Cha-Cha

CHA - CHA origins

"It was during the height of the mambo craze that in 1951 prominent Cuban violinist Enrique Jorrin recognised the difficulties that the dancers had "..dancing to off-beat and syncopated melodies.." (E. Jorrin, Diccionario de la Musica Cubana de Helio Orovio).

This was especially true for the faster mambo rhythms.
Cha-Cha Video

Recognizing the need for a slower but still recognizable mambo beat, the charanga orchestras composed new 'danzones' utilizing this new rhythm. The slower Mambo tempo gave a distinct sound in the music that everyone could dance to.

This new sound people began calling the new step the "Triple" Mambo. It has since evolved into a separate dance known today as the Cha-Cha.

Cha-Cha derives its name from the plant that makes a "cha-cha" sound when it is rubbed.

Cha-Cha inherits much of its styling from its parent dances, the rumba and the mambo. Like most Latin dances, it is done with the feet remaining close to the floor.

The dancers' hips are relaxed to allow a free movement in the pelvic section characterized by the swinging hips called "Cuban Motion", and by taking very small steps.

The "cha cha" part of the rhythm is almost a chasse, or a series of small gliding steps that touch the floor with the upper body shifting over the supporting foot as steps are taken.

The Cha-Cha dance consists of three quick steps and two slowers steps. It is danced to 4/4 time (four beats to a measure). Dancing each bar of music will take two slow steps and three quick steps.

The rhythm is "slow-slow-quick-quick-slow" or counting "two-three-four and one". The count "four and one" corresponds to the "cha-cha-cha" part of the rhythm.

'Cha Cha' is introduced as a 8 week Beginners 'Cha Cha' course and is followed by Intermediate and Advanced 'Cha Cha' course.

This course teaches the original 'street' Cha Cha dance that originated in Cuba, not to be confused with the Latin ballroom Cha Cha.

Although 'Cha Cha' has many moves that can be converted into Salsa moves and vice versa, 'Cha Cha' has many of its own distinct moves and turn patterns.

SALSA	SAMBA	ZOUK/LAMBADA	BACHATA
ZUMBA	GAFIEIRA	CHA-CHA	RUEDA
BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL	CAPOEIRA	SUMMARY OF ALL STYLES AND OTHERS