This is an invitation to dance. Born in 1970s disco New York City and named after its fast-paced stepping, hustle is a social dance that emerged from pre-existing Latin and African American dances. The style brought together queer and straight communities through touch and rhythm, and made use of non-gendered conventions of who is leading versus who is following. It also features joint celebratory outbursts of energy. While doing the hustle, dancers hold hands and embark on an ever-present, expansive, twirling journey across the dance floor to the sound of disco.
Created by Abdiel, Joana Matos, and Alessandra Marconi to bring hustle dance experience to all audiences, Do The Hustle culminates a two-week Works & Process LaunchPAD residency at Chautauqua Institution. This in-process program is presented in three parts—an interactive performance, dance class, and dance party—and highlights an original music composition by Emmy Award nominee Chari Glogovac-Smith. Don’t miss this transformational experience integrating classic disco music structures, sound healing frequencies, and original music produced by veteran hustle DJ Nelson “Paradise” Roman, who has been a staple of the hustle social dance scene.
Commissioned by Works & Process, and supported by a consortium of partners including Jacob’s Pillow, The Meany Center, and residency partners Chautauqua Institution and The Church, Sag Harbor, Do The Hustle is an intersectional project that embodies inclusion, cultural and historical preservation, creativity, and innovation. This program shares the knowledge, beauty, and power of hustle, celebrating it as a part of the American cultural legacy that continues to capture the interest of people across the globe and generations.
Suggested dress code for audience members: Disco era, reinvented.
