Locking
Also known as: Campbellocking
History & Cultural Context
Locking is a funk style created by Don Campbell in Los Angeles around 1969–1970. It is defined by the 'lock'—a sudden, brief freeze in the middle of fast, loose movement—combined with points, claps, wrist rolls, and an exaggerated, crowd-engaging, comedic performance quality. Spread widely by Campbell's group The Lockers and by Soul Train, it became one of the foundational funk/street styles later embraced within hip-hop culture.
Cultural Significance
A foundational African-American funk style with a specific originator (Don Campbell) and originating LA community.
Characteristic Movement & Technique
Locks (sudden freezes), points, claps, wrist rolls, splits, and big charismatic performance.
Partnering Dynamics
Solo and crew; battle and routine.
Competitive Context
Battles, showcases, and crew routines; staple of street-dance competitions.
Regional Variations
Originated in LA; practiced worldwide.
Common Misconceptions
Locking is its own named style with a known creator—not a generic 'old-school hip-hop' move; it predates hip-hop and arose in funk culture.
Dance Lineage
LockingMusic & Tempo
Drawn from 15 Locking tracks in the LODance music library.
Example tracks at practice tempo
- Ai No Corrida — Quincy Jones123 BPM
- Clap Your Hands Together — FUNKY BUREAU117 BPM
- Dance to the Music — Sly & The Family Stone128 BPM
- Chelsea Rodgers — Prince124 BPM
- Movin' Up — Dayton125 BPM
- It's Serious — Cameo122 BPM
Locking on screen
Films and television where Locking appears, with the sequences worth watching for.
Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Locking emerged from Los Angeles, United States during the 1969s—present day. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: August 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
Related Dances
More in Street & Funk Styles
Popping
Funk style based on the 'hit'—quick muscle contractions snapped to the beat—developed in 1970s California, with many sub-styles.
Boogaloo
Fluid, rolling funk style of the popping family emphasizing soft, continuous, illusionary body movement and angles.
Gliding & Floating
Illusion footwork of the popping family that makes the dancer appear to float or slide frictionlessly—home of the move popularly called the 'moonwalk.'
Krumping
Explosive, expressive, highly energetic street dance from early-2000s LA built on chest pops, stomps, arm swings, and emotional release.
Street & Funk Styles in art
Browse the gallery →Works from the wider Street & Funk Styles tradition — we have not yet identified enough that depict Locking specifically.
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