![]() ![]() In the 1970’s, a small group of young adults and teenagers formed a subculture in New York City: competing in the many discos dance contests, mostly performing “Rock”. Popular disco music of the 70’s included Bee Gees “Stayin’ alive”, “Night fever”, “More than a woman”, “Everybody Dance” (Chic) and Donna Summer’s “Love to love you baby”. 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. Its popularity spread with Van McCoy’s recording of “The Hustle” which was on the national charts for 18 weeks. The Hustle is said to have originated in 1970 in New York City’s African-American and Puerto Rican Bars. The name ‘Hustle’ was originally a Line dance of the same name. It exploded back on the scene with the Hustle which appealed to the young people. But couples dancing did not go underground for very long. These solo freestyle dances coincided with the beginning of the women’s movement which challenged the idea of a man always leading. The twist set the stage for other gyrating dances like the Shake, the Hitchhike, the Monkey, the Pony, the Swim and the Funky Broadway. By the mid-1960’s, more than 5000 discos had opened in the United States. Critics of course, called the dance obscene because of its gyrating hip movements. Chubby Checkers’ hit “Let’s twist again” in 1961 started the solo dance craze. The freedom of dancing without a partner – shaking on your own or just meet hip to hip with a satisfying bump was so much easier than learning how to Ballroom dance. The 1960’s rock and roll almost killed ballroom dancing. ![]() Music played for the Hustle is modern, based upon rhythm and blues. It is a fusion of swing and disco, a return to partner dancing, a modified lindyhop and jitterbug, still very popular in crowded dance floors in New York. Hustle is still very popular at West Coast Swing dances and in some Latin clubs. The lady spins almost constantly while her partner draws her close and sends her away. It is a fast moving, energetic dance characterized by its many turns. The Hustle is the partner version of disco dancing.
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