Popping Locking Poplocking pop and lock, Videos, Tutorials, Popping Events, Popping History, and Online Community

Westcoastpoppin's mission is to spread the knowledge and interest of this street dance called "Popping". Since the downfall of the scene in the late 80's, Popping has been considered an underground dance and forgotten by most. As we come into the year 2000, the original dancers have resurfaced, passing down their knowledge of techniques, moves, characters and history.

At westcoastpoppin.com, we try not to focus on a particular group or style, but on bringing as many perspectives from all over the world. Respecting all styles of dance and all types of music, this site is a tool for dancers to get connected, learn, share ideas, debate, and spread the art form. We would like to encourage both experienced and beginners to come and share the knowledge they have. Only then can we come to a better understanding of the history and the roots of this art form we call Popping and Locking.

This site aims to bring you information from a wide range of sources from O.G.’s to the new generation, featuring Popping Videos and Locking videos, exclusive interviews with O.G's gathering the history of Popping, and Community Forum. Please feel free to take your time, and learn from the many contributors of this site!

Popping (a.k.a. hitting) is a Funk derived dance and street dance style based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk or a jolt in the dancer's body, referred to as a "pop" or a "hit". This is done continuously to the rhythm of a song in combination with other mime/robot-inspired movements.

Popping is also used as an umbrella term for a group of illusionary dance styles and techniques that are often combined with popping to create a more varied performance. The effect of popping as entertainment hinges on an almost-surrealistic contrast between the human dancer and the unnatural moves performed. Like other street dances popping is often performed in battles, cyphers, and show cases.

The dance evolved in California in the late 60s to early 70s and was originally inspired by the Robot (Popular at the time in the Bay Area) and by Locking created by Don Campbell.

Many confirm that Boogaloo Sam was the one who coined the name "Popping" but the robotic dance style was beleived of being done before him by various dance groups in the Bay Area. It was later incorporated into both the hip hop (in the 80's) and electronica (in the 90's) dance scenes.

» Check out our archive of Popping Videos and Locking Videos for a visual demo.
» Interested in learning how to Pop? Check out the Popping Tutorials now!

Other styles that are related to popping and can also be incorporated while popping:

Brief History of Popping

During the height of the funk era throughout the 70´s, Popping / Locking / Strutting / and Boogaloo , were all created on the West Coast. Originally inspired by the "Robot" performed by mimes in the Bay Area, these dances soon branched out into many different styles advancing the art form in its technique, musicality, and character. In the early 80's, the street dance we know as "Popping" and "Locking" also referred to by some as "Poplocking" (Los Angeles Term) or even "Electric Boogie" (New York Term) exploded into the mainstream media and spawned practitioners across the globe. Although many debates rage on about the exact origins of the dance, it is clear that it has been influenced by many cultures and different groups of dancers such as Demons of the Mind, The Lockers, and The Electric Boogaloos whom are all from California.

» Learn more about the History of Popping and History of Locking and its pioneers.