The World’s Largest Online Hustle Dance Destination

Pina Bausch passed away yesterday from cancer at the age of 68. Below is a video from Le Sacre du Printemps (Rite of Spring) from 2006.

Widely thought of as the Mother of German Modern Dance, she was considered the spiritual leader of the Tanztheather style of dance, but more importantly as a revolutionary and visionary who hybridized ideals of Balletic discipline with Modern movement.

Pina Bausch Rest In Peace

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday wishes to Joe Reggi, Lisa “Sparkles” Paternoster, Susan Hiser, Tina Price,
David Padilla, John Richards, Regina Bohn, Kimberly O’Dnnel, Sabrina Paxman and Anthony Colorafi

Bravo, bravo, bravo, David Paris and Zoe Klein rocked “America’s Got Talent”. The judges loved them as they held the audience in the palm of their hands. They both displayed amazing feats of strength. The theater arts specialists now move on to Las Vegas for the next round of competitions.

What a year they are having, congratulations to Robert and Nicola Royston on their major motion picture release (Love’N Dancing) and the birth of their daughter, Summer Grace Royston, this past weekend.

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The music of Michael Jackson speaks for itself; for dancers, we all danced to his music at some point in our lives. Listen through these youtube.com videos, starting with some songs from one of his best albums ‘Off The Wall’. The lyrics have much, much more meaning now; Rest In Peace Michael.

It’s time for Disco America, taking place this weekend June 26-28, 2009. Produced by Event Organizers Donna Boyle and Joyce Szili, the highlight will be the Variety Dinner Show in honor of Arte Phillips (Rest In Peace), who in the past always choreographed and produced the show.

Some photos from last year’s post with some old pics of Arte Phillips, some of his past choreography and images from Disco America’s past:

Happy birthday wishes to Maria Santelices, Carol Feldman, Louise Symington , Spinning Cindy, Jaime Serna, Ceasar Rivera, Angela McCabe, Lynette Allen, Carol Schmidt, Lois Sablich, Angela Leeds, Lisa Freeman, Lori Brizzi, DJ Mark Sakowski, Bill Ginocchio, Frank Badolato, BU, Lacey Schwimmer and Evelyn “Champagne” King.

Are theater arts/acrobatic champions David Paris & Zoe Klein America’s best new talent? You’ll have to tune in to “Americas Got Talent” as they audition on the hit television show. The new season premier kicks off this Tuesday night, June 23rd, on ABC television.

He almost won the big one this season on Dancing With The Stars but he is still quite busy. Tony Dovolani is involved in two major motion pictures scheduled for release in 2010. “Pumping Up” and “Blood Cauldron”.

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Check out these new young dancers, they are beautiful, enthusiastic and most importantly passionate about Hustle. In the first video they are doing a hybrid blend of Hustle & Cha Cha to a House music mix. Read more about them below; and without further ado…Introducing Bianca Disimino & Frank Paredes.

Bianca is Virgo (like me!) and will be 16 years old this fall, and Frank is Gemini (they get along great with Virgos) and just turned 22. I have seen them compete and social dance and I give them a lot of credit for being composed (they held it down in finals at Madjam & placed 5th for Intermediate Strictly Hustle Category!) and having such a great understanding for the feeling of dance, given the short time they have been dancing it.

Bianca always danced as long as she can remember; her Mom started her at tap at age 3, then she went on to jazz and hip hop. It was her Mother again who introduced her by proxy to Hustle because she was taking Salsa-robics at Roberto Pagan’s studio and got Bianca into it. Bianca started getting interested in Salsa and Roberto took notice and began working with her. He then got her interested in the Junior Ballroom scene and she started doing privates in Ballroom. Before she knew it she was even teaching young kids and recruiting young people onto the dancefloor. She’s already been to 13 comps including Madjam 2009, and she’s loving Hustle. Madjam 2009 was her second Madjam, in 2008 she did 2 dance showcases.

Frank only started dancing a year and a half ago. Before Frank got interested in dancing, his sister Rosa Paredes, Roberto Pagan’s partner would suggest Frank check out dancing, and so would his family. She kept trying and finally convinced him, he decided he would try. Roberto put Frank into an Intermediate class his very first time around and Frank just tried his best to keep up and every since then just kept right on going. He enjoys Salsa, however Roberto showed him Hustle, he tried it and liked it for it’s speed and it’s versatility with music. Then Roberto and Jaimie Serna took over mentoring him and ever since he’s been totally hooked. Jaimie has been really making an extra effort, working with him on his frame, his timing.

Asia – Bianca, what made you like Hustle?

Bianca – Oh I just love it, I took to it right away. It’s a fast dance, you can dance to almost all modern music, the newest music. When Roberto started teaching it to me, I really embraced it. It quickly became my favorite dance. I just love it, I really love it, I think it’s gonna be THE new thing. My friends have seen me dance it and they love it, they wanna do it.

The only thing I don’t like is the old music, dancing to the old music; we had this one Hustle social Frank and I went to, we were so bored, the music was boring, it was slow and even though we were so excited to dance, we only danced a few songs to the newest music they played. We were really bummed, cuz we really love to Hustle.

Asia – What about you Frank, what made you like Hustle?

Frank – with Hustle, funny thing is I didn’t even know what it was til a little over a year ago, and now it’s become a part of me. I find myself when I hear a good song I like, I try to find the ‘and1′, even when I’m driving, stuck in traffic whatever, I’ll hear my song and I’m doing the steps, my ‘and1′ on the pedals, it’s crazy…it’s changed my life. I just love dancing Hustle, I love watching the Pros and the good dancers. I danced with as many experience Hustle dancers as I can, at Madjam my favorite dancer and my dance highlight was dancing with Stephanie Risser. I love watching her and her partner (Joe Kerner) compete too, they were so great. Hustle has made me grow so much as a person and a dancer. I danced with Louis Orlando and he taught me some good stuff too, he told me if I can learn to be a good follow I’ll be a better lead, and I definitely understand now. Also dancing with Jean Merisier was great, he showed me alot too, it was so great to dance with all the good dancers and so many of them spent the time to teach me and show me stuff.

Asia – What do you guys want to achieve or accomplish with Hustle?

Bianca – I definitely want to absorb more and learn alot more. I want to have a better connection and learn as much as I can about the dance. It makes me feel so good about how different I am, it’s made me grow so much. Dancing Hustle changes Life, it’s changed mine and it just gives me a different perspective.

Frank – I want to learn to control my excitement on the dance floor, I just like it so much, I get on the floor and I wanna take off, but I know I gotta learn control. But I definitely I want to continue doing it, it’s in me now, Hustle. I also want to show thru my dancing that Hustle can be danced to new music. I love dancing it to newer, like our music, modern music. I like a few of the old songs but you can dance Hustle to so many different kinds of music, that’s what I like. I wanna learn to lead better and follow better too cause of what Jean and Louis were telling me and teaching me. I feel my dancing getting stronger and better, I really wanna keep going, Hustle is in me now, it’s a part of me.

Asia – Well, I really hope we see alot more of you both in the future, it’s been so much fun getting to know you both, I really enjoy your good vibes and energy and for sure, you’ll be back on The Hustle Lounge, hopefully we’ll feature you guys as regulars! Thanks so much!

In no particular order here’s 3 songs they like to Hustle to, click on the link to go to the youtube videos:
1. Pokerface – Lady Gaga
2. Jai Ho – The Pussycat Dolls
3. World Hold On – Bob Sinclair

Editor’s Note:
It was such a pleasure to engage with Frank & Bianca; they were so heartfelt and sincere, I really hope they inspire other young dancers into the circle.

A special thanks to Roberto Pagan for his complete graciousness and to Mrs. Di Simino, Bianca’s mom for letting us interview Bianca.

They will be at Disco America June 26-28, so make sure you say Hi and tell them you saw them on The Hustle Lounge!

If anyone knows of any other young dancers that should be profiled here on THL, please use this form here, to contact us. Thank you.

Happy birthday wishes to John Merisier, Robert Lawrence, Margaret Tuttle, Rick Barney
Shawn Brennan, Karen Lupo, Mark Rappa, Jimmie Billups, Mark Starnes, Bu Domenech, Billy Marti, John Festa, Franklin Ayala and Judy Trask.

Please keep our good friend DJ Bobby Gerard in your thoughts and prayers as he is preparing to have a surgical procedure. Bobby is on staff at many of the competitions including World Hustle Dance Championships and International Hustle Salsa Championships. He has informed us that he cant wait to see everyone at Debra Lynn’s “Miami Magic” in July.

Their dance partnership has led them to the alter. Congratulation to Steven Shaughnessy and Kathy Johanessen as they have tied the knot this past weekend. They celebrated at the Stardust Weekend. We wish them much love and many years of dance. Their honeymoon continues as they will be attending Disco America in just two weeks. Be sure to wish them the best.

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In response to Ron Bess‘ post from Dance Talk yesterday regarding the Growth of Hustle; this post is my exercise to illustrate how wide and far concepts can go in Hustle. I feel the existing iconography of Hustle is not inspiring NEW interest, know-what-I-mean? Some Mash-ups:

This first video is by Raize the Roof, a High School collective presenting Dance, Music, Fashion & Art. How is prescient is that for a group of teens from Auckland, New Zealand? I am so inspired by their initiative I’m editing the new ‘Hybridization’ Category here on THL to Hybridization & Mash-ups. I admire the CONCEPT greatly, especially seeing it was from 2007.

Notice a similarity in one of their costumes with the below from Stephen Petronio Dance Company? We’ll be featuring Stephen Petronio in an upcoming post (I’m a HUGE fan).

This next video is a look at Tecktonik fashion stills edited into a video. Originating in Paris, Tecktonik is interesting because it mostly celebrates the male ‘Peacock’ effect, has come to include the Gay culture and leans to a harder, edgier feel and attitude. Tecktonik is huge in Europe as a matter of fact, it’s mainstream :

Tecktonik is it’s uniquely own brand of Mash-up I started seeing in Paris around 2006; here is the block quote excerpt taken from Wikipedia:

Tecktonik also known as Electro Dance, Milky Way or Vertigo, is a style of street dance danced to electro music based on a blend of techno styles (late 80s vogue, 90s waving and old school breakdancing), and 70s disco, started in the early 2000s in Paris, France, at the club Metropolis. It has grown in popularity through word-of-mouth and video sharing sites such as Dailymotion and YouTube. Dancers also tend to have “futuristic”, sometimes even gothic hair cuts. The neon colours on shirts are linked to the London Nu Rave fashion scene.

What does all this have to do with Hustle? The same images/poses and photo styles, the Ballroom-esque silhouettes and outfits, the repeated choreography, it’s just NOT enough to push the envelope.

How will the new generation participate? I am dying to know, talk to me…

Happy birthday wishes to Mona Walker, Ginny Carey,Tina Labriola, Harris Sulken, Mike Tanner, J.J. Pearson and Arthur Beck.

We ask you to keep the Becker family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the loss of their two year old daughter Jenna E. Becker. She had her first dance, with her father, at this past years Chicago Classic. A tragic loss. RIP April 26, 2007 – June 2, 2009

Don’t miss him before he retires…forever, DJ Nicky Siano spinning under the stars at the South Street Seaport in NY. Every Saturday night this summer from 10PM. In 1972 he was the house DJ at the Gallery in Soho then was recruited by Steve Rubell to be a resident DJ at Studio 54.

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Yes, it’s a provocative title for a post, and I only really did it to create dialogue; even with the instigators and purists.

What I really meant to title this as is – Hustle is Evolving, the Hybridization of Hustle…

Hybridization is paramount to Success in today’s world of technology, personalization and global-village accessibility.

Everything is relative in some way, whether it’s social marketing, design, art, product development, fashion – whatever; it’s about hybridizing – in other words, Everything is everything.

I’ve talked about mash-ups before…in a visual way, here; but now it’s time to drill down and get to the meat of it.

I know lots of people don’t like Hustle being influenced by outside factors, but as Lisa Nunziella-Hockley was saying the other day, ‘Hustle borrows so much from other dances’!

I’ll be profiling some dancers and choreographaers who have helped to shape shift the Dance arena shortly…stay with me…

Happy birthday wishes to Erik Novoa, Michelle Russamano, Lisa Berger, Robert Moss, Collette Antonelli, Sandra Rivera, George Dudley, Nellie Cotto, Victoria Portalatin, and Cindy Lehning.

Check out the incredible performance by Nick Scott as he performs a wonderful Samba in his wheel chair along with Aubree Marchione, Wheel Chair Samba.

This week at Michael’s Cafe we have guest teacher Donna Boyle teaching the free beginner hustle lesson. Class starts at 8:40PM, we also will be celebrating Robert Moss’s birthday. See more details below.

June 29th, kicks off the newest reality dance show. “Dance Your Ass Off“. The result of “Dancing With The Stars” rear ending “The Biggest Loser“. 12 contestants partner up with pro dancers in a competition to determine, not only the best dancer but who loses the most weight. Hosted by Marissa Jaret Winokur (Hairspray on Broadway) and a former competitor on DWTS. 10PM on the Oxygen network.

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Outstanding Dance Style to me is any unique style that has impact, performs well and is a signature to the dancer; oh and of course is not too entrenched in the critical mass style of ‘fashion’.

I’d love to see the Professional Competitors step it up a notch. Some great looks:

Of course, these ‘headpieces’ are only good for certain routines (no lifts or very athletic numbers) but they could be secured, especially one that is smaller…oh you know what I mean, they could be, should be worked, cuz they would make a look just over!

Speaking of head adornments, the late, great and supremely beloved Arte Phillips is credited with bringing an askew fedora-meets-porkpie to the Hustle world; seen worked in great variation and carried on above by the amazing Loriann Greenhouse & Kelvin Roche as well as the eternally hip Joe Kerner (doing all white, thank you, rather than tired all black).

Not only did Arte bring a certain style visually but the cheek of being able to wear a such a head treatment is now de riguer (thanks Arte) as so many Hustle dancers don their hats on the floor in homage to him.

Adore leather/pleather textures; Rad Hourani, whose leggings are shown above is one of my favorite designers for 2009. For me, all black is tired, tired, worn-out; unless there is texture, finish or deconstruction. Thus the divine leathers and pleathers seen here; I’ve seen Billy Marti & Mihoko mash-up a pleather look as well as Joe Kerner and it really looks fresh; how they turn it out.

This lady Mildred von Hildegard is incredible; she’s mainly an haute couture designer specializing in film and custom work only, I believe she’s highly regarded in Hollywood, and you can see her craftsmanship is pristine. How fabulous to see the above piece in a cabaret performance, riiiiiiiight? It’s gorgeous and I want it…

The JDauphin leather panels leggings serve up glamour with a nice juxtaposition of deconstructivism, I don’t want my leather looking too bourgeoisie; I’d rather punk-funk it up as JDauphin has…nice-ty!

Rounding out the deconstructivist theme is a fabulously affordable distressed sequin biker silhouette from Topshop whose moderately priced pieces are giving H&M, dollar for dollar, a stiff run for the style money. I love this piece…yum.

If you know me, you know I just love great style; I admire a number of women in the the Hustle world who really work their look and do it with such individuality, I’ll cover that soon in another Dance Style post.

If you know of any really stylish Hustle dancers, please comment or use the Contact page here and tip me off, thanks!!!

Hope you had a Happy Memorial Day

Happy birthday wishes to DJ Johnny “V” Vicino, Jackie Norrito, Debi Cacace, Steve Tusio,
Magique, Raluca Georgio-Shields, Jenae’ Rubin, Jenn Gessner, Steve Kaufman,
Billy Townson and Mike LoCicero.

Hats off to the dancing photographer Sam Habet on his recent marriage. We wish Suzan and Sam only the best for years to come. Sam will be snapping those wonderful pictures at this years “Discoamerica”
(June 26 – 28th), providing only the best in dance photos. http://www.SamsSnapShots.com

Kudos to Salsa pros Franklin Ayala and Maranda Fulmer on their guest television spot on The CBS “Good Morning Show”, for the post “Dancing With The Stars” party. Franklin, an avid DJ as well, was featured on the show demonstrating the art of teaching dance.

A shout out and congratulations to C.K. on her recent marital engagement. We wish her and her fiancee, Rich Petrelli, only the best for years to come.

Houston shares with us more results from this years IHSC. In the Pro/Am Classic Hustle (Routine Division) 1st place went to Cheryl Highwarden & Damon D’Amico, 2nd place was William Whitlow & Irene Griffin and in 3rd place was Danette Crocker & Raye Avery.

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Considering the troubled economy we are all trying so hard to work out of; this year has a long list of events still to come, more than one per month til Christmas, can you believe it?

Upcoming Hustle events, second half of this year:

• Disco America
• Michigan Classic
• Miami Dance Magic
• Grand Pacific
• New York Hustle Congress
• World Hustle Dance Championships

It’s wonderful we have such choices, but at what cost? In my experience the end-user stumbles upon wide ranging qualities of experiences, from poor-mediocre to fun-excellent.

The great news is that new dancers are coming into the community. I personally love to watch the new faces and see the creativity as well as the hybridization they bring to the table.

According to Wikipedia, hybridization refers to an “ongoing blending of cultures”.

I feel it’s all about hybridization in order to evolve; the music industry had to do it, the auto industry is doing it and the Hustle community seems to be on it’s way.

Incredible creativity can come from working with limitations, I really hope that’s what we get to see the rest of this year in Hustle.

Happy birthday wishes to Mark James, singer Grace Jones, Karen Montalvo, Minnie Ruiz, Sherry Kuhl, Cathy Rankel, Debra Kee, Mark Ballas, Glen Murphy, Patti Cottone, Frank Santan and Sal Riccio.

He was born this week in 1965. Eddie Vega was considered one of greatest of all time. Whether he was hustle dancing socially, competing, performing on national TV or stage, he always gave 100%. A true gentleman with a captivating smile, he was only 28 years young when he passed away. R.I.P.

Congratulation to the dancing Attorney Erica Smith. She will receive her LL.M. degree in Trial Advocacy from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law on May 21st.

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