Hustle Dancers--Whoooooooo's Out There? [Archive]

Anonymous

03-29-2003, 10:43 AM

I enjoyed visiting this excellent dance site.
My wife and I are big fans of Hustle, but we prefer to dance a 'slot version',
since we also are members of The Atlanta Swing Dancers Club, a great group
of West Coast Swing dancers here in Atlanta.
My wife, Harrie loves EC-Swing too.
I placed a dance song list on my business website where you may view or
download the file: http://www.evectory.com/library/dancesongs.html
Please passalong your favorites too.
Best Regards,

Don & Harrie
DonWagner@evectory.com

Phil Owl

03-29-2003, 11:39 AM

Hi Don and Harrie,

A warm welcome to you from this Owl! Hope you become regulars here!

Aside from a lot of the standard fave moves (and I also love to improvise moves as well), I love doing a two-handed continuous turn with a good partner. Some women catch onto it real easy, others don't, but that's OK. Here's the description:

Two Hand Continuous Turn (or Touch and Go):

On the "touch and go" the leader holds the girl's right hand with his right and the girls' left with his left. Right hands are placed over left hands.This is the initial position. After that, the leader turns the girl clockwise by lifting both hands. When girl has turned half way, the left hand is released to allow her to go all the way around. When girl has turned a full 360, the left hands touch momentarily as though to give her momentum for the next turn. Thus "touch and go". On the last turn the left hands reconnect at the end. Final position -> left hands over right hands.

A few fave hustle tunes for me (and there's soooooo many) :

More More More, Love At First Sight, Your Love: Kylie Minogue

You've Got The Power: WAR

I've Got The Next Dance: Deniece Williams

Vertigo/Relight My Fire, Instant Replay: Dan Hartman

A Deeper Love: Aretha Franklin

Dancer: Gino Soccio

TSOP - MFSB

Cherchez Le Femme: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

A Different Kind of Love Song: Cher

Murder On the Dancefloor: Sophie Ellis Bextor

a fair amount of House music is great to hustle to as well

A good site:

www.i-hustle.com

www.discostepbystep.com

Also to note, ABC Family is bringing back "Dance Fever"

Anonymous

03-30-2003, 07:07 PM

I love the hustle!! It was the first ballroom dance I learned and is my favorite!

Spitfire

04-23-2003, 09:28 PM

Took a 6 week long class in Hustle a few years ago at a local studio and really enjoyed it. I haven't done much since not much Hustle music is played the dances here as of late. I would like to and will do more though since I do like the music a lot. :)

Say Phil; do you keep owls for pets or have them live on your property? :lol:

pygmalion

09-18-2003, 06:24 PM

I don't much care for hustle (yet!), but I'm hearing it played at least a few times a night at the pop-type nightclub I frequent. It's definitely useful to know at least a handful of basics.

dancergal

09-18-2003, 06:38 PM

I do some basic Hustle but I'm not that good at it. If I get a good leader, I actually look like I know what I'm doing. It's a fun dance and I would like to learn more. I was just getting into learning it when I broke my toe (not dancing) and it took a long time to heal (maybe because I refuse to stop dancing) but the Hustle irritated it more than any other dance, so I stopped doing it. I've learned a few more moves and dance Hustle now and then, but like I said, unless I have a good leader, I don't do too well. I'm ready to learn more because they play a lot of Hustle music at all our social dances. (btw-we were at a party last year where the DJ showed all of us how to do the Hustle line dance, but I've already forgot it. It was fun though, I really liked it.)

pygmalion

09-18-2003, 06:56 PM

when I broke my toe (not dancing) and it took a long time to heal (maybe because I refuse to stop dancing)

How did you manage dancing with a broken toe? Adhesive tape?

dancergal

09-18-2003, 07:08 PM

when I broke my toe (not dancing) and it took a long time to heal (maybe because I refuse to stop dancing)

How did you manage dancing with a broken toe? Adhesive tape?

Yeah, that's about it. I taped it with medical tape to the next toe, took some Ibuprofen, and kept on dancing (we were at a dance convention the very next day. I couldn't stop). It took forever to heal and the doctor finally told me to quit dancing for a month, so I took 2 weeks off. :roll: It helped some.

pygmalion

09-18-2003, 09:29 PM

Yeah. Same thing here. Broke a toe (inner toe, fortunately) a week before a performance. Two showcases and three formations. There was no way I could take any rest. So I taped everything up, and kept dancing. My podiatrist was so mad, but then, he wasn't a dancer. Poor thing. If he danced, he'd understand that dancers must dance (Thanks samba ajr! :D :D ) broken toes and all.

Vince A

09-18-2003, 11:00 PM

I love to Hustle . . . love the music!!!!

I'm only at about the 75% level and still learning . . . but I can get through a dance. Care (my wife) and I actually won a Hustle dance contest once at a place called Two Left Feet in Danville, CA. We didn't even know we were in the contest. We walked a 10 seconds before the music started and jumped right in. Surprise, surprise!!!

Hey dancergal, I know you've been there!!!!

pygmalion

10-10-2003, 01:44 PM

Hey. What's the scoop on Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlow? Anyone? They're giving a hustle workshop in Orlando next weekend. Thumbs up? Maybe I can get over my pathological hatred of hustle. :lol:

SwinginBoo

10-10-2003, 01:49 PM

What are your favorite tunes to twirl and glide to like there's no tomorrow?

I love to Hustle as well. My favorite tune is the one that starts something like:

Do you remember? That 21st night of September...

la de da de da de da

:oops:

LoL I don't know the words. But it's a great song. :D

pygmalion

10-10-2003, 01:56 PM

Earth Wind and Fire? :D I think it's called September, but I'll have to check my CD collection. Ahhh yes. EWF brings back memories. :D

SwinginBoo

10-10-2003, 02:07 PM

I think you're right Jenn. OH and by the way. I just ordered some really cute stuff from Dancestore.com

baby tee that says Lindy Hopper on it.
A t-shirt for my boyfriend that says "I haven't been swimming. I'm a swing dancer" (cause he's always drenched lol)
Toe-less hose
And some dance pants.

I needed the last two items because my boyfriend and I are going to be part of a performance on Nov. 1st and we have to dress vintage. :D

Woops. that was really off-topic. Sorry. :oops:

pygmalion

10-13-2003, 03:44 PM

Okay. So I'm off-topic too. *shrug*

Vintage how? As in forties? You should check out the snoods (those big hairnet things that go on the back). Either those or the hair flowers create a vintage look right quick, especially if you have enough hair for a pompador. :D

danceguy

10-13-2003, 04:50 PM

Hello everyone,

Hmm, you know I was going to start a post asking people if they didn't like Hustle, but mainly since I'm currently struggling with it! 8)

I've never taken any formal Hustle lessons, but a few months back I went to a dance where it was the featured lesson for the night. I just couldn't get my body to groove with it, unlike the immediate connection I could with ECS and Latin dances.

Last week I went to another dance where Hustle was taught during the first hour...and I really really really tried to be open minded and give it another chance. But the same thing happened...I just couldn't get into it! Finally, I whispered to one of my dance partners that I just didn't enjoy the particular style and she whispered back "me too! I'm glad someone is being honest!"

It is almost a shame to me as I really enjoy watching others dance Hustle...but for some reason my body just doesn't enjoy doing it. Conversely...I also did my first bit of Tango at that same dance...and I LOVED IT! Picked it up right away and went zooming around the dance floor...that's going to be next on my lesson list after WCS.

For the Hustle dancers...could you elaborate on what particulars of the dance you are drawn to? Have any of you had experiences like mine and will it pass with more exposure...or do some other styles of dance do the same to you? :roll:

Sincerely,

SG

pygmalion

10-13-2003, 08:17 PM

I can't speak on this, SG, because I HATE hustle. With passion. :shock: *shudder*

I'm taking a workshop this weekend though, with some folks advertised as the world hustle champions, so maybe I'll hate it less next week. Who knows? :?

dancergal

10-13-2003, 08:27 PM

Jenn, it's too bad you hate it. I think it's fun! I'm taking Hustle lessons along with my Salsa lessons to break up the hour. I'm learning more of what I was doing wrong. It's already helped me improve my dance, but old habits are hard to break and now I have to concentrate on my footwork as I dance. I need more practice so I can get the footwork right. Otherwise, it's not that hard of a dance to pick up.

danceguy

10-13-2003, 08:50 PM

Jenn,

Yikes, sounds you like dislike Hustle even more than I do! I think part of it for me is that I really enjoy the connection from partner dancing with the couple is facing each other in the basic stance. I don't have a repertoire of fancy shines or solo patterns (at least, not yet!), so I always strive for a very smooth basic with just a few well done turns and such. I have lots to learn in all aspects of dance...so I try and keep it simple as I'm still very new at this stuff. And since I am learning about 6 styles at once (hey why not?)...trying to add on another one is just too much for me at this point. :oops:

I found with Hustle that there was more distance between the two partners...and the direction of the dance just went against how I like to move my body. Both lessons that I took were somewhat different...the last one was a straight four count...the other I can't seem to recall (besides the John Travolta moves that we went through)...but it reminded me of NC2S for some reason.

I have some slight posture problems which make spins kind of tough for me to do...I get dizzy fairly easily..although I'm working on spotting to correct that. But I don't like to spin in circles all the time....Hustle doesn't seem to let you stay still for very long! :?

I hope the workshop goes good for you! We expect a full report next week. :)

Best,

SG

pygmalion

10-13-2003, 08:59 PM

I have a feeling that hustle is going to be one of those late bloomer dances for me. If you'd asked me a year ago to do a basic ECSwing, I'd have refused and called you bad names to boot! :lol: And now, I'm looking for swing teachers. *shrug* Who knows what might happen with hustle.

Hmm.. Hustle and NC2S? Is it the back rock that you find similar? A bit bigger in NC2S, but I see what you mean. The four-count hustle is one version that a lot of dance studios teach. The three-count (&1-2-3) is a lot harder to figure out rhythmically, but you'll get there. :D

I have to admit that, done correctly, hustle is a show-offy (I know that's not a word! :lol: ), way sexy dance. I'm just not feeling it yet. :cry:

Will report back on the 19th. For sure. :D

Jenn

SDsalsaguy

10-13-2003, 09:35 PM

Jenn...is your workshop with Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlowe (sp)?

Scorpionguy...I'm with you. I'm trying to work on it socially -- and it has got better -- but hustle just really isn't a dance I groove on. Same thing for me with ECS. Don't know why though, so guess I'll ponder that for a few days and get back to you...

danceguy

10-14-2003, 01:25 AM

Hi SDSalsaguy,

It is strange how some dances just call us...and others make us want to cringe!

I first started with Latin and mainly picked up Ballroom since the community dances that I go always have a lot of dancers who are really good at it.

Knowing more styles = more ladies to dance with. :)

But down beneath it all...I must say that Salsa is what grabs at me! Again, I blame it on that Salsa-Rhythms guy...or it could be that I'm part Spanish...either way I just love that music...now to get better dancing to it...well that's going to take a while. :wink:

Take care,

SG

pygmalion

10-14-2003, 07:25 AM

Noooooo! :shock: Not another salsaholic in the making! :lol: :lol:

Just kidding, SG. Follow your heart. True, knowing lots of dances does make it easier to fill your "dance card" at certain types of dances, but if salsa is what you love, go do it. You can always try salsa clubs. That way, there won't be a lot of stuff other than salsa, mixed in with a little merengue, bachata, and an occasional (I do mean occasional! :lol: ) cha cha or rumba. Narrows down the number of things you have to learn quite a bit. And you'll get good at it faster. It's your choice. :D

pygmalion

10-14-2003, 08:02 AM

Jenn...is your workshop with Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlowe (sp)?

Yes. The local USABDA chapter is sponsoring a freebie class Friday night and workshops all afternoon Saturday. Orlando really has a lot of cool dance stuff going on lately. :D

I'm going to check it out. Maybe the world champs can turn me on to their dance. :shock: Arrogant, aren't I? :lol: :lol:

SDsalsaguy

10-14-2003, 12:54 PM

They actually have just retired from competing this year. I got a chance to talk witht them a bit -- just in passing mind you, not an interview -- back in May at Blackpool. Nice people. I saw them do a hustle demo but, again, this is just one dance that does not call to me. :(

Let me know what you think...

Phil Owl

10-14-2003, 01:44 PM

Interesting how we naturally gravitate towards certain dances and some make us cringe.

EC Swing and Hustle feel very natural for me and for some folks they don't. Cha-Cha I'm decent at too as well as American Style Rhumba. Tango is a bit of a challenge for me though I do admire it greatly and I do enjoy an occasional foxtrot to a good tune and a great partner.

The one dance that induces cringing for me is definitely Quickstep, I don't even like watching it. I don't know, it just strikes me as being really sappy, corny and old-fashioned in a Lawrence Welk kind of way. :roll:
Meringue is that way for me too on the Latin side, although it's very easy to learn, it just doesn't excite me at all.

To get back on topic though, I enjoy Hustle because:

a) The smooth sensual, gliding feel to it (appealing to my inner bird :wink: )

b) Watching the ladies do all those fancy twirls I have to admit is pretty fun

pygmalion

10-14-2003, 01:55 PM

You know, Phil, it's funny you should mention quickstep. That dance is the catalyst that made me start ballroom dancing. I watched the movie, Shall We Dance, in which there's a quickstep heat in one of the competitions. To me, it looked like they were flying! I thought it was such a beautiful dance, and I just had to try it. Funny, isn't it?
(By the way, I do a little quickstep, but that's one of my near-term dance goals. To expand my knowledge of a couple minor dances -- quickstep and samba)

Anyway, about hustle and ECS. Here's my philosophy. At first blush, I have had nothing but hatred for both dances. But I'm going to make myself at least try it, to be sure of how I feel. Like with ECS, hated it! :evil: But I made myself do it anyway, because it's so common at dances. Now, I'm really starting to like it. *shrug* Maybe hustle will work out the same for me. Either way, I'm going to give it the old college try. :D

SDsalsaguy

10-14-2003, 01:59 PM

Either way, I'm going to give it the old college try. :D
Hey now! Isn't that my turf??? :wink: :lol: :tongue:

Phil Owl

10-14-2003, 02:19 PM

I also remembered I have this weird love/hate thing with West Coast Swing, I LOVE watching it done by great dancers, but I personally, have never really been able to get the hang of it (though I have my moments here and there), I just have to think about it too much! Someday though, I may break that barrier.

smoothdancingirl

10-14-2003, 03:26 PM

I love hustle...I wish It were part of the American Rhythm!!! The music rocks!! 8)

Phil Owl

10-14-2003, 04:33 PM

I love hustle...I wish It were part of the American Rhythm!!! The music rocks!! 8)

Right on!

New fave tunes for the Owl to Hustle to:

Naima - Hipnotic

Slap That Bass - Ella Fitzgerald (remixed)

The Music In Her Eyes - Swell Session

Sweet Tears - Roy Ayers

Tangerine - The Ananda Project

Elevation - Blaze

danceguy

10-14-2003, 05:03 PM

HI Jenn,
Noooooo! :shock: Not another salsaholic in the making! :lol: :lol:
I'm afraid so! I spent an entire day streaming Salsa music at my house some time ago while doing my basic...I was hearing cowbells and congas in my ears for several days afterwards. Plus...I have noticed strange things when women find out you are studying it. Mention Swing, Hustle etc, you may get a few nods from the ladies. But if I even say the word "Salsa" around women of Latin descent (regardless of their age), I suddenly become the center of attenion and asked to show off my moves (which I polietly decline since I only know about 5 or 6). :lol:

Just kidding, SG. Follow your heart. True, knowing lots of dances does make it easier to fill your "dance card" at certain types of dances, but if salsa is what you love, go do it. You can always try salsa clubs. That way, there won't be a lot of stuff other than salsa, mixed in with a little merengue, bachata, and an occasional (I do mean occasional! :lol: ) cha cha or rumba. Narrows down the number of things you have to learn quite a bit. And you'll get good at it faster. It's your choice. :D

I must confess total ignorance to Merengue and Bachata...actually when I hear everyone talking about it I keep thinking of that sweet rice drink (Horchata). :roll:

I do know some Cha-Cha and Rhumba...sounds like it is time for a Salsa event...*shudder*...that should be the true test to see if I'm really addicted or not. :)

Best,

SG

dancergal

10-14-2003, 06:50 PM

SDsalsaguy

10-14-2003, 07:21 PM

How are those lessons coming by the way dancergal?

dancergal

10-14-2003, 08:13 PM

Hi SD, I go to my next lesson this Thursday. I can't wait! At a swing dance convention this weekend they played maybe one or two Salsa songs, so I watched closely all the people doing Salsa. Oh gosh, everyone I watched was doing a different version!! I didn't know who to watch. Some were moving and spinning all over the place and some were just doing basic moves. I would've loved to try a little Salsa but I was too chicken to ask anyone with only two lessons under my belt. :(

pygmalion

10-14-2003, 09:56 PM

Hey dancergal! Just dance. I'll never forget the time when I'd been dancing a total of eight months and Sea World Orlando sponsored a two-day Latin festival. including some big-name acts! I went, and I danced. Maybe, in retrospect, I was a terrible dancer, but the guys that day were SO NICE! :D I got lots of dances, and lots of compliments. I think the deal is, you have to try it. So try it. :D You'll have a blast!

danceguy

10-14-2003, 09:56 PM

Hey SG, you probably know 6 moves more than me. :D I've only had two Salsa lessons, but it's a lot of fun. I still need to find some Salsa music to listen to I'm sure that will help me. I practice without music and when we do our lesson, the music seems so fast to me. My instructor says I'll get use to it. I've yet to dance with anyone too. Maybe in a few weeks....

Hi DancerGal,

Well taking Latin class a few months back was my first dance class ever. I had never ever set foot on a dance floor prior to this...needless to say I was pretty nervous! :shock:

Salsa music is really fast...I still get blown away by most of it. I had trouble feeling the music at first, even with my semi-rusty musician's ears. Having no clue what artists to listen to, I went out and bought "Salsa Fresca" at a local music store...there is one song on there called "Lluvia" that has a nice slow tempo...plus the song is really beautiful. You might give that one a try. Eventually I went for streaming Salsa online since the songs would be unfamilliar to the ones I'd been listening to over and over.

Well, I mentioned before that I went to a live Salsa event after only a few weeks of lessons. Luckily, the first song I danced to was a Cha-cha so I was able to find the rhythm easily...but when the fast Salsa came on...I was totally lost! That's why I'm eager to go to a club or show and see how I do with a few months of lessons under my belt. I'm planning on going in a few days...and I'm both excited and nervous...but if I want to improve, I have to get myself out there. 8)

Hope the Salsa lessons go well! :)

SG

P.S. Sorry for getting off the Hustle thread. :oops:

pygmalion

10-16-2003, 06:18 PM

I must confess total ignorance to Merengue and Bachata...actually when I hear everyone talking about it I keep thinking of that sweet rice drink (Horchata). :roll:

I do know some Cha-Cha and Rhumba...sounds like it is time for a Salsa event...*shudder*...that should be the true test to see if I'm really addicted or not. :)

Hey guy. Don't sweat the merengue and bachata. The club version of merengue and the bachata are pretty easy to pick up. Just go, watch one done, then do it. That's how a I learned bachata. I was doing salsa with a guy, and when a bachata came on, we kept dancing. End of story. :D So don't worry about it.

Please check back in and let us know how you club experiences go. :D

dancergal

10-16-2003, 07:20 PM

Salsa music is really fast...I still get blown away by most of it.

Same here. I guess it'll take some getting used to. I've never listened to Salsa music before so I'm not familiar it. I'm going to try streaming Salsa music from the computer like you did. That's a great idea. I'm off to my lessons soon. Can't wait to learn more Salsa!

pygmalion

10-18-2003, 04:08 PM

Okay. So I'm just back from the Billy Fajardo/Katie Marlow hustle workshops -- beginning/intermediate and intermediate/advanced. Assessment -- first, they're excellent dancers and approachable teachers. Definitely a thumbs up. :D Second, I still don't like hustle, but at least I now know why. 1. The th-thunk you feel when you partner doesn't stay forward poised on the rock step. 2. The need for loose, loose arms to accomplish the wraps, etc. Mine still like to tense up sometimes. 3. The fact that a lot of people find the &1-2-3 rhythm challenging. It drives me crazy to dance with someone who can't feel it. :x

Bottom line -- I think I could learn to like it, if danced with a good lead. A big if. Also, I had a blast taking advantage of my "pose" moments, if you know what I mean.

They also did two theater arts workshops, which I skipped because I still have to practice my drills for my upcoming competition (two weeks from tomorrow -- eek! :shock: ), and I'm going out to a ballroom dance tonight.

I recommend this couple as a good pair of teachers -- doable material, humorously delivered, and with attention to good technique. Good deal! :D