Hustle Technique

Movement:

• Frame has volume.

• Feeling of compression/push and release/pull. Elbow do not go back behind body.

• Basic breaks: back break (hip rotate open a bit), side break and forward break

• Footwork:

  • Dance Vision: (foot are slightly turned out)

    • Ball (back break or side break) - ball flat - ball flat

    • Ball Flat or Ball for forward breaks

    • Ball Flat Ball for traveling pivots

    • Ball Flat is on most other steps

  • Some places teach: (Lady)

    • &: Ball (break)

    • 1: LF Heel lead, pivot 1/2 turn to L

    • 2: RF back Ball Flat

    • 3: LF back Ball Flat

    • &: Ball (back break)

    • 1: LF fwd Heel

    • 2: RF fwd Heel, pivot to R 1/2 turn

    • 3: LF back Ball Flat

• When rocking back, make sure weight does not fully get onto back foot, not enough time to recover with fast music.

• Turns: all pivot/swivel turns in Hustle (do not do side step turns, typically no ballet Chaine turns)

• There are a lot of different arm movement Man can do, but Lady's steps largely remain to be one of the basic variations. It's good for Lady to follow the arms and not resist and not have arm variations distract footwork.

• Common positions:

  • Closed Position

  • Open facing position

  • Shadow position

  • Cuddle position: (back break &1 - lady rotates R hip and present)

• Lady's basic actions:

  • Basic half left turn over 23 &1

  • Basic half right turn over 23 &1

  • Left 1 and 1/2 spin turn over 23 &1

  • Left 2 and 1/2 traveling turn over 23 &1 23 &1 (has a wind up prep at end of previous &1)

• Different timing for turns: Lady assumes 2 turns unless she feels Man is slowing down.

  • 3 count turns (basic turns): &1 2 3 &1 2 3

  • 4 count turns: &1 2&3 4 &1

    • Accelerate on 2, so it will have a slow ending. (as opposed to &1 2 3& 4 &1, harsh ending)

    • e.g. 4 count outside turn from Open basic position. Hands: could be Lady's RH to Man's LH, or Man's RH.

      • &1: prep, wind to R

      • 2: wind up to L a bit. Head and R side lined up, do not turn head to R early to R while body is wound to L.

      • &: start turning to R

      • 3: turn to R

      • 4: LF back to finish.

      • &1: finish

    • e.g. 4 count inside turn

  • 5 count turns: &1 2& 3& 4 5 &1

• Hand connection:

  • Find the perfect pressure/tone with partner, so it feels connected, not too light and not too heavy/hard.

  • 2 handhold, a little outward tone.

  • Fingers curled, hooked with right amount of pressure.

  • When turning, like holding pizza plate, Lady's palm up, fingers closed. After spin, remember to close/curl up fingers to form hook.

Leads

• Visual lead

• Shaping, inviting.

• Hand tension, compression

Styling

• Arms: always engaged

  • in front of shoulder,

  • to the side extending shoulder line

  • diagonally upward creating long line

  • slightly front bend at elbow

  • straight up on side of head

  • hand on side hip