Hustle Dance at the New Yorker Hotel
September 16, 2010
Dancers gave thumbs up to Lori Brizzi’s 6th annual Labor Day weekend New York Hustle Congress, held for the first time in the midtown west, deco-style New Yorker Hotel. What could be more fitting? The building, finished in 1930, has personality. At one time, it had ninety-two telephone operators. Its mezzanine ballrooms are fabled. In the 40s and 50s, big bands played there for the likes of Spencer Tracy and Joan Crawford. Like the hotel, the hustle dance survives with old-world glamour intact. Hustle is an adaptation of ballroom steps for uptempo pop music.
Not only that, but outside the New Yorker, you can find typical New York fare— pizza, Thai, Italian baked goods, Greek, Irish or Comidas Latinas. Last year, dancers lined up at a lone Latin food cart. Would the 6th Congress succeed in its first year as a separate entity from the monster Salsa Congress (with hustle room)? Hustle dance lovers turned out for Brizzi’s event in its new location. Cares fell away in the Hotel's golden glow. Never mind. The room was full of great dancers, and that is the measure of success.
at the 6th Congress
At the 6th Congress, dancers from all over paid homage to the birth of Hustle some thirty-seven years ago, and added new twenty-first century style.
Of course, the nighttime shows and professional competitions would be the most spectacular. New this year were Team Performances. The annual Circle of Love dance benefited charities fighting the stigma of mental illness.
See the roster of winners
here.
Brizzi demo in a 2010 NY Hustle Congress workshop at Basic Ballroom studio ›
day shift
There is a lot that this lark doesn't know. But in the wee p.m. hours, dancers passed their skills on. Professionals and amateurs partnered in dazzling Saturday afternoon competitions. Emcee extraordinaire Ron Bess set the mellifluous tone and the serious fun mood. Few know hustle better than this smooth dancer and speaker who graced the 6th Congress. Such was the turnout of amateurs, the pros had to do double duty. Bess kindly set out the most popular contests in two or three successive heats. No need for oppressive overcrowding here.
Lisa Nunziella, Donna DiSimone, Louis Orlando, Donna Boyle, Billy Marti, Brian Gallagher, Robert Vance, Stephanie Risser, Joey Luletski, and other pros entered the bright lights to lead and follow their competing charges. Their styles— from balletic to Broadway to jazzy louche and loose-limbed— pleasured onlookers. Elizabeth Darchi, Diane Nardone, Bess, and Brizzi viewed from the judge’s table. DC dancer Erica Smith arrived to watch the former and future champions and hopefuls. She would be gloriously costumed and competing that evening. Funds were not available for travel expenses, but that did not deter Northeast contingents showing their stuff at the auspicious event. They were the best.
workshops
Congress founder Brizzi held a Welcome for Beginners. Bobbi Petri, an excellent instructor, led a Rueda Hustle for intermediate and advanced dancers to meet weekend partners. A choreography workshop featured Eddie Simon. Nino Di Guilio offered Salsa and West Coast Swing and dancers appreciated his contemporary music. Doug Hagwood taught basics; Roberto Pagan and Rosa Paredes brought Banga Langa Hustle to the inspired program.
Men were the minority and they worked hard Saturday afternoon showing off successive ladies. On Sunday afternoon, men were deservedly off-premises and this tilted the balance in workshops. Stephanie Risser’s Hustle 2.0 was simplified as a followers workshop. Sunday workshops featured individual attention. They were held at the nearby Basic Ballroom in a mirrored, curtained-off side of a large studio. Risser’s contemporary dance music competed with the Latin music from the ongoing BB class, but it was all about yielding and cooperation. The consensus was that DJs and dancers could update their music and steps. In Hustle 2.0 Risser demonstrated hustle hesitations to current dance-pop radio hits on an amplified iPod. She led the New York Walk, a natural segue into sexy arm styling.
On the heels of Hustle 2.0 came Brian Gallagher’s Creative Hustle Partnering and Presentation. A supermotivated couple worked with him on perfecting their dance. They could show it off at one last party at the 8th Avenue Club 412, for holdouts who just wanted more, more, more. Of course, Brizzi was on all the time. On Sunday, she was smiling.