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This page is under construction. Please check back in January 2011 to find lots of exciting information
and free teaching video clips.
HUSTLE HISTORY
The Hustle is a catchall name for several disco dances which were extremely popular in the 1970s. Today it
mostly refers to the unique partner dance done in ballrooms and nightclubs to disco music..[1] It has some
features in common with swing dance. Its basic steps are somewhat similar to the Discofox, which emerged at
about the same time and is more familiar in various European countries. In the 1970s there was also a line
dance called the Hustle—which is regaining popularity as people throw 1970s theme parties or schools have
1970s dance performances.[citation needed] Modern partner hustle is sometimes referred to as New York
Hustle.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Van McCoy's song
1.2 Hustling to Stevie Wonder
1.3 Hustle line dance
1.4 Depiction in Saturday Night Fever
2 New York Hustle
2.1 Common steps
2.2 References
3 Sources
4 Video clips
5 External links
[edit] History
Based on older dances such as the mambo, the Hustle originated in Hispanic communities in New York City
and Florida in the 1970s.[citation needed] This was originally a line dance with a Salsa-like foot rhythm, that
after some fusion with swing and eventual shortening of the count to "&1 2 3"[1], became the present "New
York" Hustle.
The original Hustle in the early 1970s was counted "1 2 - &a3 4 - 5 &a6" and went by many names, including
Latin Hustle, New York Hustle, Same Foot Hustle and Tango Hustle.
[edit] 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 song "The 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. The forthcoming album was renamed
Disco Baby and McCoy was named "Top Instrumental Artist" of 1975.[2] When released, the song reached the
top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart the week ending July 26, 1975.
[edit] Hustling to Stevie Wonder
Most Hustle lines seem to dance to the song "My Eyes Don't Cry (No More)" by Stevie Wonder. At many
occasions whether it may be a family reunion or a high school dance or prom, this song is bound to be heard
and people start to do the line dance to the hit song recorded in 1987.[citation needed]
[edit] Hustle line dance
There was also a popular line dance known as The Continental Walk, which was danced to the eponymous
record by Archie Bell. In the Continental Walk dancers dance backwards, then forward, then to the right and
then to the left. They jump forward and backward, and click their heels. They do some quick tap steps and
then turn to the left to face a new wall. The Continental Walk was the first followed by the Bus Stop which had
monthly variations. The Bus Stop was the best known and most frequently performed line dance in the discos
of 1976 and 1977. This dance was also referred to as the "LA Bus Stop Hustle." A detailed description of the
steps along with an instructional video of this hustle line dance is available here. (See also external links
below.)
This line dance was a version of Merengue with steps to rotate the dance direction orientation to another wall.
The most popular current version (1980–2008) is called "The Electric Slide".
The original NY mainstream Bus Stop and Hustle trend ended and freestyle took over when recording artists
Chic released the song "Le Freak" in 1978. Everyone else in the country started in 1978 after Saturday Night
Fever was released.
[edit] Depiction in Saturday Night Fever
The 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever showed both the line and partner forms of hustle, as well as something
referred to as the "tango hustle" (invented just for that film by the cast, according to the DVD commentary).
Afterwards, different line dance and couple dance forms of the Hustle emerged. Although the huge popularity
faded quickly as the hype that was created by the movie died down, the hustle has continued and is now a
"ballroom dance"; it has taken a place besides swing, cha-cha-cha, tango, rumba, bolero, nightclub two step
and other partner dances in America.
[edit] New York Hustle
The couple dance form of hustle is usually called New York Hustle or Latin Hustle. It has some resemblance to,
and steps in common with, swing and salsa dancing. As in the Latin dances, couples tend to move within a
"spot" on the dance floor, as opposed to following a line of dance as in foxtrot, or as opposed to tracking within
a slot as in West Coast Swing or LA Hustle.
One similarity between hustle and swing is that the lead takes the rock step on his left foot; however, 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". This can confuse beginner leads who
are used to triple-step swing, because the lead rock-steps on the right side of his "track" in the swing basic but
on the left side in the hustle basic.
[edit] Common steps
Basic - similar to the basic from single-step swing, except rock step is at beginning
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
[edit] References
1.^ a b Shell, Niel and John P. Nyemchek, Hustle, Nyemchek Dance Centre, Pearl River, New York, 1999. ISBN
1-929574-00-2
2.^ Jones and Kantonen, 1999
[edit] Sources
Jones, Alan and Kantonen, Jussi (1999). Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco. Chicago, Illinois: A
Cappella Books. ISBN 1-55652-411-0.
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.
Blair, Skippy ("1998"). Dance Power, Own the Experience. ISBN 0-932980-24-4
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