Hustle (dance)

The Hustle is a disco or nightclub partner social dance that was extremely popular in the 1970's.

Based on older dances such as the mambo, the Hustle originated in Hispanic communities in New York and Florida in the 1970's. It 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 disco of New York's East Side. McCoy wrote the tune and arrangement while watching a secrectary 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)

There are various forms of the Hustle, including the New York Hustle and the Latin Hustle.

Contents

1 Line dance hustles 1.1 California/Los Angeles Hustle/Bus Stop 2 Partner hustles 2.1 American toe hustle 2.2 Continental hustle 2.3 New York-Latin hustle 2.3.1 Basic closed position 3 Related articles 4 Sources

Line dance hustles

California/Los Angeles Hustle/Bus Stop

This is four four time, counted with eight beats:

Three steps backwards beginning with the right foot:

1. Step right foot back
2. Step left foot back
3. Step right foot back
4. Tap left foot to right

Three steps forward beginning on left:

1. Step left foot forward
2. Step right foot forward
3. Step left foot forward
4. Tap right foot to left

Repeat

Grapevine:

1. Step right
2. Step left foot to the right, crossing in front of right foot
3. Step right
4. Tap left against right
5. Step left
6. Step right foot to the left, crossing in front of the left foot
7. Step left
8. Tap left against right

Repeat

Line turn:

1. Tap right forward and swing arms (left forward)
2. Tap right backward, swinging arms in reverse
3. Tap right sideways and open arms
4. Kick right foot in front and pivot left foot 1/4 turn to the left

(Lustgarten, 1978), (Harris, et al, 1998).

And your right foot is ready to start at the beginning, but facing a different direction (90 degrees).

Partner hustles

Most partner hustle dances are done to music in two or four four time but are counted in six beats, taking one and a half measures of music.

Thus you should feel like you are going with the music the first and all odd times through the six count, but somewhat as if you were going against the music in the second and all even repetitions. Your steps should still coincide with the beats, but the strong beats in your steps first go with and then against the strong beats of the meter.

American toe hustle

1. Tap (toe) left
2. Touch left to right
3. Tap right
4. Touch right to left
5. Step right (in place)
6. Step left (in place)

(Kilbride and Algoso 1979)

The last two steps may be taken in any direction, or in place, and turns are done on counts five and six.

Continental hustle

This is slighty more difficult but more enjoyable:

1. Step right
2. Tap left to right
3. Step left
4. Tap right to left
5. Step left
6. Step right

(Kilbride and Algoso 1979)

New York-Latin hustle

Basic closed position

This also takes six beats, but contains 7 steps:

1. Left foot tap behind
2. Left foot side
3. Right foot forward
   1. Left foot close forward
4. Right back
5. Left back
6. Right close back

(Kilbride and Algoso 1979)

Consider the indented #1 as the & of beat three. Beats 3-&-4 = cha-cha-cha.

Related articles

• International Hustle Dance Association

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.
• Harris, et al, eds. (1998). Social Dance: From Dance A While. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 0205274773.
• Kilbride, Ann T. and Algoso, A. (1979). The Complete Book on Disco and Ballroom Dancing. Los Alamitos, CA.: Hwong Publishing Company. ISBN 0892601507.