Oral Histories
The reason Dance is Life exists today is thanks to the legacy of Latin Hustle in New York City, and history of it being danced in Central Park—right where Dance Is Life began nearly 50 years later. Many of the dancers who will happily take you for a spin, danced in that same spot, decades ago as teenagers in the 1970s.
Sal Rentas
Often seen dancing Latin Hustle on wheels, Sal Rentas has combined rollerskating and dance since he discovered both growing up in the Bronx. Here, Sal reminisces about his youth, and where teens danced before they could get into nightclubs, including community centers, churches, and basements.
David Husney
Another “OG” dancer you’ll see at Dance Is Life, is David Husney, who often brings his public art installation where dancers paint together with their footsteps. He is an expert in the history of Latin Hustle because he lived to see it himself. Here, David describes the relationship between Latin Hustle and the more widely known art form created in NYC during the same era—Hip Hop.