The Hustle Tanz Session

What is the Hustle?
The Hustle originated among Puerto Rican teenagers in the early 1970s in the South Bronx of New York. Inspired by disco music and dances such as salsa, mambo, and West Coast swing, it developed into a fast-paced, lively partner dance in clubs, block parties, and house parties. It is characterized by fast turns and flowing step sequences. The Hustle became world-famous thanks to Van McCoy’s hit “The Hustle” and the movie “Saturday Night Fever.”

From the very beginning, the Hustle was also a space for self-expression and community. In the 1970s, the disco scene was an important place for queer people, who found freedom and acceptance there. Gender roles and sexual identities could be expressed beyond societal norms.

The dance culture of the Hustle reflects this openness: couples are not bound by binary roles, and it is not necessarily men who lead. Anyone can lead or follow, regardless of gender or identity—switching roles during the dance is also a lot of fun.

Today, the hustle remains a vibrant dance form that is also influenced by waacking, swing, hip-hop, house, and other styles.

The Session
We meet every Wednesday for an open session. An open session is a space where we practice together—all skill levels are welcome. We’ll cover the basics and always bring a little extra input beyond that. Then you can practice and dance freely. We hope our community grows bit by bit and that this dynamic dance—a symbol of the joyful energy of the disco era—spreads even further. 

You can come with or without a dance partner and regardless of your dance experience! Please bring clean shoes 🪩

🎵 R&B, funk, disco, house...

🕗 Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. 

📍 Initiativenhaus, Martinstr. 58, 40223 Düsseldorf

PLEASE NOTE:

The session on July 8 is canceled because we’ll all be here !Come join us! :)

The session on July 15, 2026, is also canceled.

Instagram: hustle_dusseldorf