Overview
#PoppingDance (often mistakenly combined with “locking” as “popping and locking”) is a funk-style street dance characterized by sudden muscle contractions (“pops” or “hits”) timed to music, originating in 1970s California and thriving through battle culture, reality TV, and social media.
Origin & History
Popping was created in Fresno, California in the late 1970s by the Electric Boogaloos crew (originally the Electronic Boogaloo Lockers), founded by Boogaloo Sam (Sam Solomon). The technique involved quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to create a jerking effect on the beat.
Key distinction: Popping and locking are DIFFERENT styles (though often performed together):
- Popping: Muscle contractions creating robotic, staccato movement
- Locking: Funk style with “locking” into positions, created by Don Campbell
Key Techniques
Basic pop: Flexing muscles quickly (legs, chest, arms, neck) to create “hit”
Variations & related styles:
- Boogaloo/Electric Boogaloo: Rolling, fluid movements between pops (creating “robot” effect)
- Animation: Imitating stop-motion animation or puppets
- Waving: Creating illusion of wave traveling through body
- Tutting: Geometric arm/hand angles inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphics
- Strutting: Leg-focused popping style
- Hitting: Emphasizing pops on specific beats
Cultural Milestones
1980s mainstream exposure: Michael Jackson’s “robot” moves in music videos popularized popping aesthetics (though he combined multiple styles).
America’s Best Dance Crew (2008-2012): Crews like Kaba Modern and Quest Crew showcased popping to MTV audiences.
So You Think You Can Dance: Introduced popping to mainstream reality TV, though contemporary dance dominated.
YouTube tutorials (2007-2015): Channels like WHZGUD2, Nonstop, and Mr. Wiggles democratized popping education.
Social Media Era
Instagram slow-motion videos (2015-2020): Poppers used slo-mo features to showcase precision and control, garnering millions of views.
TikTok tutorials (2020-present): Basic wave and robot tutorials went viral, introducing Gen Z to foundational popping.
Battle culture documentation: Platforms like YouTube and Instagram preserved battles from Juste Debout, UK B-Boy Championships, and local sessions.
Battle & Competition Scene
Juste Debout: Premier international popping/locking competition (Paris-based, founded 2002)
UK B-Boy Championships: Multi-style event including popping battles
Local sessions: Cyphers and battles in cities worldwide keep the culture alive
Judging criteria: Musicality, technique, creativity, foundational knowledge, battle strategy
Related Hashtags
- #Locking Dance (distinct but related style)
- #ElectricBoogaloo
- #Tutting (sub-style)
- #Animation Dance
- #FunkStyles
Sources
- Red Bull: “The History of Popping and Locking” (2018)
- Complex: “How Michael Jackson Popularized (But Didn’t Invent) Popping” (2019)
- YouTube: Electric Boogaloos official channel
- Vice: “Inside the Global Popping Battle Scene” (2020)