Latin Hustle—like Hip Hop and House music—served as an escape from the stresses of urban life, with music and dance converging communities as a form of shelter. During the 1970s, crowds that gathered in NYC’s parks remained mostly unbothered and free to express themselves, leading to a cultural renaissance that was created for, and by, the people.

Traditionally danced in parks, basements, hookey parties, and recreation centers of NYC, Latin Hustle is both a street and club dance. Following the over-commercialization of Disco music in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin Hustle lived on in ballroom dance studios around the globe where it also became identified as a ballroom dance, while maintaining its positioning on the dance floors of NYC nightclubs. It is now danced to many types of music, including house, funk, soul, pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, and more.

Praised as a partner dance where anyone can lead or follow—Latin Hustle breaks gender stereotypes while encouraging liberation and connection. Dance Is Life is dedicated to preserving Latin Hustle in the same safe spaces where the dance began, hand-in-hand with its original dancers, also known as the “OG’s” of Hustle.