Move · Videos · Technique · 12 min

Learn the Hustle: Basic Steps and Turns for Beginners

Learn the Hustle: Basic Steps and Turns for Beginners — video by Social Dance Online Play · 11:31

Video by Social Dance Online on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Brian and Megan teach the 70s partner hustle in two timings (the slower 4-count and the quicker syncopated count): the basic, rotating basic, outside and inside turns, hammerlock and cuddle. Fun at weddings and social dances.

  • 12 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment
  • Disco

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 10

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  1. Basic: rock step back on one-two (leaders' left foot, followers' right) without full weight, then walk-walk. 0:29
  2. Syncopated timing: the same rock step and two walks, with a quicker rock: and-one, two, three. 1:11
  3. Hold: leader's palm up, follower's hand on top at the follower's elbow height; stay close for the rock step. 1:34
  4. Rotating basic: leaders rotate right, rock, slide left and step back; followers rock, walk forward and turn. 2:25
  5. Flare your elbows slightly, like opening a newspaper, so you can share space as you rotate. 3:23
  6. Outside turn: leaders flip the hand, pinky side towards the turn, and take it over the follower's head. 4:02
  7. Inside turn: the hand passes between your heads as the follower turns left past the leader's right side. 5:54
  8. Outside turn into inside turn, in basic time and then in syncopated time. 7:19
  9. Hammerlock: with two hands, turn the follower so their left hand rests behind at the waist, then lead out. 7:47
  10. Cuddle: a two-handed inside turn; turn your hand to see your watch to curl in, then send the follower out. 9:23

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Rock step on one-two, then walk-walk on three-four, without putting full weight on the rock
  • Leader's palm faces up with the follower's hand on top, held about elbow height
  • Flare the elbows slightly so partners share space as they rotate

What it works

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Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movespartner hold, leading turns with a raised hand
  • Hips movesrock step and walk-walk basic
  • Knees movesrock steps, walks, pivots and turns
  • Ankles & feet movesrock steps, rotating basic and turns

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Social Dance Online; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety