Dancers show off another Detroit original at NFL draft: The Tamia Hustle
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
More than 100 dancers gathered Saturday afternoon at the NFL draft in downtown Detroit's Cadillac Square for a live demonstration of the Tamia Hustle, a line dance that originated in the Motor City, set to “Can’t Get Enough" by R&B singer Tamia, a Windsor native.
Prior to the demo, city historian Jamon Jordan put the event into historical context. He referenced Detroit’s history in leading Black dance since the 1920s, dating to Paradise Valley and continuing through the Motown era, with the Hustle rising during the funk era of the ‘70s and ‘80s. He pointed to Stevie Wonder’s 1987 song “My Eyes Don’t Cry No More.”
“To this day,” Jordan said, “Detroit is the Hustle capital of the United States. Detroit is the No. 1 Hustle spot, the Hustle capital of the United States of America!”
NFL draft live updates: Detroit breaks another NFL draft record
The dancers involved were part of the Detroit Parks and Recreation Department Hustle Team. Member Tracey Jackson said the Tamia Hustle appeals to all ages.
“We have kids out here as young as 4, and seniors into their 80s," Jackson said. "It brings everybody together. It’s kind of a smooth song. Tamia was, of course, married to Grant Hill, who was a Detroit Piston, and so that just helped us love her even more, even though she’s from Canada. It doesn’t matter.”
Rochelle Riley, director of the city’s office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship, said it’s important for Detroit culture to be seen by the world.
“We want the world to see all of Detroit’s history of culture that has been literally embraced by people everywhere,” she said. “Detroit Hustles harder, and the Hustle was invented here. It lasts here, it lives here and as you can see from these folks who came out here in the middle of the draft to stop and honor a particular dance, and they love the Tamia Hustle. We are so proud.”
The Saturday Hustle gathering helped cap three days of showcasing off Detroit culture as hundreds of thousands gathered in and around downtown Detroit for the NFL draft. Detroit rapper Big Sean performed for a packed Campus Martius crowd Friday. The Detroit Youth Choir gave a joyful performance Saturday and Canton-born singer Bazzi was set to close out festivities at the end of the draft Saturday.
More: Are you wondering what the term 'Whatupdoe' means? It's distinctly Detroit.
More: Eminem teases new album ‘The Death of Slim Shady' during NFL draft in Detroit
Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield: dbeddingfield@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL draft crowd: Detroiters do the Tamia Hustle in group performance
