Thesis (Ph.D.)--Washington State University, 2007. / (UMI)AAI3264400. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-05, Section: A, page: 2023. Adviser: Jeannette-Marie Mageo.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Washington University, 2005. / (UnM)AAI3181181. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-07, Section: A, page: 2621. Chairperson: John Bowen.

<p> This study draws a rich, vivid portrait of a marginalized and hidden dance community and how it made a visible impact on the mainstream and in countries around the world. In the 1980s black and Latino teens in Los Angeles performed a street dance called pop locking. During this time dancing helped keep urban teens out of gangs and create positive identities. In the 1990s pop locking went underground, but less than ten years later returned in areas outside of Los Angeles. This allowed 1980s dancers to serve as teachers and mentors to new dancers. </p><p> Twenty-seven pop lockers who danced from the 1980s to the 2000s were interviewed from June 2010 to July 2013. These interviews capture the history of the dance that started on the streets of California. Participant observation was conducted at Homeland Cultural Center in Long Beach, which is a hub for pop locking in Southern California.</p>