In the mid 1970s a dance phenomenon took the country by surprise! The dance went by many names, but in New York City, the dancing enthusiasts ended up simply calling it the Hustle.

While essentially Latin, Hustle incorporates elements from many dance forms, yet its genesis was no doubt more improvisational discovery than premeditation and appeared in much of the country as an overnight sensation. Soon people from all ethnic backgrounds were enjoying a new partner dance style. Its evolution was also influenced by the changing fashions in music. Disco, a blend of black, Latin, and European moods and rhythms, changes over time from slow to medium to high energy fast tempos, culminating in the kind of energetic sound giving rise to the words “shut up and dance!”

At first, Hustle was a relatively simple dance in which a man led his partner in closed position, moving from side to side and included the dance element of spot pivot turns. Then open body positions appeared with the lead keeping himself more or less in a slot-like motion. Turns were introduced and developed by forming into elaborate rope turns in which the follower circled around the partner. Finally, leaders began traveling as well. In the next evolution, both partners rotated around each other in a wide open circle and Street Hustle, as some call it, was born. The addition of free spins for both male and female dancers, with tale spins, gave the hustle dazzle which still retains its mesmerizing look in today’s Hustle dance world.

In the late 70’s and 80’s, the rate of change accelerated sharply. It became hard to keep up with the new styles and some dancers began to drop out, leaving the field clear for the most ambitious dancers to set the standards. From ballet and International Latin they adapted arm and body styling, as well as leg- and footwork. Couples also began to travel in dramatic closed, open and shadow positions. Elements of the Theatre Arts, ballet, Jazz and even gymnastics were blended in and the drama and romance of Adagio became evident. As numerous as the various influences were, they never overwhelmed the Hustle, which always maintained its own unmistakable floor dance look! Hustle has borrowed much from the dances that preceded it. In fact, a great deal of its appeal comes from its success in blending the influences of many dance forms. The fluid movement of hustle that is created by good dancers is as exhilarating to watch as it is to execute.