Summer 2025
Hustle on The Pier.
A free social dance gathering series on Seattle's waterfront. Four dates. All summer. Open to everyone.
The Series
What we're doing this summer.
The Rhythm of The People Summer Gathering Series is a collection of free, open-air social dance gatherings rooted in Black and Brown dance culture - specifically Hustle and Club dance forms - designed to help people reconnect with themselves, with each other, and with the simple joy of being in the room together.
Each gathering begins with a beginner-friendly Hustle workshop. No experience needed. No partner required. Just show up ready to move.
After the workshop, the floor opens - live music, social dancing, and the kind of unscripted human connection that doesn't happen on a screen.
This is ROTP's inaugural public series. We're starting here, at the waterfront, in public space, because we believe this kind of gathering belongs to everyone.
What to Expect
Here's how each gathering flows.
Every gathering is a little different. Here's the general shape.
Hustle Workshop
A beginner-friendly introduction to Hustle - footwork, timing, partner connection. Taught accessibly, grounded in the cultural history of the form. No experience or partner needed.
Open Floor
The dance floor opens. Live music and DJs. Social dancing at all levels. Space to practice what you learned, find your own rhythm, and connect with people around you.
Community
Conversation, connection, and the informal magic that happens when people move together. Come alone or bring someone. Either way, you won't stay a stranger.
All Dates
Four gatherings. All free.
Pier 58, Seattle Waterfront. Free and open to all. No registration required - but sign up to stay in the loop.
Pier 58
1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101 · On the waterfront between the Seattle Aquarium and the Great Wheel · Free parking nearby · Accessible by bus and light rail
Rooted In
Where Hustle comes from.
Hustle is an American partner dance that emerged in the 1970s, rooted in Latin and Black dance communities in New York City. It evolved through disco culture and the social dance floors of clubs where communities gathered, celebrated, and held each other through difficult times.
Like most social dance forms, Hustle carries history in its footwork. Learning it means learning something about who created it, why it mattered, and why it still does.
At ROTP, we teach Hustle with that history in the room. Not as a performance. As a practice.
Questions
What people ask.
Do I need experience to come?
No. The workshop at each gathering is designed for beginners. If you've never danced before in your life, you're exactly who we're building this for.
Do I need a partner?
No. Come alone. We rotate partners during the workshop so everyone gets to practice with different people. That's part of the point.
Is it really free?
Yes. These gatherings are free and open to all. We are funded through donations, community support, and organizational partnerships. If you want to support the work, there are ways to do that - but showing up is enough.
What should I wear?
Whatever you can move in. Comfortable shoes are helpful. We're outdoors on the pier, so layers are smart for Seattle evenings.
Who runs this?
ROTP is led by Janū Sung, a Seattle-based dancer and educator, alongside a small team of dancers, organizers, and community members who believe in this work.