LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — It's time to ditch the sneakers and put on your best dancing shoes because, inside the Clarks Summit Fire Hall, it's time to do the hustle.
"It's a couple's dance, and it comes out of salsa like the Latin hustle that was born in New York City," said Jill Wetzel, dance instructor.
"It's an actual dance with a history, a rhythm, a connection, and lots of shapes and travels. And I used to perform this like big theater arts performances. It can be done beautifully," said Philip Spinka, dance instructor.
Out of the many dance partners, Philip Spinka and Jill Wetzel teach in regular sessions in Lackawanna County.
The hustle is one of the harder styles but also a favorite.
"You've got the rhythm, which is very backward and messed up. It's counted N 123. And there's a long story why it was counted that way. It doesn't make sense, but it's a beautiful dance. It feels like you're a jet fighter just flying around and floating and spinning in constant movement," explained Spinka.
Students sign up for 6-week sessions, and the weekly classes last about an hour.
You don't need to be part of a couple to take the classes. You'll be split up into two parts to learn the steps by rotating partners with the other classmates.
"So there definitely is different footwork for the leader and the follower. And so we do separate learn our individual footwork and then figure out how it fits together," said Wetzel.
"I think it's fun because then you get to learn different things with different people because everybody is different on how they learn. So I think it's fine," said Toni Auker, Sugarloaf.
Some of the dancers here are not beginners but experts looking to brush up on their skills.
"Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned dancer, even the beginning steps are important because you gain the technique to make it very easy or very difficult for yourself. But you want it to be easy and smooth," said Joe Venne, Hop Bottom.
Others are here for the first time, trying out something new.
"Anybody can do it. It's not just limited to ages. So I mean, we may be the youngest ones here, but anybody can do it," said Auker.
If you want to learn more about the dance lessons offered in Clarks Summit, click here.