In the 1970s movie "Saturday Night Fever" John Travolta defined an era with his white suit dancing with his legs apart with a finger pointing in the air. Everyone loved dancing under a disco ball, wearing a polyester suit and doing 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.
As the Hustle line dance was influenced by the Merengue, the partner version was based on a number of dances, such as the Mambo, Salsa and even American swing. Freestyle dancing could be performed solo, with a partner or in classic ballroom style dancing. the partner dance versions are known as the New York Hustle or Latin Hustle.
Because of its various expressions, the hustle is difficult to define. And other than the male partner leading, there is little else to define. There are no specific steps to identify it whether you are rotating or slotting. And this very variety and flexibility is what makes the Hustle as movements are borrowed from other style of dance. Anyone can learn to do the Hustle because there's bound to be at least one movement that can be mastered.
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.
As the Hustle line dance was influenced by the Merengue, the partner version was based on a number of dances, such as the Mambo, Salsa and even American swing. Freestyle dancing could be performed solo, with a partner or in classic ballroom style dancing. the partner dance versions are known as the New York Hustle or Latin Hustle.
Because of its various expressions, the hustle is difficult to define. And other than the male partner leading, there is little else to define. There are no specific steps to identify it whether you are rotating or slotting. And this very variety and flexibility is what makes the Hustle as movements are borrowed from other style of dance. Anyone can learn to do the Hustle because there's bound to be at least one movement that can be mastered.
About the Author:
Tony Meredith and Melanie LePatin have been choreographing, educating, performing and composing amazing choreography for over thirty years. The operate NYC's premier dance center If you interested in knowing more about any dances make sure you check out their website. They are now teachingdance lessons in NYC