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People often ask me where I learned to dance, and honestly, it’s never been a hard question to answer. My dance—who I am—came from the club and my parents’ house parties. Later on, I was fortunate enough to have mentors who helped refine my craft, but my soul, my foundation, was built in those spaces.
I bring this up because I’m concerned that this is something we’re losing in popping and other dance styles. Dance has been pushed to the back burner. We train outside—practicing sets and scripted movements—yet we fail to grasp the purity of what made these styles come alive in the first place: dance itself.

Training, creativity, and real exchanges happened in the moment—right there in the club or at a house party. No space, hot as hell, pure flow. Our movement wasn’t practiced for later; creativity was born in real time, in response to the music and the energy around us.

Today, I watch battles and see dancers perfecting and polishing sets and scripts that don’t connect to the music at all. Is it bad to practice outside? No. But we can’t forget the key element of dance. If you’re trying to understand what I mean and it feels forced, then you might be missing the point—and it may be time to reassess why you’re learning these styles in the first place or who you are learning from.

Dance comes first. It always has. If we lose that, we lose the value of why we do what we do. Music dictates us, not the other way around. We are the physical interpretation of music—let it control you.

Anyway, Stay blessed, and I’ll catch you in a round soon.

🎥: @kevnchn

#jonlock #dance #party #thoughts #nyc

JON LOCK

Open Popping - Tuesdays 6:35pm
Come train with the best 🤯

🎥 Holly Roberts - @holly_nicole_roberts
#popping #pmtdance #pmtnyc #nyc #newyork #openlevel

The lineup just keeps getting better 🔥

Please welcome @__jonlock__ as our next Special Guest Performer for the 25th Anniversary
Gala ✨A true master of his craft, Jon has been inspiring our community for many years through his artistry, teaching, and passion 🖤

We’re so excited to have him join us for this special celebration, and we already know you’re
going to love this!

Come support and celebrate with us ✨
Get your ticket now via our website or purchase in-person at the studio!

#pmtdance #pmtnyc #dance #anniversary #25years

One of my favorite rounds of the night from Out of the Shadowz Battle‼️

Pushing out of the comfort zone & just being in the moment 🎶

Full Battle is out on YouTube 👀

🎥: @jacodden

#jonlock #popping #dance #poppingdance #battle

@__jonlock__ popped his way through the semifinals😤

The full battle is available on our YouTube page! Link in Bio

🎥: @jacodden

#OOTSChicago2026 #popping #poppingdance #poppingbattle

NYC in the building @__jonlock__ 🤌

🎥: @jacodden

#OOTSChicago2026 #popping

Small clip of feeling comfortable with character. Happy International Dance Day‼️

🎥: @kevnchn
🏠: @moversbodega

#jonlock #dance #popping #internationaldanceday #nyc

Revisiting old clips—memories, movement, growth.
And one truth stood out… this dance helps us find ourselves.
Not every step forward is technical—some are mental, quiet breakthroughs that show how far we’ve come.
Pause. Appreciate your journey. Your evolution. Your story.
Dance has and is a blessing—keep finding who you are within it. Keep growing.

Here is a clip of me at a @chilluminati.nyc session.

🎥: @kevnchn
🏠: @moversbodega

#jonlock #dance #session #popping #nyc

Popping on lock 🔒 💥 @__jonlock__ at @backtothefunkbos 2 in Boston #sxstv #stepxstepdance #popping #poppingdance #dance
DJ:@iambrayanx

Another round with this song. It always finds me 🤣. Anyway messing around with stuff‼️

🎥: @kevnchn

#jonlock #dance #popping #style #growth

Last night’s session….no blowups, nothing forced, just movement, style, and funk‼️

🎥: @kyo_poppin

#jonlock #dance #popping #style #nyc

And back to our schedule programming of dance. Just me having fun and just vibing to the music….Dance is always 1st‼️

Also shout out to @kevnchn always grabbing the footage for everyone. 🙏🏼🙌🏼

#jonlock #dance #popping #style #nyc