The Hustle—also commonly known as the Latin Hustle—is an energetic, ballroom-style dance that was wildly popular in the mid- and late-1970s, at the height of the disco music (see entry under 1970s—Music in volume 4) craze. The origins of the dance are imprecise, but its evolution can be traced to the sounds of salsa and swing music. The Hustle incorporated the hip motion employed in salsa with the footwork of swing music. Ultimately, its movements consisted of plenty of spins and rhythmic foot-work, and it was danced to a hard-driving disco beat.

A quick, seven-step instruction on how to dance the Hustle. Sketch by Jim Hummel. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

One evening during the mid-1970s, veteran music arranger, writer, and producer Van McCoy (c. 1940–1979) visited Adam's Apple, a New York City disco, where he saw the dance being performed...