What is More Important Than Even the Locking Dance Moves?

There are certain things which are very much visuallyMany of the popular and well known locking steps
captivating and memorable parts of the locking dancewere created by members of The Lockers dance
spectacle. These include high suspenders, stripycrew. I remember Don saying that he picked each
socks, apple hats, incredibly happy dancers, andmember to be in his dance crew for their individual
which-a-ways amongst other things.styles and moves, not because they were alike. For
These are all elements of locking that are easilyDon expression was everything.
recognizable. The moves themselves are quite easilyHence locking (or Campbellocking as it was initially
discernible once you know what you are looking for.known) is as much about you, the dancer as it is
You will see points, claps, box splits, people givingabout the moves. It is about what you want to bring
five and the like.to the dance, what you have to express. You can
However it is important to note that it is not alleven start bringing in the social dances of today into
about the moves or the clothes. The moves and theyour dancing if you feel it adds to it.
clothing all arose from each of the dancers' personalAs well as personal expression, it is important to
expression and also the era they inhabited.keep things funky. If there is something which all the
Locking has its roots in social dancing and many oflockers had in common, it is that they were all funky.
the locking steps you know about were some of theAttending any good locking workshop or dance class
social dances of the time with maybe a step or twoshould be able to give you some knowledge and
added or changed around a bit.understanding of what funk is and how to make it an
And it was all about expression. The dance itselfintrinsic and uplifting part of your locking.
started when Don Campbell was trying to learn toSo whilst there may be a lot of moves you may feel
dance and would keep on freezing up or lockingyou have to learn and your initial proclivity may be to
when he tried to remember the steps.discover them all, do not neglect what is truly
His teacher would call him out on this, and it wouldimportant.
become a bit of a joke and hence the beginning ofAnd that is you. Who you are, what your character
locking began to take place. Don would experimentand personality is, how you express the funk and
further and add in other moves such as slaps, twirlswhat you can bring to the dance every time you
and giving five along with the locks.venture onto the dance floor.