances by the pioneering dance group "The Lockers"
  • Embodied the fun, playful, and energetic spirit of funk music while showcasing the unique style and personality of individual dancers

Influence of pioneering dancers

• Breaking
  • Kool Herc: Jamaican-American DJ credited with laying the musical foundation for breaking through his innovative parties and breakbeat selections
  • Rock Steady Crew: Influential b-boy crew that helped popularize breaking worldwide through performances, competitions, and media appearances
  • Dynamic Rockers: Pioneering crew known for pushing the boundaries of the dance with their innovative power moves and distinct style
• Popping
  • Boogaloo Sam: Founder of the legendary Electric Boogaloos crew and a key figure in the development and spread of popping
  • Popin' Pete: Prominent member of the Electric Boogaloos, renowned for his mastery of the style and significant contributions to its evolution
  • Skeeter Rabbit: Pioneering popper who helped refine and expand the vocabulary of the dance through his unique approach and innovations
• Locking
  • Don Campbell: Creator of locking and founder of the groundbreaking dance group The Lockers
  • Greg "Campbellock Jr." Pope: Original member of The Lockers who played a significant role in shaping the style's development and popularizing it through performances
  • Jimmy "Scoo B Doo" Foster: Another key member of The Lockers, known for his distinctive style and contributions to the growth of locking as an art form