Polyester suits, platform shoes and John Travolta come to mind when someone mentions disco. A style of dancing that became extremely popular in the 70s and spawned the hit movie "Saturday Night Fever," disco can be executed by learning a couple of basic steps. With practice, these basic steps can be mastered for dancing the night away under a glittery disco ball at a retro themed party.
The Point
Start with your feet shoulder length apart. Shift your weight to the right while rounding the hip. As the hip is circling, straighten and lock your right arm pointing upward and to the right. The hand will be in a fist, with only the index finger extended. Shift your weight to the left while rounding the hip. Pull your arm down and across the front of the body, with the index finger pointing to the left at the ground. Practice these moves until they can be done in a fluid motion.
Airplane Walk
With the legs shoulder width apart and the weight on the left leg, place your arms out in front of you at navel level, with the elbows bent. Starting with the thumbs on top, have all of the fingertips touching and pointing straight ahead. The hands should look like they are forming a diamond shape, according to the website We Got Disco.
Step out to the side with your right foot, while sweeping your right arm down from the diamond formation of the hands. The right arm will be pointing down at the right foot with the pointer finger extended. Practice this several times until the foot and the arm arrive in those positions at the same time.
Add the left arm to this motion when you are comfortable with the right side. The left arm will sweep up from the diamond hand formation and will end up pointing upward and to the left at the same time as the right foot and arm.
Cross the right foot in front of the left foot while returning the hands to the diamond formation. Go immediately into stepping out to the side with the left foot, and reverse the arms to coincide.
The Hustle
Start with the feet shoulder length apart, with your weight on the left foot. Take a step backwards with your right foot, then the left, and then the right again. Tap the left foot against the insole of the right while clapping your hands, and keep the weight on the right foot. Repeat this step starting on the left foot.
After clapping your hands, immediately step out to the side with your left foot. Swing
the right foot behind the left, and tap the right toe on the ground. Clap at the same time the toe taps. Return the right foot to the shoulder width apart position. Repeat on the right side, swinging the left foot.
After mastering these steps by themselves, put them all together and you're performing The Hustle. Once you are comfortable with the footwork, you can add the arms. When not clapping, bend the arms at the elbow. Your hands will be in fists with the thumbs on the top. Swing the elbows out to the sides, making an up and down motion to flow with each step.
