Hustle Styles
There have been many different terms used to describe Hustle: Disco, the Latin Hustle, Rope Hustle, New York-style Hustle. There are also many misconceptions about what Hustle actually is. It is not a line dance; that is the Bus Stop. It is also not what John Travolta danced in Saturday Night Fever. Hustle is also not a four-count dance.
There is only one Hustle. It is a three-count dance done to a variety of music from 90 to 120 beats per minutes.
The basic rhythm is "and-1-2-3". This is called a syncopation. This basic, but challenging, rhythm lends itself to many turn pattern variations, travelling moves and circular patterns. Dancers dancing Hustle must both move in this basic rhythm so that they are "speaking the same language". Very advanced patterns break the "and-1-2-3" rhythm, but then will go back to the signature timing rather quickly.
Hustle is also a "spot" dance that generally stays in one spot like Swing or Salsa, as distinct from the ballroom dances that travel around the floor following line of dance. More advanced patterns do break out of the spot and travel but still keep the " and-1-2-3" basic rhythm. Those advanced patterns go with and against line of dance. Very advanced patterns travel and have syncopations that elaborate on the " and-1-2-3" rhythm.
This video explains more about the Hustle.
As dancers progress through the Hustle program at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center, they move from dancing in only one spot to traveling, learn ever more challenging patterns with hand changes and turns and, finally, get to experience advanced syncopations in the Advanced level classes.
