Hustle (dance)
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The Hustle is a catchall name for many disco or nightclub partner social dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s. Today it mostly refers to a type of swing dance based on various earlier forms of hustle and similar in style to East Coast Swing. It is usually danced in 3/4 time, but may also be danced in 2/4. Modern Hustle is sometimes referred to as New York Hustle
History
Based on older dances such as the mambo, the Hustle originated in Hispanic communities in New York City and Florida in the 1970s.Van McCoy's song
A line dance which was called Hustle became an international dance craze in 1975 following Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony's "Hustle". Tipped off by DJ David Todd, McCoy sent his partner Charlie Kipps to the Adam's Apple discotheque of New York City's East Side. McCoy wrote the tune and arrangement while watching a secretary Kipps had noticed at the disco demonstrate the dance. The forthcoming album was renamed Disco Baby and McCoy was named "Top Instrumental Artist" of 1975. (Jones and Kantonen, 1999).Depicted in Saturday Night Fever
By 1977, such as in the movie Saturday Night Fever, the Hustle was danced to disco music, and made the dance popular. Afterwards, different line dance and couple dance forms of the Hustle emerged, but also died quickly again because most of the hype was created by the movie.New York Hustle
The couple dance form of hustle is usually called New York Hustle or Latin Hustle. It has some resemblance, and steps in common, with swing and salsa dancing. As in the Latin dances, couples tend to move back and forth in a "slot" on the dance floor, as opposed to following a line of dance as in foxtrot.Some differences between hustle and swing is that the lead takes the rock step on his left foot, as opposed to the right in swing. Also if the dance is taught by counting, the rock step happens at the beginning of the count – "and-one, two, three" rather than at the end of the count as in swing – "left, right, rock-step".
Another difference between hustle and most other partner dances is that clockwise movements, for both the individual and the couple, predominate. Counterclockwise movements predominate in most ballroom dances.
Common Steps
- Basic - similar to the basic from single-step swing, except rock step is at beginning and on different foot
- Turn - 180° clockwise turn taken between 2 and 3 count, followed by a rock step
- Left Turn - 180° counterclockwise turn taken between 1 and 2 count, followed by a rock step
- Side Break - lead sends follow out still holding her left hand, then picks her back up
- Wheel - couple in double hand-hold pumps arms like a bellows. couple as a whole rotates 180° clockwise
- Inside Turn or Loop Turn - similar to the loop turn from swing. follower twirls 360° counterclockwise.
Sources
- Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999). Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco. Chicago, Illinois: A Cappella Books. ISBN 1556524110.
- Lustgarten, Karen (1978). The Complete Guide to Disco Dancing: The Easy Step-By-Step Way to Learn Today's Top Dances. United States: Warner Books.
References for historic Hustle styles
- Harris, et al, eds. Social Dance: From Dance A While. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998. ISBN 0205274773
- Kilbride, Ann T. and Algoso, A. The Complete Book on Disco and Ballroom Dancing. Los Alamitos, CA.: Hwong Publishing Company, 1979. ISBN 0892601507
Video clips
- [wmv] or [mov] from [link] contains a quick show of the basic step variations of today's Hustle
- beginner steps ([mpeg]) from [link]
- [Michael & Betty] showing a very smooth Hustle and [Two men and one woman dancing Hustle], both from the [Hustle Dance club]
External links
- [What is hustle?] - A nearly encyclopedic listing of all Hustle styles for couples
- [Historic view of disco couple dancing]
- [Specifics about Hustle]
- [List of Hustle bands and interpreters]
- [Secrets of a Hustle dance instructor]
- [Information About the Hustle]
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