Although New York City claims to have invented the Hustle in the 1970s, it sprang up in large cities all over the United States at about the same time. The dancing style was the focus of many nightclubs in the mid-‘70s, and it became a somewhat competitive dance as Disco soared in popularity. Van McCoy’s 1975 hit, “The Hustle,” cemented the style’s place in history, and it is still danced in nightclubs to this day.
When to Dance the Hustle
The Hustle is a partner dance at its core, but it does have solo line dance versions. Because of this versatility, it’s a great dance for any situation. Music for the Hustle is just as fun as the dance. It can be performed to artists ranging from Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin to Abba and Cyndi Lauper.
Interesting Facts
- In Saturday Night Fever, the Hustle was shown in partner and line dance form.
- Some stories say that it was developed in South Bronx by the Puerto Rican community as an alternative to the “500” dance, which involved lots of body contact.
- There are some similarities between Swing and the Hustle, movement-wise.