Popping
Boogaloo Sam was inspired to create a new style of dance after watching some dancers who were locking on television. He created Popping, which is a dance that combines rigid robotic moves with loose flowing moves. Popping came about in the 60’s and started with Boogaloo Sam in Fresno California. He taught his brother, Popin’ Pete and later his cousin, Skeeter Rabbit how to be poppers. Boogaloo Sam created the dance group Electric Boogaloos which Poppin’ Pete and Skeeter Rabbit were members of.
Popping is a street dance adapted out of the earlier boogaloo cultural movement in Oakland California. Boogaloo is a freestyle, improvisational movement of soulful steps, street dance, and robotic movements which make up the foundations of popping dance and turfing; boogaloo can incorporate illusions, restriction of muscles, stops, robot, and/or wiggling. The style also incorporates foundational popping techniques, which were initially referred to as "Posing Hard". Popping is centered around the technique of "popping", which means to quickly contract and relax muscles to create a jerking effect (a "pop" or "hit") in the body. It is also known as posing hard from the boogaloo tradition. The sudden tensing and releasing of the muscles ("hitting") should coincide with the rhythm of beats in music.
Locking
Locking or Campbellocking, is a dance art form with improvisational move called the lock. These were created by Don Campbell and put to a specific rhythm and style in the nightclubs of Los Angeles in the early 1970s.
This dance and subculture quickly caught on and was soon the rage of a new television dance show called Soul Train. Individual dancers displayed quick locking and pointing movements along with hand slaps and splits.
Important Figures
was born in Fresno, California. He is credited with being the creator and founder of the popping and boogaloo style. He began developing the popping style after being inspired by watching dancers perform on television, the Bay City Boogaloos, Tick'n Will and Darnell McDowell - the Ace Tre Lockers, as well as the robot dance style. Another big contributor to the development of popping was Boogaloo Sam's younger brother "Poppin Pete" who Sam taught to dance. Over the years he has taught this particular style and rhythm to others, going so far as to creating a hip hop crew. In 1977 Sam founded the Electronic Boogaloo Lockers, who later became known as the Electric Boogaloos.
otherwise known as "Popin Pete", born in 1961 is attached to the founding of the pop style through his older brother "Boogaloo Sam". In the mid 1970's Boogaloo Same began combining the popping and boogaloo style. From here he compiled a set of basic movements and founded The Electric Boogaloos, of which Popin Pete was a first generation member of. In 1982 The Electric Boogaloos were approached by Michael Jackson as he was impressed with their dance technique after watching them perform on Soul Train. The choreographed for "Thriller" and "Beat it". They also contributed to various Michael Jackson multimedia movies, live performances, choreography, and dance lessons.
Popin Pete has also fostered his own seperate career, working with artists such as Gwen Stefani, Chris Brown, The Black Eyed Peas, Janet Jackson, and Mya. During this time he was able to innovate styles/moves like crazy legs, ET, spider man and sleepy style, making him a highly influential figure in the hip hop street dance scene.
was born January 7th 1951 in St. Louis Missouri, but he was raised in South Central Los Angeles. Initially Campbell started off as a visual artists and was pursuing a career in creating commercial art at the LA Trade-Technical College. While he was there though, he found a new art form of self expression, dance. By the late 1960's Campbell was considered an expert dancer and was performing on the popular dance show known as Soul Train. He was later removed from the show after after requesting for the performers to be paid. After this experience, he recruited other dancers who had faced the same treatment as him and formed a group called "The Lockers".
Campbell and his crew "The Lockers" were able to get many performances opportunities on various differenttv shows and with other performing artists. They were seen on the Carol Burnett Show, The Johnny Carson Show, ABC In Concert and Saturday Night Live. Outside of this, they had the opportunity to work with notable superstars like Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson, Bill Cosby, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson. Many artists like Britney Spears and Snoop Dog also include variations of Campbellock’s choreography in their videos today
Out of everything though, Don Campbell is most known for inventing the “Campbellock” (later shortened to “locking”) by accident. The dance can be defined as “freezing from a fast movement and ‘locking’ in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing in the same speed as before.” The dance is very performance oriented and often involves playful audience interaction mixed with humor. Campbell continued to dance, choreograph, and teach class until sadly passing away in 2020.
was born in the Bronx of New York. He is a legendary B-boy that now resides Los Angeles and represents the Boogie Brats Crew. K-Mell has accumulated over 30 years of experience and is considered to be an activist and mentor. He uses dance for social commentary with a perfect balance of humor and wit that addresses modern day racism and stereotypes. Dance is a platform for spreading a deep message on unity and empowerment. His dedication to dance and contribution to the world of breakdancing has led to him receiving many awards and accolades. The positive impacts of his work is reflected in those he mentors. K-Mell mentors a number of young talented dancers that predominately come from underprivileged communities or backgrounds, which led to the creation of a young crew known as Boogie Brats.
The Boogie Brats is a group of kids (Prada-G, Krash, and L-Boogie), that each brought something unique to their self made kid squad. As a crew they were able to make a name for themselves at one of the most legendary international events “The Notorious IBE”. This is where they proved themselves to be an extremely talented group that can compete at an adult level. The increase in their skills level can be accredited to their natural talent and the leadership of K-Mel.
K-Mel's signature style is called “brand new old school.” is an unparalleled blend of musicality and freestyle that has earned him the nickname the Michael Jordan of breaking. He’s won numerous titles over his decades-long career, including the 2002 Red Bull Lords of the Floor Champion. He continues to teach and perform dance today.
