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Real Detroit Bride's Guide  
Blog.

Origins of the 'Detroit Hustle' dance, a staple of any good wedding    

8/1/2016

7 Comments

 
Picture
If you've been to a wedding in Michigan, a party, or heck, any event at all, you've probably seen or participated in the dance called the "Detroit Hustle." You know the one, usually set to the Stevie Wonder song "My Eyes Don't Cry No More", the dance is one of the surest bets you can find at wedding receptions, next to things like cake and chairs. 
For those unaware (really??), the "Detroit Hustle" is a popular line dance involving the whole crowd. Other popular line dances have emerged over the years (like the "Cha Cha Slide" or the "Cupid Shuffle"), but the Hustle remains the most familiar to older and younger guests alike. 

But it is not a dance known across the country, well, at least not the version you
are probably used to. You may not have even realized that it is referred to nationally as the "Detroit" Hustle, as many locals just call it the "Hustle." 

History. Though nobody is quite sure why, these choreographed line dances seem to take up some level of regional significance as different parts of the country participate in unique customs native to their area. The same dance that we call the "Detroit Hustle" other parts of the country call just "The Hustle" or "The Electric Slide." And even if some call it the same thing, different states have different music they associate with it. Ask any Michigander, and they'll tell you that the "Hustle" song is "My Eyes Don't Cry No More." If you tell that to someone from Chicago or Minnesota, they will look at you like you're strange, telling you that the song is "The Hustle" by Van McCoy or the "Electric Boogie" by Marcia Griffiths. 

Local Origin. Does anybody know the origin of the Stevie Wonder song? The obvious guess is our area being the birthplace of Motown Records, and Stevie having been a life long recording artist for Motown since age 11.It's probable that local DJ's just felt the need to put a Motown spin on a classic party dance.

Today. Although the overall popularity of the "Detroit Hustle" has died down since the 90's (some brides I talk to despise this dance!), it is still a crowd pleaser at a majority of weddings. From your DJ's perspective, dances such as this and the Cupid Shuffle are sure-fire ways to get people out on the dance floor. People seem more comfortable dancing in groups, and not having to "bust a move" by themselves is appealing. The DJ then has a packed dance floor, when he transitions into other upbeat songs. Plus, at nearly 7 minutes, it gives the DJ a much needed potty-break...
 
So at your wedding, ask an out-of-town guess what song the Hustle should be played to, and watch their reaction! 






7 Comments
María
8/28/2018 07:49:01 pm

The Hustle originated in NYC in the 70s - what you’re talking about is the Electric Slide. How ever did that get to be called the Hustle?

Reply
Dubh
9/2/2018 02:04:27 am

Back in the '70s, there were several regional Hustle variants. The New York, L.A., Chicago, and Detroit Hustle come to Mind.

All of these were variants on a basic dance theme, and each was known, nationwide, but more popular in its own region.

I learned them all, back in the day, but can't remember how to do any of them, now. It's been so long....

Reply
Ilar
2/1/2020 02:19:02 pm

There are initially two Hustles. The one done to Van McCoy's song in the 70's. and the one some people call the Detroit Hustle (with different dance steps from the original, except for the first grapevine part) that became popular around the late 80's. People in Michigan were used to doing the dance to Stevie Wonder's My Eyes Don't Cry No More. However, the same dance was being done across the rest of the country to The Electric Boogie by Griffiths and called the ElectricElectric Slide. I found this out in person when I traveled to different places during that time. It was the exact same dance.

Reply
Joyce Stoughton-kim link
10/14/2020 11:12:47 pm

Correct on the line dance history however, there is m ore to the Hustle.
Detroit Hustle refers to a couples partner dance that is a cross between the original Lindy swing of the 1930's and Latin dances that date back to the 1940''s. When music changes then the dance need to change to create a new style to fit the new sound. In the mid to late 1950's a new dance was formed from the new music mixing the 2 previous dance styles to create the Hustle. The couple version of the Hustle is now regional, New Your Hustle, Detroit Hustle, etc. But thought the years there were many more styles of hustle. The Foxy Trot Hustle, the Tango Hustle as seen in the finale dance scene of Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta, and many more style thatch be found In the social dance worlds of swing and ballroom. While Hustle is a partner dance it is also the line dance that was born from Van McCoys song from the 1970's "Do the Hustle. You can YouTube (me) Joyce Stoughton and Barry Douglas for a video view of the partner dance the Detroit Hustle then check out Alex Kim for some latin Hustle, and Maria Torres for some great New York Style. Enjoy the Hustle!

Melanie link
4/16/2019 09:18:47 pm

Look at them all shaking it!

Reply
Dave Doobin
7/22/2019 04:44:16 pm

This is how white people party.

Reply
joyce stoughton-kim link
2/20/2020 09:55:06 pm

Please let me hustle on in to this Detroit Hustle conversation.

Detroit Hustle as we know it here in Detroit is a couples partner dance based on a 3-count step base where the dancers begin forward on one instead of a rock back on the &1.
In the Detroit version of Hustle, dancers use the count 1,2,& 3 and dance the dance is danced on a slot rather than circular.

This style of Hustle is dated back to the mid 1960's when a group of Cuban dancers come from Miami to a dance club in Metro Detroit(14 mile & Van Dyke) then called the Butterfly Suite and later Characters.

For more information on the Detroit Hustle, contact Joyce Stoughton-Kim at the Center for Social Dance in Okemos, Michigan or visit Detroit Hustle with Joyce Stoughton-Kim

Keep on Hustling everyone and remember, it's not your sisters line dance...

Reply



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    Tom Santilli has been in the Detroit wedding industry since 2002, and in that time has established himself as one of the top in his field.  His company, Complete Video Solutions , was named as the #1 Best Wedding Videographer in Detroit by local brides and Channel 4 5 consecutive years, 2010-2014, and was currently inducted into TheKnot.com's "Vendor Hall of Fame."  He also has won several awards for his wedding production, and is a member of WEVA (Wedding & Event Videographers Association.)  As the Detroit Wedding Examiner, he has helped hundreds of brides with their weddings, with a local knowledge not found anywhere else.  Being in the industry for so long, he is an expert in all areas of wedding planning, not just videography.  He welcomes your questions, article suggestions, or feedback, and he can be reached
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