Chain Reaction

kid twist · **Chain Reaction -** 07-12-2006, 07:48 PM

I've heard quite a number of people say that they have a strong dislike for the Chain Reaction style of locking, primarily for its "lack of funk".

"Now I know why people don't like their locking! There's no real funk feeling to it! They look like they're just going through the motions, and while they've got a hard vibe to them, there's just no feeling of FUNK... and that's the one thing you can't miss when you're locking." -- wavedash

The UDM clip that was posted in the Locking Guide is broken, so I can't actually watch whatever video was being criticized, but I have seen T-Bopper and Cool Pockets lock. No, there isn't a lot of embellishment or throw-your-hips-into-it sorts of movements, and I think that's where much of the criticism comes from. The whole philosophy behind their style is control, that is, to simplify the dance into clean and solid movements, throwing out any extraneous ornamentation. Hence, they never do wrist rolls, and very rarely do any sort of sweeping circular motions with their hands. But as far as funk goes, they do play a lot with hesitation and alternate rhythms; I have a hunch that this wasn't shown in the clip.

Just for contrast (I guess this is directed at wavedash, since he seems to be fairly active here, but anyone can chime in), who are some dancers who simply exude funk? Clips?

Commander Keen · 07-12-2006, 10:57 PM

I don't really agree with earlier the voiced opinions on the matter! I think Chain Reaction had excellent credentials and cool style (from my limited exposure!)

I don't know who exudes funk though! That's really subjective, don't you think?

kandyflip · **It's revive an old topic on Chain Reaction time! -** 05-31-2007, 03:23 PM

I was just wondering, what did Chain Reaction bring to the locking scene?

I know they took the pauses and freezes out of locking when they danced . I also know that they unsuccessfully tried to rename the 'lock' as the 'break' but am I right in thinking they tried to rename the 'up' position as the 'throwback', points as 'uncle sams' and wrist rolls as 'wrist twirls'?

In the excellent Underground Dance Masters documentary they made (excellent, apart from some factual inaccuracies and an unwarranted dismissal of b-boy culture) it makes out that Chain Reaction were a very important group in the history of locking. Is that right? I know Skeeter Rabbit Electric Boogaloos RIP and many of the Lockers dislike Chain Reaction, but I'd be interested in other people's views.

Scramblelock · 06-04-2007, 04:16 PM

its not that they arent good lockers, they had nice routines and were very good on the technical approach

the fact is these guys are not very nice people.....i have talked to many who have taken their workshops and they tell me the same thing....they talk trash about many prominent dancers yet they never come to any events

benjaminlibl · 09-17-2007, 09:55 AM

Does anyone know where I can find some vids as an example of what y'all are saying?

kandyflip · 09-17-2007, 10:47 AM

WWW.DANCEMASTER.COM - Underground Dance Masters is a great documentary - but it's very expensive!

the Seven Levels of Locking series is both expensive and rubbish, on the other hand

wavedash · 09-18-2007, 03:19 PM

I wrote that stuff over a year ago and I'm laughing at what I wrote.

Scramblelock hit the nail on the head.

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kid twist Registered User Respect: 1 Posts: 1 Join Date: Jul 2006	Chain Reaction - 07-12-2006, 07:48 PM I've heard quite a number of people say that they have a strong dislike for the Chain Reaction style of locking, primarily for its "lack of funk". "Now I know why people don't like their locking! There's no real funk feeling to it! They look like they're just going through the motions, and while they've got a hard vibe to them, there's just no feeling of FUNK... and that's the one thing you can't miss when you're locking." -- wavedash The UDM clip that was posted in the Locking Guide is broken, so I can't actually watch whatever video was being criticized, but I have seen T-Bopper and Cool Pockets lock. No, there isn't a lot of embellishment or throw-your-hips-into-it sorts of movements, and I think that's where much of the criticism comes from. The whole philosophy behind their style is control, that is, to simplify the dance into clean and solid movements, throwing out any extraneous ornamentation. Hence, they never do wrist rolls, and very rarely do any sort of sweeping circular motions with their hands. But as far as funk goes, they do play a lot with hesitation and alternate rhythms; I have a hunch that this wasn't shown in the clip. Just for contrast (I guess this is directed at wavedash, since he seems to be fairly active here, but anyone can chime in), who are some dancers who simply exude funk? Clips?


Commander Keen Hippie Respect: 1.5 Posts: 614 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego, CA	07-12-2006, 10:57 PM I don't really agree with earlier the voiced opinions on the matter! I think Chain Reaction had excellent credentials and cool style (from my limited exposure!) I don't know who exudes funk though! That's really subjective, don't you think?


kandyflip Member Respect: 1.5 Posts: 94 Join Date: Mar 2007	It's revive an old topic on Chain Reaction time! - 05-31-2007, 03:23 PM I was just wondering, what did Chain Reaction bring to the locking scene? I know they took the pauses and freezes out of locking when they danced . I also know that they unsuccessfully tried to rename the 'lock' as the 'break' but am I right in thinking they tried to rename the 'up' position as the 'throwback', points as 'uncle sams' and wrist rolls as 'wrist twirls'? In the excellent Underground Dance Masters documentary they made (excellent, apart from some factual inaccuracies and an unwarranted dismissal of b-boy culture) it makes out that Chain Reaction were a very important group in the history of locking. Is that right? I know Skeeter Rabbit Electric Boogaloos RIP and many of the Lockers dislike Chain Reaction, but I'd be interested in other people's views.


Scramblelock Member Respect: 2 Posts: 181 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hamilton/Montreal	06-04-2007, 04:16 PM its not that they arent good lockers, they had nice routines and were very good on the technical approach the fact is these guys are not very nice people.....i have talked to many who have taken their workshops and they tell me the same thing....they talk trash about many prominent dancers yet they never come to any events


benjaminlibl Funky Member Respect: 5 Posts: 1,305 Join Date: Jun 2006	09-17-2007, 09:55 AM Does anyone know where I can find some vids as an example of what y'all are saying?


kandyflip Member Respect: 1.5 Posts: 94 Join Date: Mar 2007	09-17-2007, 10:47 AM WWW.DANCEMASTER.COM - Underground Dance Masters is a great documentary - but it's very expensive! the Seven Levels of Locking series is both expensive and rubbish, on the other hand


wavedash Member Respect: 1.5 Posts: 700 Join Date: Apr 2005	09-18-2007, 03:19 PM I wrote that stuff over a year ago and I'm laughing at what I wrote. Scramblelock hit the nail on the head.
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