John Travolta. White Suit. Legs apart. Finger pointing in the air. Who can ever forget the poster for Saturday Night Fever, the movie that epitomized the 1970's? It was even turned into a Broadway musical! Disco balls, polyester suits, and the Hustle were all the rage.
There was a line dance and a freestyle version of the various dances under the Hustle name. And many people don't know that the Hustle is of Latin origin (the Merengue) set to a disco beat. Dancers moved in unison with steps that turned the line a quarter turn to the left at end of the movement and then start from the beginning.
The Hustle was created in New York City sometime around 1970, but when Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony recorded "The Hustle" in 1975, it created a Hustle and line dance fever. Other popular line dances include the Continental Walk and the Bus Stop that later turned into the LA Bus Stop Hustle. But the most popular line dance of today is the Electric Slide. The line and partner dance versions of the Hustle were featured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever." And the movie made dancing cool and every guy want to be John Travolta.
Just as the Hustle line dance was based on the Merengue, the partner version was based on Latin dances like the Mambo and Salsa, with a number of moves from American Swing dancing thrown in for good measure. Freestyle dancing could be performed solo or with a partner (each performing solo around each other) or in classic ballroom style dancing in unison. The partner dance version survives today as the New York Hustle or Latin Hustle.
Its various expressions leaves the Hustle difficult to define. The only specific rule is that the male partner leads. And unlike other line dances, there are no specific steps that identify it. The very variety and flexibility is what makes it the Hustle because so many of the steps are borrowed from other styles of dance. Anyone can learn to do the Hustle because there is bound to be at least one movement that can be mastered. So go out and "Do the Hustle!"
There was a line dance and a freestyle version of the various dances under the Hustle name. And many people don't know that the Hustle is of Latin origin (the Merengue) set to a disco beat. Dancers moved in unison with steps that turned the line a quarter turn to the left at end of the movement and then start from the beginning.
The Hustle was created in New York City sometime around 1970, but when Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony recorded "The Hustle" in 1975, it created a Hustle and line dance fever. Other popular line dances include the Continental Walk and the Bus Stop that later turned into the LA Bus Stop Hustle. But the most popular line dance of today is the Electric Slide. The line and partner dance versions of the Hustle were featured in the movie "Saturday Night Fever." And the movie made dancing cool and every guy want to be John Travolta.
Just as the Hustle line dance was based on the Merengue, the partner version was based on Latin dances like the Mambo and Salsa, with a number of moves from American Swing dancing thrown in for good measure. Freestyle dancing could be performed solo or with a partner (each performing solo around each other) or in classic ballroom style dancing in unison. The partner dance version survives today as the New York Hustle or Latin Hustle.
Its various expressions leaves the Hustle difficult to define. The only specific rule is that the male partner leads. And unlike other line dances, there are no specific steps that identify it. The very variety and flexibility is what makes it the Hustle because so many of the steps are borrowed from other styles of dance. Anyone can learn to do the Hustle because there is bound to be at least one movement that can be mastered. So go out and "Do the Hustle!"
About the Author:
Tony and Melanie have been choreographing, educating, performing and composing fantastic choreography for over thirty years. The run New York City's top-notch dance center If you interested in learning more history of any dances make sure you check out their website. They are currently teachingdance lessons in NYC