Hustle History

    The original Hustle according to "The Disco Hustle" by Carterter Lovisone was the Double Hustle and was a line dance with a salsa-like foot rhythm.  It has its roots in the Hispanic communities in New York City and Florida set in the 70’s where it was developed; although several have claimed to have introduced the dance in the late 1960’s.  Although Hustle has common features with Swing, contrary to popular belief, it originated from several hot Latin dances like the Mambo rather than from Swing.  It passed through various changes in the seventies with line dances for groups of people, movements that came and went, and lastly, partner dances.  These partner dances incorporated the basic Hustle, Latin, Tango, Street, Three-Count, and Swing Hustle that originated in California as the Street Hustle by skaters in Venice and Malibu.  Hustle was danced to contemporary pop dance music, Hip Hop or “House” dance music of the last 20 years.  Hustle music was typified by a strong beat based on rhythm and blues or strong techno music or pop.  Hustle can be danced to Cha-Cha music, Swing, Merengue, and even Hip Hop.
    When John Travolta made the Hustle popular, the dance showed both the line and partner forms of the Hustle and showcased a mixture of Latin and Swing dances that they referred to as the Tango Hustle, which was invented by the cast of the film.  In addition, popular disco music of the 70’s incorporated Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “More Than a Woman,” “Everybody Dance,” (by Chic), and Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You, Baby” and “Last Dance.”  These are but a few of dance music that can be used to dance the Hustle.
    After “Saturday Night Fever,” different line dances and couple dance forms of the Hustle emerged.  The original Hustle was shortened from the beat of fast Latin dances to the beat of “and 1, 2, 3” and became the New York Hustle.  This modern partner form of the Hustle was said to have come from Florida with a mix of salsa and swing steps.  The new disco beat then made its way to the Eastern states such as New York. 
    As in Latin dances, the couple tends to move within just a spot on the dance floor as opposed to following a line of dance as in foxtrot, or as opposed to tracking within a slot as in West Coast Swing or LA Hustle.  New York Hustle was in three (3) counts and involved just steps and touches in a, uniquely, four (4) beat per measure music.  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, which made it easy for the DJs to mix songs right into another without stopping.
    The dance has evolved greatly over the years, through at least six major changes.  Originally, it was a 6-count dance that changed to 3 counts during the 1980’s.  In the 1980’s, the dance had a rock- step in it, but that was changed to a together-forward in about 1982.  By about 1983, the other versions of Hustle had faded away and what was left is what we call today as the New York Hustle or NY Hustle.  American Hustle, Continental Hustle, and Tango Hustle are three of several Hustle dances that vanished.