Cha cha is a fun, flirtatious dance with playful energy. It's a blend of other Latin dances, especially mambo and rumba. The major difference between cha cha and mambo/rumba is a triple step (cha cha cha) that replaces the slow step.
Quick intro
Cha cha is widely recognizable by its catchy rhythm – one, two, cha, cha, cha. It's easy to learn and fun to dance.
Like so many Latin dances, it originates from Cuba. It was developed by the Cuban composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin in the middle of 1950s. Originally it was known as a slowed-down mambo or "the triple mambo", because of the three quick steps. It gained instant popularity due to its simplicity. In time it evolved into a separate dance and although it was originally known as the cha-cha-cha, the name was shortened to the cha-cha.
Did you know: Bruce Lee, the famous movie star and one of the greatest legends in martial arts, was also an accomplished Latin dancer. He won the Hong Kong Cha Cha Championship in 1958, when he was 18 years old.
Cha cha can be danced to almost any music with a good beat, from traditional Latin rhythms to club music, from country to pop. It's popularity can be heard in the music of Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Tom Jones, Carlos Santana, and many others. Cha cha is very much a dance of today.
Basic steps
Cha cha music is composed in 4/4 time (four beats to a bar of music). For each bar of music there are 2 slow and 3 quick steps, which may be counted as – one, two, cha, cha, cha or step, step, step, quick step, quick step. The footwork is simple and mostly focuses on just shifting weight from one foot to another.
Remember, five steps are taken to four beats of music. Also don't forget that the movements tend to be somewhat flirtatious. This is definitely a party dance!
Instructions & Diagrams:
Partners face each other. Gentleman starts with the left foot, lady starts with the right foot. Basic ballroom hold.
Basic Side Step for Men
- Sidestep to the left with your left foot
- Step backward & left with your right foot
- Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
- Sidestep to the right with your right foot
- Move your left foot to your right foot
- Sidestep to the right with your right foot
- Step forward & right with your left foot
- Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
- Sidestep to the left with your left foot
- Move your right foot to your left foot
Basic Side Step for Women
- Sidestep to the right with your right foot
- Step forward & right with your left foot
- Right foot in place, weight shifts to it
- Sidestep to the left with your left foot
- Move your right foot to your left foot
- Sidestep to the right with your left foot
- Step backward & left with your right foot
- Left foot in place, weight shifts to it
- Sidestep to the right with your right foot
- Move your left foot to your right foot
Video
In this video Leon and Kim will first show you the basic step done "in place" and then with the side step:
OK, now that we have the basic steps under our belt, let's explore further. In the following video Jaimee and Mark will show you the whole range of cha cha figures, starting, of course, with the basic:
Where to go next?
As you've seen in the second video, there's a lot that cha cha has to offer. To get to that next level we recommend these video lessons »
