Hustle

The name 'Hustle' was originally a Line dance of the same name. The 'couples dance' that was to later steal the name when the movie "Saturday Night Fever " hit the scene was a mixture of Latin and Swing, mixed to the new modern Disco beat. No one knew what to call it and it had many different names across the country in the early 1970's such as "disco swing, Rope Hustle, Sling Hustle, Street Hustle, Latin Hustle etc." These versions usually were different types that would add the flavor of its name.

The couples form of Hustle is said to have come from Florida with the Cubans with a mix of salsa, swing and the new disco beat would make its way to the eastern states such as New York. This new "Disco Beat" was a continuous beat that would "Thump-Thump " instead of "Tick-Tock," this thump-thump was a "Tick-Tock" but not as accented (a continuous pulse to the beat rather than alternating pulse) which would make it appear to the ear as if both beats were the same. This would make it easy for the DJ's to keep the

music going by mixing one song right into another without stopping the music and the "beginning dancers" did not have to worry about their timing as near as much as in alternating or pulsing beats.

The dance eventually got to difficult by the performing public as aerials and trick dancing was to become common place. Country Western replaced the Hustle in popularity, namely the Texas Two Step which originally was much easier for all. However the Hustle changed all of the dances done today.

Generally:

L.A. Hustle = Faster Music, more slotted than rotating ~ N.Y. Hustle = Slower Music, a more rotating slot, slightly more footwork.

Two main exponents of the Hustle were Billy Fajardo, Eddy Vega and Lisa Nunziella.